A returning Joe Cole, who had been injured for two matches, drilled in a low drive from close range after an incisive ball by Frank Lampard.

Anelka then added Chelsea’s second near half-time, as the striker reacted quickest from Michael Ballack’s drive repelled by Brad Friedel, tapping-in on the rebound.

It was no less than Chelsea deserved, as they dominated proceedings throughout and rarely looked threatened by Martin O’Neill’s Villa side, despite Chelsea’s injury problems.

Chelsea missed five key players before the game and with Didier Drogba’s knee injury sustained in the midweek 0-0 draw at Cluj, Anelka returned up-front with young Argentine Franco Di Santo on the bench. Alex, also injured, was replaced by Branislav Ivanovic, making his Premier League debut.

Luiz Felipe Scolari will have been delighted with his side’s start as Chelsea began the first ten minutes emphatically with Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole’s constant forays penning Villa back and after seven minutes Friedel had to save Ballack and Malouda’s stinging drives.

Villa appeared toothless in attack and lacked momentum, instead surrendering the ball easily to the Blues, who spurned a great chance when Frank Lampard glanced a header wide from Anelka’s cross.

Chelsea had dominated the game and after squandering opportunities, finally lead on 21 minutes, when Florent Malouda capitalised on the edge of the area to combine with Lampard, before passing to Joe Cole who dispatched confidently beyond Friedel.

Villa’s players, who had been touted as even beating Chelsea before the game, had hardly competed at SW6 in the first-half. Apart from the odd cross by Gareth Barry, Villa had otherwise been out-fought by an impressive hosts display, particularly with Chelsea’s Ivanovic defending stoutly.

The visitors got lucky when Anelka’s thunderbolt from range smacked against the crossbar and bounced safely clear.

However Chelsea extended their lead just before the break when Ashley Cole’s marauding run and cross saw Ballack and Anelka’s efforts repelled by Friedel, before the striker finally netted.

With Chelsea dominant in the opening period, Villa could be no worse afterwards and they began purposefully as Stilian Petrov’s effort flashed wide just past the break.

Fourth place before this encounter, they began to improve and John Carew and a wayward Gabriel Agbonlahor wasted opportunities.

One reason Villa appeared to improve was through substitutes, defender Carlos Quellar and winger James Milner, whilst Chelsea will be concerned Anelka and Joe Cole hobbled off, with Di Santo and Salomon Kalou replacing them respectively.

But if not for poor finishing by Chelsea which culminated in Ballack, Di Santo, Kalou, Lampard and Malouda all wasting chances, the hosts could well have sealed the game earlier than the final whistle.

Kalou also had a legitimate strike disallowed on 65 minutes after good skill saw him fire past Friedel, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

However as Villa faded late on having to rely on Friedel denying Chelsea with some good saves, the match was effectively over as a contest, despite a more even second-half. Although Villa almost gained a late consolation when John Terry’s short header back to Cech almost allowed in Agbonlahor, only for the 6”5 inch keeper to deny him.

At full-time, Martin O’Neill’s side could not complain after not competing as expected, whilst Scolari’s side recovered from their disappointing midweek Transylvanian visit and played superbly despite numerous injuries. The biggest concern is Joe Cole’s injury.

Although Chelsea top of the table will delight Scolari whose team extended their unbeaten home league record to 86 matches.

Teams:

Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, A Cole, Terry, Ivanovic; Malouda (Belletti 83), J Cole (Kalou 57), Mikel, Lampard, Ballack; Anelka (Di Santo 45).
Unused subs: Hilario, Bridge, Ferreira, Mancienne.

Aston Villa: Friedel; L Young (Milner 46), Shorey, Davies (Cuellar 46), Laursen; Reo-Coker, Barry, Petrov, A Young, Carew (Harewood 71), Agbonlahor.
Unused subs: Guzan, Knight, Salifou, Gardner.

Referee: Chris Foy.

