30th December, 2017
Chelsea cruised to victory against Stoke in a game that was over as a contest within 23 minutes, as the Blues won 5-0.
Struggling Stoke – missing five defenders and fielding two teenagers at full-back – trailed within three minutes when Antonio Rudiger headed home Willian’s free-kick.
The Blues, who rested Eden Hazard, doubled their lead when Danny Drinkwater fired home on the bounce from 25 yards out, and Pedro added a third from just outside the box with only a quarter of the game gone, BBC reports.
Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf had a goal harshly ruled out after using his upper arm to control a long ball before smashing home.
The game almost descended into a training match, with Chelsea going 50 minutes before adding a fourth through Willian’s penalty.
Davide Zappacosta scored a late fifth from 20 yards out as the Blues made it five wins from their last six games.