Higuain Off The Mark: 5-Star Chelsea Demolish Huddersfield Town
2nd February 2019
Blues boss Sarri had been under fire after they suffered their heaviest Premier League defeat for 23 years in a humiliating 4-0 loss at Bournemouth on Wednesday
- Gonzalo Higuain eased the pressure on Maurizio Sarri as the Chelsea striker's first goals for his new club inspired a 5-0 demolition of Huddersfield on Saturday
- Amid reports the Italian is already in danger of the sack less than a year after taking charge, he was indebted to his old friend Higuain for lifting the gloom around Stamford Bridge.
- Higuain, signed on loan from Juventus at Sarri's behest after their successful spell together at Napoli, opened his account early in the first half of Chelsea's biggest win of the season
LONDON, United Kingdom- Gonzalo Higuain eased the pressure on Maurizio Sarri as the Chelsea
striker's first goals for his new club inspired a 5-0 demolition of
Huddersfield on Saturday.
Blues boss Sarri had
been under fire after Chelsea suffered their heaviest Premier League defeat for
23 years in a humiliating 4-0 loss at Bournemouth on Wednesday.
Amid reports the
Italian is already in danger of the sack less than a year after taking charge,
he was indebted to his old friend Higuain for lifting the gloom around Stamford
Bridge.
Higuain, signed on
loan from Juventus at Sarri's behest after their successful spell together at
Napoli, opened his account early in the first half of Chelsea's biggest win of
the season.
It was the start of
an influential display from the Argentine and, with Eden Hazard free to return
to his preferred role on the flanks after a spell up front, Chelsea looked far
more vibrant.
Hazard's
controversial penalty doubled Chelsea's lead before half-time after referee
Paul Tierney ruled Cesar Azpilicueta was fouled inside the area, when the
offence actually took place just outside.
That welcome piece
of good fortune for Sarri was followed by further goals for Hazard, Higuain and
David Luiz after the interval as Chelsea ended a run of two successive league
defeats in emphatic fashion.
READ ALSO: Bournemouth Bury Chelsea In Four-Goal Blitz, Liverpool Held
After winning for
only the second time in their last five league matches, Chelsea climb back into
fourth place above Arsenal, who trail by three points and face Manchester City
on Sunday, as they battle to qualify for the Champions League.
While Chelsea's
winter of discontent won't seem so bleak for Sarri now, the Blues remain at a
crossroads.
Much sterner tests
await than Huddersfield, who are rooted to the bottom of the table and look
destined for relegation after an 11th defeat in their last 12 league games.
Chelsea face a
season-defining period that includes the League Cup final against Manchester
City and meetings with Manchester United in the FA Cup and City and Tottenham
in the league.
Sarri hasn't helped
his cause with rigid tactics and dubious man-management -- conducting a long
inquest with his players after the Bournemouth mauling and claiming they don't
understand even the basics of his system.
The 60-year-old is
adamant his philosophy will work if he is given time.
But for 'Sarri-ball'
to succeed, he needs Higuain to hit the ground running.
READ ALSO: FA Cup: Defending Champions Chelsea To Tackle United In Fifth Round
The Argentine had
been off the pace in his first two Chelsea appearances, but he brings a more
physical and authoritative presence than the unlamented Alvaro Morata.
Chelsea had failed
to score in three of their last four league games, but Higuain ended that
barren streak in the 16th minute.
When N'Golo Kante
slipped a neat reverse pass towards Higuain, the 31-year-old timed his run
perfectly to beat the offside trap, held off his marker and smashed a fierce
first-time finish into the roof of the net.
Higuain isn't all
brute force. His clever movement was too much for Huddersfield to handle, and
he was just off-target after gliding onto Marcos Alonso's cross.
Chelsea's constant
pressure was rewarded with that dubious penalty on the stroke of half-time.
With Huddersfield
offering so little threat, Azpilicueta was free to roam forward and the Chelsea
defender's run was ended by a crude shove from Elias Kachunga.
READ MORE: Chelsea, Spurs Seek Striking Options As Man United Turn Up The Heat
Hazard ignored
Huddersfield's protests as he calmly sent Jonas Lossl the wrong way from the
spot.
That was Hazard's
16th goal of the season and the 17th arrived in the 66th minute.
Ross Barkley's fine
pass put Hazard through on goal and he produced a deft first touch to round
Lossl before finishing with a flourish from a tight angle.
Chelsea had their
swagger back now and Higuain unfurled a majestic 20-yard strike that whistled
into the top corner in the 66th minute.
Luiz's 86th minute
header deflected in off Kachunga to seal the rout.