The Blues controlled the game and deservedly lead courtesy of right-back Bosingwa’s angled 36th minute effort, the first goal of the Portuguese’s Chelsea career to ease the visitors in front. Despite Stoke’s second-half rally, Anelka capitalised on an error by Leon Cort to sweep home the second, sealing victory on 76 minutes.

Stoke suffered from the offset as long-throw threat Rory Delap was sidelined with a hamstring strain, whilst adding to City’s woes, Blues striker Didier Drogba returned to make his first Premier League start this season.

With Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and now Joe Cole injury victims, Chelsea arrived at the Potteries with a depleted squad, but quickly stamped their authority on the match.

German midfielder Michael Ballack, who recently recovered from a three-week lay-off, forced ex-Sunderland ‘keeper Thomas Sorensen to produce two smart saves, firstly from a 20-yard drive and a threatening header from a corner.

With Stoke appearing bewildered by the opposition’s superior possession and attack, they struggled to match Chelsea and almost went behind when Drogba collected Ballack’s perfect cross and witnessed a sublime flick repelled brilliantly by Sorensen.

Despite Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side engineering the upper hand, Chelsea, who have yet to lose a league match in 2008, Stoke boss Tony Pulis saw his side threaten Chelsea in an isolated first-half effort when ex-Gillingham striker Mamady Sidibe, a hero on the opening day against Aston Villa, struck an awkward close-range header from a corner, comfortably saved by Chelsea ‘keeper Petr Cech.

However despite Stoke’s attacking outlet, which netted five goals in two home matches before meeting the West Londoners, the Blues took the lead through a quick-fire break from neat passing between Bosingwa, Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard, with the latter’s weighted ball inch-perfect for Bosingwa who thundered an angled drive across goal via Andy Griffin.

Chelsea almost extended their lead shortly after the break when first, Lampard’s smart run and drive deflected narrowly wide, and secondly Abdoulaye Faye’s mistake allowed Florent Malouda to strike an awkward drive, which crashed off the crossbar after a smart one-handed reaction save from Sorensen.

Although whilst Chelsea probed consistently and came close to sealing the match, the hosts gradually managed to force their way back in to the match and with their lofty defenders Cort and Griffin moving forward for set-pieces, they began to cause problems.

As Chelsea retreated deeper, Stoke almost capitalised on a nervy period for the visitors and Cort’s emphatic header caused chaos, only for the alert John Obi Mikel to nod off the line to safety.

But despite Stoke’s consistent second-half possession, they rarely threatened in the final third allowing Chelsea to react on the counter-attack and through half-time substitute Anelka, who replaced Kalou and had struck over from a tight angle in the second period, the Frenchman netted his fourth strike in seven games with a low drive across goal from 15 yards, despite Sorensen making slight contact but unable to prevent the goal.

Chelsea almost added to the proceedings when Lampard missed a good opportunity late on, but Scolari’s team suffered no further from Stoke and recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory.

Despite a spirited Stoke City display, which Pulis can be proud of, Scolari will be delighted with a professional performance which saw Chelsea return to the top of the table, after Arsenal’s shock 2-1 defeat by Hull City allowed Chelsea to head the league alongside Liverpool on 14 points.

Stoke: Sorensen; Griffin, Cort, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham; Lawrence (Tonge 65), Diao, Olofinjana, Cresswell; Kitson (Fuller 52), Sidibe (Amdy Faye 81).
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Whelan, Soares, Sonko.

Booked: Griffin, Cresswell.

Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole; Obi, Kalou (Anelka 46), Ballack (Ferreira 89), Lampard; Malouda, Drogba (Belletti 73).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Sinclair, Bridge.

Booked: Malouda.

Goals: Bosingwa 36, Anelka 76.

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Att: 27,500.

Kalou scored after Wayne Rooney’s dissent allowed John Obi Mikel’s free-kick to find the substitute, who headed beyond the statuesque United ‘keeper Thomas Kuszczak.

