PREM: Burnley 0-4 Chelsea

Ross Barkley stars for Blues

Chelsea returned to within two points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a commanding 4-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.

Alvaro Morata's first-half strike was followed by fine long-range efforts from Ross Barkley and Willian after the break before Ruben Loftus-Cheek completed his productive week with a late goal to ensure Maurizio Sarri became the first Chelsea manager to go unbeaten in his first 10 Premier League games.

Morata might have had a hat-trick in the opening 45 minutes, but was denied by two excellent Joe Hart saves, while Willian also hit a post in an eye-catching away performance by the Londoners, who were without the injured Eden Hazard.

 

Burnley rarely threatened after a bright opening 10 minutes which saw the returning Robbie Brady volley just wide and they remain on nine points, just three clear of the relegation zone.

Chelsea looked set for a tough day in the Lancashire sunshine as Burnley snapped into tackles and pegged back their visitors, but Sarri's side warmed to their task and after Hart had leapt to tip Morata's instinctive header wide, Willian then bent a shot onto the post.

Moments later Chelsea were ahead, as N'Golo Kante fed Barkley, the England man's super touch releasing Morata (22) into the box and his cool finish left Hart with no chance for his fourth goal of the season.

 

James Tarkowski then headed over from eight yards as Burnley sought an immediate response, but it was Chelsea who continued to dominate despite losing Pedro to injury on 30 minutes - the Spaniard replaced by Loftus-Cheek.

Hart was then forced into a second superb save - charging out to deny Morata after Jorginho's exquisite chip had beaten the offside trap - but he could do nothing about Barkley's 25-yard strike - the midfielder driving forwards and drilling home with his left foot on 57 minutes.

Willian added a third five minutes later, cutting inside and bending a shot past Hart into the corner, although it looked to take a nick off a defender's knee on the way through.

And Chelsea saw the game out in style - with Hart making his third world-class save to tip Olivier Giroud's header onto the post before Loftus-Cheek added to his Europa League hat-trick with a bundled finish in added time.