Chelsea Back At Top Of Premier League

A hat-trick from Salomon Kalou saw Chelsea return to the top of the Premier League after a 7-0 thrashing of Stoke yesterday.

Chelsea were under pressure from Manchester United, who had snatched the top spot on Saturday after a 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Kalou struck twice in the first half; the first heading in a Drogba cross before sliding in seven minutes later to make it two.

After Robert Huth fouled Kalou captain Frank Lampard, who wore the armband in place of the suspended John Terry, stepped up to the penalty spot to make it 3-0 just before half time.

Despite having the match wrapped up by half time Chelsea didn't ease back in the second as Kalou bagged a third in the sixty eighth minute.

And just as it looked like Chelsea had had enough for the afternoon they knocked in three goals in eight minutes to send out a message to Manchester United that they were not going to give up the title without a fight.

Lampard found the back of the net first on eighty one minutes for his second of the afternoon and Sturridge and Malouda soon joined him on the score sheet.

Chelsea are not one point of United at the top of the Premier League with just two games to go until the end of the season.

Speaking after the match to the BBC Carlos Ancelotti was pleased with the way his players handled the pressure.

"There was a bit of pressure on us before the game but we gave a fantastic performance.

"I don't feel any pressure now. I am calm and quiet because the title is in our hands. We can decide our destiny."

Manchester United had a tough match ahead of them on Saturday as they faced Tottenham Hotspur, the London side have enjoyed a good run of form beating Chelsea and Arsenal in their previous two matches.

A Giggs penalty put United ahead on fifty eight minutes after Patrice Evra was fouled by Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

But Ledley King kept Tottenham in the match as some poor defending from United same his header from a Gareth Bale corner find the back of the net.

But it took United just nine minutes to one again take the lead as a pass from Macheda, who had come on as a substitute, set up Nani.

Nani was involved again five minutes later as he was brought down by Wilson Palacios. Giggs once again stepped up to the spot to put away his second penalty of the afternoon. Che