Ji-Sung Park had given United an early lead at Stamford Bridge on 18 minutes after Chelsea ‘keeper Petr Cech denied Dimitar Berbatov, only to react on the rebound.

The result reflected fairly on the balance of the game, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils commanding the opening half, before harsh words at half time from Luiz Felipe Scolari, provoked Chelsea in to a dominant second half display.

However neither side claimed victory, with Chelsea relinquishing their Premier League lead to Arsenal, whilst United remain in the league’s bottom-half after one win in four matches.

United appeared intent on avenging their slow season start as early as the first minute when Darren Fletcher’s shot was blocked inside the area after an intense opening.

And United’s ferocious pace saw Fletcher again failing to apply the finish from Owen Hargreaves’ deadly low right-wing cross on five minutes.

Although Chelsea almost seized an early advantage on eight minutes when Joe Cole – appearing to collect with his hand – galloped clear of the United defence before steering his shot wide.

Ricardo Carvalho was then substituted by Alex for Scolari’s side on 10 minutes to give United hope of unlocking Chelsea.

United came close when defender Rio Ferdinand’s dangerous drive was repelled by Cech after good passing, before gaining a deserved lead on 18 minutes.

Jose Bosingwa was caught napping by opposition full-back Patrice Evra, and the Frenchman bombarded down the left side before delivering a perfect cross to Berbatov, who forced an attempted holding save from Cech, only for Park to collect the rebound and fire United ahead.

Despite United’s opener, Chelsea hardly responded snappily and were sluggish with Didier Drogba’s influence up-front missed, though the Ivorian was ready to appear from the bench for the second-half.

But gradually Chelsea, who had not lost a home league match since the 21st February 2004 to Arsenal 2-1, started to rally via Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Lampard in the midfield, as Anelka and Malouda squandered two half chances before half-time.

However, despite United witnessing Edwin Van Der Sar being replaced in goal by Thomas Kuszczak on 30 minutes and suffering defensively, they almost extended their lead just before the break. Slick passing from Berbatov and Rooney found goal-scorer Park, who drove his shot from close range straight at Ballack.

Chelsea had demonstrated glimpses of their attacking and passing skill-set towards the end of the opening half and with Drogba replacing the wayward Malouda on half-time, the Blues increased their tempo thereafter.

Drogba almost capitalised on a superb ball from Joe Cole on the right only to be denied by a desperate Ferdinand, when any connection from the striker would have resulted in a goal.

As Chelsea pressed further with dominant spells of possession and flank forays, United offered threatening attempts on the break, with Park and substitute Cristiano Ronaldo scuffing shots wide.

But, as United’s ill-discipline increased, receiving a total of seven yellow cards come full-time, Chelsea continued to probe at United. They nearly equalised when Joe Cole’s surging central run resulted in a drive blocked by Kuszczak, with the England winger failing to notice Anelka who would surely have scored.

However, perhaps not, considering Anelka’s next offerings just five minutes later, as firstly the Frenchman, who had scored three goals in five matches this season, drilled a half-volley wide and exhibited the miss of the season when he squandered from three yards out after a tantalising Joe Cole run and cross.

Though Chelsea’s pressure continued and after Rooney came agonisingly close to sealing United’s win on the counter after driving in to the side-netting from Ronaldo’s run, Rooney further suffered just three minutes later.

Chelsea were awarded a free-kick after a foul by Rooney on Ashley Cole, and Mikel applied a cross to Kalou who nodded comfortably past Kuszczak on 80 minutes.

It was the least Chelsea deserved after some intense pressure in the second period, where substitute Kalou and Ballack had wasted efforts.

Furthermore, as Chelsea’s spirited second-half comeback ensued, Kalou almost applied the winner when his effort was blocked by Gary Neville for a corner after a terrific lunge from the right-back.

