Sheffield United 1-2 Chelsea: 5 Talking Points as Blues ease past struggling Blades | Premier League 2020-21 

Mason Mount (right) celebrates Chelsea's opening goal with Timo Werner (left).
Mason Mount (right) celebrates Chelsea's opening goal with Timo Werner (left).

Chelsea rounded off another scintillating display with a 2-1 win against bottom-dwellers Sheffield United in the 2020-21 Premier League.

Mason Mount and Jorginho scored the goals for Thomas Tuchel either side of the break, while an Antonio Rudiger own-goal brought the Blades on level terms in the second half.

The win saw Chelsea play some fabulous football and maintain control of proceedings; they are now up to fifth place, only a point off Liverpool. Meanwhile, 20th-placed Sheffield United continue to stare at the barrels of relegation.

On that note, let us have a look at the five major talking points from Chelsea's comfortable win over Sheffield United.


#1 Sheffield United's intent surprises Chelsea early on

Max Lowe was absolutely peerless early on against Chelsea.
Max Lowe was absolutely peerless early on against Chelsea.

Fresh off a run of three wins in five Premier League outings, Sheffield United came out with a positive mindset against Chelsea.

They threatened to rob the Blues of their patience in advanced areas, pressed intently and did not allow any space for half-turns and interchanges.

Chris Wilder's side formed a five-man diamond in midfield off the ball that denied Chelsea any space. The likes of Chris Basham and Kean Bryan charged forward to apply pressure on the visiting team and add numbers to the opposition territory in transition.

Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic struggled to play around the Blades' press, with the former also surrendering possession a couple of times.

In the opening 20 minutes, only 18% of the game was played in Sheffield United's defensive third, explaining how hard Chelsea had to work to muster anything substantial.


#2 Mason Mount's everpresent display results in the opener

Mason Mount ticked all the boxes in midfield.
Mason Mount ticked all the boxes in midfield.

While Chelsea were laborious in possession and lethargic with their hold-up play, it was Mason Mount, as always, breaking between the lines, finding pockets of space and working his socks off to upgrade his side's intensity.

The youngster was always willing to turn and improvise against a rigid, well-drilled Sheffield United side.

He offered the zip that Tuchel cried for from the touchline and produced a moment of brilliance in the box by holding his run and capping off a sensational finish after being teed up by Timo Werner.

It started with Olivier Giroud dropping in deep and winning the ball; the Frenchman exchanged passes with Werner, who then asked Chilwell to return it to his path. The German did exceptionally well to spot the unmarked Mount.

It's now four goals in the Premier League for the man who was not necessarily tipped to remain the same player under new management.

#3 Calamity at both ends results in two quick goals

Jorginho (right) netted his second penalty in as many games for Chelsea.
Jorginho (right) netted his second penalty in as many games for Chelsea.

It was turning out to be a measured started to the second half for Chelsea before Antonio Rudiger endured a howler at the back.

The German international was in line with a loose ball in his own box, under pressure from the Blades forwards. However, in the ensuing miscommunication with Edouard Mendy, Rudiger passed the ball into the back of his own net while his keeper was marching towards it.

However, moments later, Mount's pressure on Lowe resulted in a sloppy backpass that broke the shackles for a lively Werner. Aaron Ramsdale denied the striker a clear goalscoring chance by taking him down, which after a VAR check, was deemed as a penalty.

Jorginho stepped up with his traditional hop-skip style, placing the ball imperiously past the hosts' keeper.


#4 Smart game-management from Chelsea caps off three points

Thomas Tuchel was a happy manager after his side earned their third consecutive win in a row.
Thomas Tuchel was a happy manager after his side earned their third consecutive win in a row.

Chelsea have now claimed ten points from their four games under Tuchel, and it's safe to say that they have largely dominated on all occasions.

It was the same against Sheffield; Chelsea worked the ball around extremely well just when Sheffield morphed into a back four and had three strikers on the pitch.

The Blues had their moments to dart forward, but chose to utilise the runners and pass around with conviction, thereby robbing the Blades of possession.

The fact that Sheffield moved to a four-man defence also allowed Chelsea to use spaces down the right-hand side, where N'Golo Kante was introduced as the final substitute.

Despite a couple of late scares from Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick, Chelsea saw off Sheffield United with ease.


#5 Timo Werner was on top of his game against Sheffield

Timo Werner caused all sorts of problems to Sheffield United with his runs beyond their defence.
Timo Werner caused all sorts of problems to Sheffield United with his runs beyond their defence.

His goal drought has still not ended, but Timo Werner was arguably Chelsea's best player on the pitch.

The forward was his side's only attacking outlet early on when they lacked ideas, but Werner continually ran in behind the Sheffield United backline and looked very sharp in possession. He established close control with the ball and always aimed to drift infield, with Ben Chilwell providing the width.

Werner's cut-back for Mount was sublime, and so was his presence of mind to pounce on a backpass that led to the penalty.

This performance was a clear demonstration for strikers who go through grey patches - work hard, play to one's strengths and run the races while questioning the opposition's shape.

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Edited by Bhargav
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