Chelsea thrash Stoke City

Salomon Kalou scored a hat-trick to lead Chelsea to a 7-0 hammering of Stoke, a victory which enables them to return to the top of the Premier League.



Jamaica’s Reggae Boy Ricardo Fuller played all 90 minutes for Stoke.



Kalou put Chelsea ahead in the 24th minute by heading home a Didier Drogba’s cross before Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen sustained a dislocated elbow as Kalou slid in to score his second in the 31st minute.



Frank Lampard made it 3-0 from the spot in the 44th minute after Robert Huth fouled Kalou, who then ran clear to complete his hat-trick in the 68th minute.



Lampard powered home a fifth in the 81st minute and Daniel Sturridge’s cool finish in the 87th minute and a Florent Malouda’s 89th minute tap-in completed the rout.



Chelsea move a point clear at the top with two games to go and their performance was an emphatic response to last week’s defeat by Tottenham that had given defending champions Manchester United renewed hope in the title race.



United had beaten Spurs on Saturday to overhaul the Blues at the top of the table.