And despite Fletcher witnessing Alex expertly diving to divert his shot wide from close-range on 85 minutes, the game ended a point each in a frenetic match. Scolari’s side will be relieved to have drawn and perhaps not taken victory, whilst Ferguson will be exasperated not to have made ground on United’s rivals by surrendering further points against Chelsea.

Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, A Cole, Terry, Carvalho (Alex 12); J Cole, Malouda (Drogba 46), Mikel, Lampard, Ballack (Kalou 74); Anelka.
Unused subs: Cudicini, Ferreira, Bridge, Belletti.

Manchester United: Van Der Sar (Kuszczak 30); Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans; Hargreaves, Ji-Sung Park (O’Shea 75), Scholes (Ronaldo 55), Hargreaves; Berbatov, Rooney.
Unused subs: Brown, Giggs, Nani, Tevez.

Attendance: 41,760
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Juliano Belletti struck Chelsea’s opener against Juande Ramos’ side, before the visitors responded through Darren Bent’s strike on half-time.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the hosts who lacked sufficient penetration and width against an organised Spurs side, who gained their first point of the season in the Premier League.

Despite Chelsea’s superior possession for long periods, Tottenham remained defensively astute, with centre-half pairing Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate repelling Chelsea attacks.

Michael Ballack had been ruled out through injury for Chelsea, whilst Belletti filled an unorthodox anchorman berth, despite constant speculation his future lies elsewhere, with Bosingwa filling the right-back role, behind Michael Essien’s right-wing position.

Tottenham had not beaten Chelsea since February 1990 in the league at West London and it appeared likely to continue early on for the north Londoners.

Chelsea’s Frank Lampard provided an early scare for the visitors when he struck a tantalising chip after spotting ‘keeper Heurelho Gomes off his line, with Gomes responding by acrobatically tipping his shot over the bar.

However, despite Chelsea’s initial attacking aspirations, Spurs responded well when Giovanni Dos Santos’ run and pass found Darren Bent inside the area, who scuffed a shot wide via a deflection.

Though gradually Chelsea upped their play through Deco, Essien and Lampard and on 20 minutes Anelka’s shot on the turn from a corner was deflected vitally clear by King on the six-yard line.

Shortly afterwards Frenchman, Anelka, profited from a sublime through-ball by Belletti and after exquisite control, drove over wastefully after moving between King and Woodgate.

But Chelsea’s spell of dominance finally rewarded them with a goal as after Essien’s pile-driver smashed the crossbar from 25 yards, the resultant corner squeezed in after Bent’s clearance struck Belletti and in to the net to give the Blues the lead.

Spurs became uneased after going behind and some dangerous Chelsea probes on the wings from Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole almost provided Chelsea further opportunities.

Although, Chelsea failed to profit from their superiority and Tottenham scored against the run of play after Luka Modric’s pass struck Lampard and fell kindly to Bent who paid dividends for his earlier mistake in Chelsea’s goal, as he tucked the ball through the legs of the onrushing Petr Cech.

If Spurs thought they had a psychological advantage after their equaliser, so it proved as Ramos’ team improved after the break.

Chelsea’s passing continued to exude fluidity, but lacked an end product, despite Ashley Cole’s fizzing drive across the area on 47 minutes.

With the hosts struggling against humidity, Ramos seized the chance to snatch the game by introducing Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone and Jamie O’Hara in the second period, with the latter causing problems.

And despite Ricardo Carvalho’s free header over from a Lampard corner on 65 minutes, Chelsea’s substitution Florent Malouda, signalled Scolari’s intention to add greater firepower up front.

But with Anelka increasingly isolated and Deco appearing frustrated in possession, their sterile attacking in the final third was soaked up easily by Spurs’ defence, with the visitors dangerously counter-attacking.

Though neither side threatened the opposition goal until the final 15 minutes, when firstly Modric’s run was obstructed by Chelsea captain John Terry, with the England defender lucky not to give away a free-kick on the edge of the box. As Spurs probed for an opening, Chelsea retaliated in a rare opportunity after Anelka’s potent flick in the area fell for substitute Salomon Kalou, who scuffed his shot twice under pressure, striking poorly wide on 78 minutes.

