PREM: Huddersfield 0-3 Chelsea

Chelsea go top

Jorginho scored on his Chelsea debut as Maurizio Sarri's tenure began with a 3-0 win over Huddersfield at the John Smith's Stadium.

Jorginho, a £57m summer signing from Sarri's former club Napoli, netted from the penalty spot (45) after N'Golo Kante had opened the scoring with a first-time finish from Willian's cross (34).

Steve Mounie hit the post for Huddersfield in between those goals, but Chelsea dominated the second half, adding their third goal when Eden Hazard, who started the game on the bench following his World Cup excursions, set up Pedro (80).

 

It capped a satisfying afternoon for Sarri, who also handed a debut to Kepa Arrizabalaga following his world-record £71.6m transfer from Athletic Bilbao in his first Premier League game in charge.

Huddersfield never looked like getting back into the game after Jorginho's penalty on the stroke of half-time, but it looked like an even contest in the opening exchanges.

 

Chelsea enjoyed most of the possession in Sarri's favoured 4-3-3 formation, but they struggled to break the hosts down until Kante hit the opener with their first shot on goal.

The World Cup-winner, who was playing in a more advanced role than last season, mis-hit his effort, but it bounced up and over Huddersfield goalkeeper Ben Hamer to give him his first Premier League goal since September 2017.

 

Mounie was inches away from equalising when he headed against the inside of the post from a Huddersfield corner a few minutes later, but Chelsea soon doubled their advantage.

Marcos Alonso won their penalty, drawing a foul from Christopher Schindler, and Jorginho showed impressive composure to coolly slot his finish past Hamer.

 

Alonso then struck the crossbar with an acrobatic effort as Chelsea became increasingly dominant in the second half, with the third goal eventually arriving 10 minutes from time.

Hazard was the architect, driving forward and drawing blue and white shirts towards him before releasing the unmarked Pedro, who dinked his finish over Hamer to wrap up the victory.