Sterling double helps Chelsea see off Luton

Sterling double helps Chelsea see off Luton
_130906331_gettyimages-1638601134.jpgRaheem Sterling has been directly involved in 17 goals in his past 17 Premier League appearances against promoted teams (13 goals, four assists), including six in his six appearances in this run as a Chelsea player

Forward Raheem Sterling is "100%" focused on scoring goals as his double helped Chelsea cruise past Luton to record their first Premier League win under Mauricio Pochettino.

The 28-year-old scored twice and assisted Nicolas Jackson on Friday, and wants to get back to being "obsessed" with football.

Sterling, who has started the campaign in excellent form, said he wants to be the club's top scorer this season.

"It's a target I had to set myself [being Chelsea's top scorer this season] - it's something I know I can do," he told Sky Sports after the match.

Sterling received the ball wide on the right and jinked his way through three players before firing into the bottom corner to open the scoring in the 17th minute.

The England winger then doubled Chelsea's lead in the 67th minute when he scored from close range from a Malo Gusto cross.

Sterling was involved again as Chelsea got their third, sending a low cross into the area for Jackson to score his first goal for the club.

Luton, who are still looking for their first points of the season since being promoted from the Championship, caused Chelsea problems throughout the game but the Blues' quality saw them take all three points.

Chelsea, who handed a full debut to their £100m signing Moises Caicedo, will be happy with the win but Pochettino will know they have much to work on as they were far from their best.

The match was not as one-sided as the scoreline suggests, and it needed a good save from Robert Sanchez to stop Luton levelling when the score was 1-0.

Ben Chilwell should have made it 2-0 before the two second-half goals from Sterling and Jackson, but chose to pass instead of shooting when through on goal.

Sterling getting back to his best

After his £50m transfer from Manchester City, last season Sterling scored nine goals in 38 appearances - his lowest return since his debut campaign with Liverpool.

This season, however, Sterling looks like he is getting back to his best. Pochettino has spoken to the forward throughout this pre-season and the beginning of the campaign as he looks to get the best out of him - which seems to be having the desired effect.

Sterling's opening goal showed exactly why he is a key part of Gareth Southgate's England squad when fully fit. He has not been in the past two Three Lions squads because of fitness issues, but it seems likely he will be included following his start to this season when the latest squad is named next week.

His second goal against Luton showed his calmness when in dangerous positions, and the pass for Jackson's goal highlighted his quality.

If Chelsea are to get back to the top end of the table Sterling will be key to their hopes, as he is by far the most experienced and proven attacker they possess.

"If I'm 100% at something, I know what I can do and that's what I'm doing this year - just 100% focus on scoring goals and helping my team," said Sterling.

"I want to get back to being obsessed with football. Just football 24/7 and nothing else and focus on top performances and goals and assists."

Chelsea manager Pochettino also spoke to Sky Sports and said of Sterling's performance: "He played with freedom on the pitch. We know what he is capable of.

"We are pleased for him. He needs to keep going and contribute more goals and assists to help the team to win."

Luton show they will cause problems this season

Much was made of the players' pricetags before this match, with new Chelsea signing Caicedo costing more than the whole Luton squad.

However, at times you could not tell the difference in budget with the threat Luton carried.

Issa Kabore was dangerous down the right, and Luton's coaching team encouraged the full-back to run at Chilwell whenever he got the chance.

Tahith Chong flashed a shot high and wide after he nicked the ball from Caicedo, while Ryan Giles tested Sanchez in the Chelsea goal in the second half but they could not find a clear chance to score.

The Hatters showed again that they are an organised team that will cause sides in the Premier League problems, but Chelsea's superior quality saw them win comfortably.

Player of the match

SterlingRaheem Sterling

Chelsea

Squad number7Player nameSterling

Squad number15Player nameJackson

Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva

Squad number8Player nameFernández

Squad number21Player nameChilwell

Squad number27Player nameGusto

Squad number26Player nameColwill

Squad number23Player nameGallagher

Squad number1Player nameSánchez

Squad number2Player nameDisasi

Squad number25Player nameCaicedo

Squad number16Player nameUgochukwu

Squad number29Player nameMaatsen

Squad number37Player nameBurstow

Luton Town

Squad number24Player nameKaminski

Squad number9Player nameMorris

Squad number45Player nameDoughty

Squad number11Player nameAdebayo

Squad number7Player nameOgbene

Squad number12Player nameKaboré

Squad number6Player nameBarkley

Squad number29Player nameBell

Squad number16Player nameBurke

Squad number14Player nameChong

Squad number17Player nameMpanzu

Squad number19Player nameBrown

Squad number4Player nameLockyer

Squad number13Player nameNakamba

Squad number26Player nameGiles

Squad number5Player nameAndersen

Line-ups

Chelsea

Formation 3-4-2-1

1Sánchez

2Disasi6Thiago Silva26Colwill

27Gusto23Gallagher25Caicedo21Chilwell

7Sterling8Fernández

15Jackson

1Sánchez2Disasi6Thiago Silva26Colwill27Gusto23Gallagher25Caicedo21ChilwellSubstituted forMaatsenat 86'minutesBooked at 90mins7SterlingSubstituted forBurstowat 90+2'minutes8FernándezBooked at 73mins15JacksonSubstituted forUgochukwuat 83'minutes

Substitutes

3Cucurella11Madueke16Ugochukwu29Maatsen37Burstow43da Silva Moreira47Bergström48Humphreys50Beach

Luton

Formation 5-3-2

24Kaminski

12Kaboré16Burke4Lockyer29Bell26Giles

14Chong13Nakamba6Barkley

11Adebayo9Morris

24Kaminski12KaboréSubstituted forDoughtyat 70'minutes16BurkeSubstituted forAndersenat 77'minutes4LockyerBooked at 27mins29Bell26Giles14ChongSubstituted forOgbeneat 77'minutes13NakambaBooked at 30mins6BarkleySubstituted forMpanzuat 77'minutes11AdebayoSubstituted forBrownat 70'minutesBooked at 78mins9Morris

Substitutes

5Andersen7Ogbene8Berry10Woodrow17Mpanzu19Brown23Krul38Johnson45DoughtyReferee:Robert JonesAttendance:39,893

Live Text

Match ends, Chelsea 3, Luton Town 0.

Second Half ends, Chelsea 3, Luton Town 0.

Substitution, Chelsea. Mason Burstow replaces Raheem Sterling.

Ian Maatsen (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Ian Maatsen (Chelsea).

Tom Lockyer (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Jacob Brown (Luton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Moisés Caicedo.

Substitution, Chelsea. Ian Maatsen replaces Ben Chilwell.

Attempt missed. Jacob Brown (Luton Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Carlton Morris with a headed pass.

Attempt saved. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Chilwell.

Substitution, Chelsea. Lesley Ugochukwu replaces Nicolas Jackson.

Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Alfie Doughty (Luton Town).

Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Axel Disasi.

Attempt blocked. Carlton Morris (Luton Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Attempt blocked. Carlton Morris (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marvelous Nakamba.

Attempt blocked. Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Foul by Malo Gusto (Chelsea).

Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.

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