Although Chelsea continued to string intricate passes together, with them dominating the final 10 minutes, Spurs held firm and despite a possible penalty shout after a collision between King and Lampard in the area, they recorded their first league point at the Bridge since 2004.

With two defeats in their opening league matches before this encounter, Spurs will be impressed with their disciplined display against Chelsea, despite striker Dimitar Berbatov’s omission further suggesting his move to Manchester United is near completion.

Chelsea meanwhile will be looking to add width through Robinho who today hit out at current employers Real Madrid that he wishes to move to SW6, despite Madrid chairman Roman Calderon affirming the Brazilian will be staying at the Bernabeu.

But with Chelsea missing an opportunity to comfortably extend their lead at the top of the Premier League, the incentive has returned for title rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United to intensify the pressure on Scolari’s side in the coming weeks.

Holders Manchester United play host to an all British tie against Celtic in Group E, alongside Spanish side Villarreal and Denmark’s Aalborg. Arsenal, in Group G, play Portuguese Champions League winners in 2004, Porto, Turkish side Fenerbahce and Ukrainians, Dynamo Kiev.

Liverpool, who like Arsenal progressed via the qualification stages last night (Wednesday), are deemed to have the toughest group with PSV, Marseille and Atletico Madrid, in Group D.  The opening set of games will be played on the 16th and 17th of September.

In other news, Shaun Wright-Phillips has rejoined Manchester City on a four-year-contract from Chelsea, according to the BBC Sport website.  The 26-year-old winger has signed for an undisclosed fee and is Manchester City’s fourth signing under ex-Blackburn boss and former Chelsea striker, Mark Hughes.

Wright-Phillips had left the City of Manchester Stadium for West London in July 2005, but failed to gain a regular first team place at Chelsea, making only 82 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals.

“Obviously I’m delighted to come back to City and I can’t wait to get started again,” Wright-Phillips told the Manchester City website. City boss Hughes, added: “I’ve always admired Shaun and he’s been a target of mine since I came to the club.”

Wright-Phillips joins former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim at City this summer.

The Portuguese struck an arcing 25 yard effort past Wigan goalkeeper, Mike Pollitt, after four minutes at the JJB Stadium.

Despite such beauty, Chelsea battled for victory and manager Luiz Felipe Scolari will remind his players that Chelsea will need to perform better against their title rivals.

The hosts caused Chelsea’s expansive formation countless problems and Chelsea’s Petr Cech made four important saves, three of those in the opening half, ensuring Chelsea kept their second successive clean sheet; remaining unbeaten in 2008 in the Premier League.

Wigan dictated play in an unimpressive opening half by the visitors, who through midfield trio; Ballack, Lampard and Deco – with Joe Cole again supporting Anelka up-front, appeared careless in possession.

Michael Essien, returning from injury, was the only change for Chelsea from the Portsmouth match, replacing John Obi Mikel, who had performed outstandingly in the anchorman midfield role last week.

An outstanding performance looked likely as early as the fourth minute, as Chelsea started perfectly. A handball by Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole gave the Blues a free-kick outside the area, just right of centre, which Deco finished sublimely past a bewildered Pollitt.

However, despite the blistering start, Chelsea thereafter offered glimpses of negative football from previous seasons, coupled with Wigan’s impressively determined response.

Wilson Palacios nearly provided an instant reply for Steve Bruce’s side, as the winger turned right-back Jose Bosingwa on the left angle of the penalty area, before wrestling free of the ex-Porto defender and unleashing a drive which Cech parried behind at his near post.

Wigan continued to attack and only two minutes later, Amr Zaki’s effort from 15 yards was smartly blocked by Cech with his legs.

Chelsea meanwhile, failed to threaten the hosts’ goal. Although Bosingwa probed sporadically, the Premier League leaders were offensively inept.

