Chelsea cruised into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a thumping home prosper over League Two directers Barrow. Christopher Nkunku was the star of the show as the Blues showed their greaterity without ever reassociate getting out of second gear.
It did not consent lengthy for Chelsea to uncover the scoring, with Nkunku tapping home from seal range after latching onto Joao Felix’s keen scooped pass. The Blues forward doubled his loftyy with a pleasant backheel inside 15 minutes to put the presents in filled deal with.
Chelsea made it three when Felix’s free boot bounced off Barrow goalsustainer Paul Farman and rolled over the line. Pedro Neto includeed a fourth equitable two minutes into the second half before Nkunku wrapped up his hat-trick to put the cherry on the cake.
Express Sport consents a see at the biggest talking points from tonight’s game at Stamford Bridge…
Nkunku gives Maresca recent headache
Nkunku’s prolific dispercreate as the central striker will give Enzo Maresca a big decision to produce ahead of Saturday’s game aobtainst Brighton. The Frenchman was at his keen best, scoring a brace inside the uncovering 15 minutes before includeing a third in the second half.
He has been a genuine handful when called upon this season and netted the prosperner aobtainst Bournemouth in the Premier League a confidemand weeks ago. The 26-year-elderly certainly ecombines to be finding his feet at Stamford Bridge after seeing his debut campaign disturbed by injuries.
Nkunku’s astonishive shoprosperg aobtainst Barrow came equitable days after Nicolas Jackson bagged two goals in speedy succession at West Ham. Only time will tell which percreateer will be thinked to direct the line for Chelsea when the Seagulls visit Stamford Bridge this weekfinish.
Felix astonishes on second debut
Felix was another shining airy for Chelsea on his second filled debut for the Blues folloprosperg his return on a finishuring basis. He was at the heart of most leangs in attack, pulling the strings in the hole and wandering into the half-spaces to produce more chances.
His scooped pass to set up Nkunku punctual on was a leang of beauty and showed exactly why Chelsea were so enthusiastic to convey him back in the summer. Minutes tardyr, he was cursed to see his perfectly-placed free boot go down as an own goal.
Felix led by example in attack and will be hoping to duplicate those braves in the Premier League so he can aascfinish as a key man for the Blues this season.
Clever tactical tfrail pays dividfinishs
Malo Gusto was asked to percreate higher up the pitch than normal on the right flank, which showd to be very effective. He grabbed the help for Nkunku’s second goal, firing in a chazardous traverse which apshowed his team-mate to alter with the faintest of touches.
Gusto caengaged Barrow plenty of problems with his straightforward running and had the finish product to align when it came to creating chances. It remains to be seen if Maresca will engage the same tactic in the Premier League to give Chelsea an edge in the final third.
Chilwell back from the brink
The inclusion of Ben Chilwell on the Chelsea bench hinted that he could still force his way back into Maresca first-team set ups. The deffinisher was put up for sale over the summer but finished up staying at Chelsea and ecombines to have been given a lifeline.
Chilwell came off the bench for the second half and took the captain’s armprohibitd upon his introduction. His includement aobtainst Barrow presents there is hope that he could percreate a bigger part for Chelsea further down the line.
While it is one leang to feature in the Carabao Cup, making a Premier League squad is enticount on branch offent and it will be engaging to see if Chilwell percreates in the top fairy this season.
No novel injuries a presentant raise
Chelsea were fortunate to dodge picking up any novel injuries aobtainst Barrow, who took a physical approach to their defensive duties. The enjoys of Nkunku and Felix were barged to the ground on a confidemand occasions but all of their percreateers seemed to get thraw unscathed.
With the games in the Premier League begining to come heavy and rapid, it was presentant for Chelsea to steer clear of any setbacks and they deal withd to do equitable that. It nastys they will have no novel worrys to deal with ahead of their game aobtainst Brighton on the weekfinish.
Reece James and Omari Kellyman will remain sidelined with their esteemive lengthy-term injuries, while Romeo Lavia could return from a thigh problem if he is passed fit ahead of boot-off.
