EPL 2016-17: Chelsea 5-0 Everton - 5 talking points

As travelling fans started leaving as early as the one-hour mark, Chelsea fans were more than delighted to bid them goodbye on their long and disappointing journey home...

If anyone was in doubt of Chelsea’s transformation under new manager Antonio Conte, today’s 5-0 drubbing of Everton was surely decisive. Irrespective of what happens after the forthcoming international break, the Blues have not looked back since their defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates. Conte has made his system work and the entire team is reaping the benefits.

While Conte’s preferred choice of the 3-4-3 formation is definitely unusual for the Premier League, he has made it work remarkably while allowing the likes of Hazard the freedom to play the way they want to. The Toffees didn’t start too shabbily as they seemed to press the Chelsea defenders in the opening few minutes of the game.

However, they lost their hold on the proceedings as soon as Hazard scored in the 19^th minute which was quickly followed by Marcos Alonso’s first goal in a blue shirt. Thanks to Costa, they were up by three goals at the end of the first half.

Everton could do nothing to unnerve their opposition and Conte’s men increased their lead by two more goals by the end of the 90 minutes.Here are the major talking points from the game:

# 1 The reincarnation of Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard was too hot to handle for the Toffees

No one seems to be flourishing more under Conte than Eden Hazard. After the disappointing performance from last season, the Belgian looks like he has been rejuvenated. He was sharp, fluid and a delight to watch all night. Roman Abramovich, an ever-present figure in the stands at home must have been overjoyed to see him in such good form as he was involved in every single one of Chelsea’s goals against Everton.

His movement and passing were superb and there was very little the visitors could do to keep him in check as both his goals were the work of a craftsman. After just four goals last season, Hazard already has seven this year and for the first time in his career has scored in four consecutive games.

Conte seems to be getting the best out of the Chelsea talisman as he is free from defensive duties with Marcos Alonso playing right behind him.

# 2 Strategy gone wrong

Phil Jagielka failed to deal with Diego Costa all night and even suffered the embarrassment of being nutmegged

Ronald Koeman must have thought he could match Chelsea like-for-like by using three defenders and thereby contain them but he could not have been more wrong. Chelsea seems to have adapted very well to Conte’s tactics and from the way they started, the Dutchman should have tread on the side of caution and deployed his men in a way they were more accustomed to.

Everton’s defence was torn to shreds by the 20^th minute as Hazard and Alonso scored within 70 seconds. The failure of his plan quickly prompted Koeman to replace Oviedo with Kevin Mirallas in the 36^th minute but the damage had already been done. The defenders looked hapless before and after the change and were outplayed by the Blues all night.

# 3 Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso

Marcos Alonso scored his first goal for Chelsea

Victor Moses who was a Chelsea reject for many years and the all-new Marcos Alonso are the backbones of Chelsea’s attacks in many ways. As wing-backs, they have the grave responsibility of minding the opposition and lending a hand to Hazard, Pedro and Costa. They did an especially good job tonight as they stretched Everton along the flanks and wore them thin.

Their work-rate and concentration were unwavering and they looked quite threatening themselves. In fact, Alonso scored and Moses saw his shot bounce off the woodwork in the first half. However, Conte’s heavy dependence on the pair must raise doubts about who is good enough to replace them in the case of any injury.

#4 The missing case of the Everton forward

Everton failed to find a chink in Chelsea’s armour

With seven goals ahead of their visit to Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku seemed certain to score tonight but the Belgian was all but missing during most of the game. Even though he had Bolasie playing alongside him as a second forward, the two could not develop any link up like they usually do. Even when Bolasie dropped back to his usual position on the flanks, he failed to feed anything to Lukaku.

Despite the former Chelsea striker’s efforts to drop back and win the ball for himself, he barely made Courtois, his childhood friend, break a sweat. His teammates could provide very little service to him and he was left with very few options. Rather, he could even be blamed for giving Costa too much space as he scored from a set piece in the first half.

#5 The Conte Revolution

Antonio Conte’s involvement from the touchline has become crucial to the Blues

The change in the Chelsea team has been nothing short of miraculous. Conte’s system, his enthusiasm, determination and hard work seems to be a cut above the rest of the managers at the present moment. While only Liverpool’s attack can be described as better than theirs in the Premier League, a run of five clean sheets must be thrilling for the Blues dressing room.

After reforming Juventus and an apparently lacklustre Italy in the Euros this year, he seems to be working his magic at Stamford Bridge. With an uncanny ability to get the best out of his players, he has given the West Londoners hope. While downplaying any chances of silverware at the end of the season, as he rightly should, Conte continues to push his men to improve.

Even though they beat Manchester United 4-0 a fortnight ago, they seem to have improved even more after that. The Blues enjoyed the lion's share of the possession and were confident both on and off the ball. The team's hunger to win the ball back every time they lost it is impressive as is the new-found solidity of David Luiz and Gary Cahill. Diego Costa looks less angry and there is a precision and focus to their game that seems only unique to them so far.