Despite some nearly-balls from Ballack and Deco to Chelsea’s strike-force, Wigan’s Emmerson Boyce and Titus Bramble remained an impenetrable force.

And although Ricardo Carvalho nodded over from Lampard’s corner on 17 minutes from 10 yards, Chelsea almost gifted Wigan a penalty after a bizarre push by Cech on Boyce inside the area luckily went unnoticed by referee Alan Wiley, before Zaki’s drive from the left of the penalty area was clawed away by Cech from 15 yards on 26 minutes.

Wigan’s attractive interplay meant Chelsea struggled to gain possession and although Anelka flicked over from a Lampard free-kick on 37 minutes, Chelsea continued to remain toothless.

But, Anelka perhaps should have been awarded a penalty on 41 minutes after a careless foul by Boyce on the Frenchman as he wriggled in to the box.

By half-time Chelsea were relieved to be ahead and after Wigan’s Jason Koumas was replaced by Daniel De-Ridder on half-time, Chelsea dampened the home crowd’s spirit with some better possession and negated the Latics’ forward forages.

Scolari’s side appeared increasingly set-up for a counter-attacking game after the break, with Anelka and Deco’s final delivery almost producing a second goal.

Though despite Salomon Kalou replacing the ineffective Joe Cole and aiming to enable width, Chelsea gifted Wigan a foot-hold in the game with 15 minutes left, after sloppy play.

First Palacios’ shot was blocked brilliantly inside the area by Chelsea captain John Terry, after Wigan’s hardworking Zaki and Heskey’s turn produced the chance for the Honduran.

Then as Wigan’s pressure built, with De Ridder and Zaki’s influence demonstrative, substitute Olivier Kapo’s low drive after neat Wigan passing against lax Chelsea defending, caused Cech to stretch the Frenchman’s 25 yard drive behind for a corner two minutes from time.

Chelsea went close to a second goal on the break through Lampard and Anelka, only to be denied by splendid challenges from Cattermole and Bramble. As time dwindled, the visitors retreated further and if not for more incisive crossing by Wigan’s attack, the Blues may have been punished in Lancashire.

However, they defended stoutly and at the final whistle, Scolari’s men had laboured sufficiently to prolong their winning start to the season and move above Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool at the top. With tougher challenges remaining ahead, one wonders how the West Londoners will cope against their nearest title rivals after this tough encounter. But importantly, Chelsea’s resolve to win without playing well highlights them as Championship material already.

Squads:

Wigan Athletic; Pollitt; Melchiot (Camara 84), Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa; Valencia, Palacios (Kapo 79), Cattermole, Koumas (De Ridder 45); Zaki, Heskey.
Booked: Cattermole 48.

Chelsea; Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole (Bridge 82); Essien; Deco, Ballack, Lampard, J Cole (Kalou 57); Anelka (Malouda 88).
Booked: Terry 13, Carvalho 73.

Referee: A Wiley.

Now unbeaten in 83 home league matches, the Blues played impressively throughout and delighted the Chelsea fans with slick passing and robust attacking.

They struck incisively through Joe Cole’s low effort on 12 minutes after a superb through ball by Michael Ballack, before Nicolas Anelka added a second with a precise header on 25 minutes after a cross from the exciting ex-Barcelona midfielder, and debutant, Deco.

If Portsmouth hoped to respond just before half-time, they instead contributed further to their own downfall, when Sylvain Distin handled and Frank Lampard struck from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time.  And despite no goals for over an hour afterwards, including the interval, Deco then capped a superb display by striking a swerving effort from 25 yards, which eluded England keeper David James on 89 minutes.

It was no less than Chelsea deserved as they controlled the ball elegantly in possession with sublime one-and-two touch passes, whilst marauding probes by full-backs Ashley Cole and debutant Jose Bosingwa, caused Portsmouth numerous problems.

Portsmouth, who had not won at Stamford Bridge since 1955 in Chelsea’s first top-flight title winning season, were overawed by Chelsea’s threatening deadly trio of Ballack, Deco and Lampard.

