Chelsea’s six best results of a topsy turvy 2020: From Liverpool to Leeds
2 December: Sevilla 0-4 Chelsea
As the cold breath of December frosted our fingertips, Chelsea went searching for warmth, and authority over their Champions League group, in Sevilla.
Both clubs safely through to the knockout phase, this was a chance for rotation and rest, allowing fringe players an opportunity to impress their respective managers. However, one man completely stole the show, an individual who is no stranger to the spotlight but is quite often shunted to the wings.
Giroud grabbed all four as he became the oldest hat-trick scorer in Champions League history, and the first Chelsea player to bag a quadruple since Frank Lampard in 2010. As the records rolled in, so did the goals, all dispatched in a typically elegant manner. His first was placed out of Alfonso Pastor’s reach, his second delightfully dinked off his weaker foot over the onrushing Sevilla understudy, and his third a glancing header that secured a perfect hattrick on a perfect night for the striker.
He even had room to score from 12-yards, winning the penalty himself after Sergi Gomez brought his 6ft3 frame to the ground. This had only been Giroud’s second start of the season, and nobody in their right mind could drop a forward in such form, which ‘Leeds’ us in nicely to the next match…
5 December: Chelsea 3-1 Leeds United
Chelsea defeating Leeds United was powerful for several reasons. On the field, the conflict between the Blues and the Whites has been deeply embedded into footballing culture, a flame that has burned strong since the 60s and was relit after 16 years of Leeds’ absence from the top division.
Off the field, the more sentimental matter fell to allowing 2,000 fans back into the Bridge for the first time since that win over Everton in March, a joyous sight for everyone involved and a small nod that things were briefly moving in the right direction.
Back to the action, and despite Leeds going in front early on through Patrick Bamford, once on Chelsea’s books, the hosts leveled through Giroud on his maiden start in the league, scoring his fifth in seven days.
Kurt Zouma, who had been prolific in his own right, headed in from Mount’s corner just after the hour mark, with the points eventually wrapped up by Pulisic in the final few seconds. The pleasure reverberating around the stadium was magnified by the fact Chelsea went top of the league by a point, a feat they had not achieved since September 2018. Lampard had vanquished the threat of Marcelo Bielsa’s meticulous mind, whilst simultaneously throwing their hat into the ring for challengers to Liverpool’s throne.
dark. Next. Chelsea: Acquisitions to the squad the Blues should consider in January
What results do you think were the best in 2020? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!