For the 20th day of the Premier League, Chelsea, still irregular in December (4 wins, 3 losses) and cloistered at the end of the first part of the table, traveled to the pitch of promoted Luton Town, author of two consecutive victories in the championship. For their last deadline of the 2023 calendar year, the Blues wanted to finish on a positive note and thus relaunch themselves in the race for the top 5. For their part, the Hatters, first relegated, could leave the red zone in the event of a result positive and take a step ahead in the race to maintain.
But very quickly, the visitors were very effective… Taking advantage of a risky recovery from Issa Kaboré in his own area, Cole Palmer took his time to send a powerful strike into the small left net of Thomas Kaminski (1-0, 12th), and only confirmed his good form in this first part of the season. Despite some scares from the club based at Kenilworth Road, Mauricio Pochettino’s men doubled the lead through Noni Madueke, found by Palmer, who crucified the opposing goalkeeper at the near post (2-0, 37th).
Palmer the insatiable
Returning from the locker room, the Londoners continued to put pressure on their opponent of the afternoon in order to confirm their ascendancy over the former Championship resident. It was ultimately Palmer, again, who was decisive with a double: well served by Nicolas Jackson behind the Orange defense, the former Manchester City player played with the last defense before pushing the ball into the empty goal , despite the return of two defenders (3-0, 70th), for his 8th goal in the PL. Nevertheless, we had to expect the awakening of Rob Edwards’ Hatters…
Live ranking
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Team
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Pts
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J
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DIF
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G
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NOT
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D
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BP
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B.C.
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23 |
37 |
Because yes, Elijah Adebayo reduced the score just before the last quarter of an hour (74th) but an offside position forced the referee to cancel it, before finding the crossbar (80th). Ross Barkley finally scored against his former club on a corner deflected with a header at the near post (3-1, 80th). Unhappy twice in front of goal, Luton’s number 11 stood out as a surface fox to regain the ball and reduce the gap to a small goal (3-2, 86th). It was not enough to make Chelsea falter, who remain 10th in the standings but are getting somewhat closer to Europe.