Although new signing Peter Crouch promised to offer an aerial threat up front, he struggled in the opening half, whilst ex-Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra toiled unrewardingly against the Blues’ industrious midfield. Harry Redknapp’s side appeared unlikely throughout to breach a Chelsea defence, who had only conceded twice against Pompey in 10 previous top-flight meetings.

Petr Cech kept goal for Chelsea once again, with John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho completing the back four, behind midfield-anchor John Obi Mikel.

And although Didier Drogba again missed out via his recurring knee injury, Chelsea’s fluid passing football defied their normal necessity for a ‘route-one’ approach.  Scolari’s side appeared effervescent from the offset and after some half chances in the opening 10 minutes, they were ahead after just 12.

Ballack’s searching ball from the outside of his boot, found Joe Cole who delivered a sliding drive past James.
Chelsea constantly threatened after, and Nicolas Anelka’s shot on 20 minutes from the edge of the box was impressively denied by the Pompey keeper.

However last season’s forlorn Frenchman was not to be denied his first goal at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea, when after a right-wing rampage by Bosingwa, the Portuguese found Deco, whose cross to Anelka caught James flat-footed as he headed nonchalantly for 2-0.

Portsmouth by contrast offered little and central-midfielders Papa Bouba Diop and Diarra were being outshone by their Chelsea counterparts.  After Anelka had a chance for a second goal squeeze just past the post after rounding James on 28 minutes, Florent Malouda replaced the injured Ballack on 37 minutes. The Frenchman’s impact was immediate, as his sharp cross-shot almost found the run of Ashley Cole in the area.

However Chelsea were not to be denied for long. Shortly after Cech produced his first meaningful saves from Kranjcar and Crouch on half-time, Chelsea soon broke and Distin’s handball after a run from Joe Cole presented Lampard with a chance to seal the points before the interval.

The England midfielder netted confidently from the spot and it capped a jubilant week for the ex-West Ham player, who signed a new five-year contract on Wednesday.

With Chelsea in cruise control and almost adding to their lead through Anelka and Joe Cole after the break, the tempo eased as the hosts toyed with their opponents, Deco particularly. Despite party tricks the Portuguese’s forte, the 30-year-old delivered a near-faultless display, with perfect passes and hard-working runs and tackles, which summed up Chelsea’s afternoon.

However Portsmouth did create a brief spell which almost produced a goal. But after Younes Kaboul’s header over from a corner, a Crouch effort blocked in the area by Carvalho, with the visitors suggesting handball, and a Jermaine Defoe strike skewed wide, Chelsea regained authority.

Carvalho himself almost scored after a pinpoint Lampard corner, before the twice Premier League winners rounded off a wonderful afternoon through the flamboyant Deco.  The Euro 2004 runner-up under ex-Portugal boss Scolari, fired a rasping drive which roared past James for 4-0, with the England keeper perhaps slightly at fault.

But, the goal and the performance against a mostly toothless Portsmouth side, who were repeatedly troubled in defence, highlighted a refreshing approach under Scolari’s new regime. Although it is early to suggest Chelsea are ready to re-claim the Premier League, those in the north are sweating greater than might have been anticipated for the season to come.

Squads:

Chelsea; Cech, Bosingwa (Ferreira 84), A Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Mikel, Ballack (Malouda 37), Lampard, Deco, J Cole (W-Phillips 78), Anelka.

Portsmouth; James, Kaboul, Hreidarsson, Campbell, Distin, Johnson, Kranjcar (Thomas 73), Diarra (Mvuemba 68), Bouba Diop, Crouch, Defoe.

Referee: M Dean.

Pizarro, 29, has returned to the Bundesliga, despite attracting interest from recently promoted Premier League sides Hull City and Stoke City.

However, the Peruvian international striker decided on Bremen, after Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari was determined to find the ex-Bayern Munich player a new club according to yesterday’s Daily Mail.

