Anyone turning up at Chelsea with hopes of seeing a wild exhibition of end-to-end, brainless football should start making alternative plans. They are maturing nicely under Enzo Maresca, whose focus on control is squeezing the life out of opposition sides, and continued their rise with this emphatic win over a supine Aston Villa.
Chelsea, who are level on points with second-placed Arsenal, cruised to victory thanks to goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernández and Cole Palmer. Villa, who have sunk into mid-table after losing five of their past seven games in all competitions, were blown away and their hopes of challenging for the top four are fading.
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