Pizarro joined Chelsea on a free transfer under ex-boss Jose Mourinho last July. But, after the Portuguese departed Stamford Bridge, Pizarro hardly figured under former coach Avram Grant. Pizarro has made 21 appearances for Chelsea and despite scoring on the opening day of last season at home to Birmingham City, he only scored once more, again against the Midlands side at St Andrews.

Meanwhile Chelsea full-back Juliano Belletti is reportedly on his way out of Stamford Bridge according to the Daily Mail. The 32-year-old Brazilian signed last season from Barcelona, but Chelsea boss Scolari is seeking a move for Belletti, after Jose Bosingwa joined Chelsea this summer.

*Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, who has yet to appear for the Blues since signing in January, is also reported to be a target for Italian sides Juventus and AC Milan.

The ex-Chelsea striker was told to pay compensation by Fifa’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC), which resolves legal disputes with players and clubs, including contractual, work and training matters.

Chelsea had signed the striker in August 2003 for £15m from Serie A side Parma, as part of Roman Abramovich’s first season at the club. However, in September 2004, Mutu tested positive for cocaine and was subsequently released from his contract on October 29th, 2004.

Mutu, 29, was then issued a seven month worldwide football ban and a £20,000 fine from the Football Association, before he joined Italian outfit Juventus in January 2005 after serving his ban.

After joining fellow Italian side Fiorentina in July 2006, where he has scored 33 goals in 62 appearances, the Romanian international was told by Fifa to pay Chelsea £9.6m in damages in June 2008.

Despite Mutu and his lawyer, Cristian Sarbu, contesting the fine, the sum was later raised on appeal and today Chelsea were granted their compensation package.

A statement on the Chelsea website read: “This is a very significant decision for football. Not only did the Dispute Resolution Chamber make us a very significant monetary award, it also recognised the damaging effect incidents involving drugs has on football and the responsibility we all have in this area.”

Mutu, who scored 10 goals in 38 appearances for Chelsea, can now appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Discuss this issue in the CFCnet forums.

Besides his unrivalled goals tally from the middle of the park, where he surpassed even Dennis Wise’s invaluable Chelsea career return of 76 goals, his range of passing from differing angles under pressure and his numerous assists in difficult matches, reflect his unforgettable attributes.

Often in important games, despite criticism from supporters and media alike, Lampard has delivered the goods. For example, only this season, Chelsea’s victory against Liverpool in the Champions League was eased by Lampard’s nerve in dispatching the spot-kick only weeks after his mother’s death in April, with Lampard helping Chelsea on their way to Moscow in May.

Lampard again gave Chelsea hope in the final against Manchester United by racking up an equaliser against the run of play after a torrid first half. Lampard therefore proves vital by scoring goals literally ‘out of the blue’.

Lampard’s commitment and resolve can be highlighted by his unrivalled number of appearances in the Barclays Premier League between October 2001 and December 2005.

Until an injury against Manchester City on December 28th 2005 forced Lampard to withdraw from the match, Lampard had made 164 successive appearances, holding the current record in the Premier League.

His tackling and running from box to box are often underrated, whilst his goals record is exemplary. As the seventh top scorer for Chelsea, behind such potent poachers as Kerry Dixon and Peter Osgood, Lampard has not failed to score 20 or more goals in the past three seasons for the Blues.

And whether Lampard is an attractive player to watch? Who can forget Lampard’s runner-up result, behind Brazilian star Ronaldinho in the FIFA World Player of The Year awards in 2005. Bettered only by Ronaldinho? There is no shame in that. Lampard has had his critics in previous seasons, but one wonders whether the unbelievably high standards he has set for himself in his Chelsea career, has effectively put even more pressure on him to perform.

Do critics of Lampard require him to be extra-terrestrial? For Chelsea fans with their feet on the ground and realistic of football’s demands, Lampard remains a hero continually in the making at Stamford Bridge.