Jordan Henderson scores twice and sets up another as Chelsea move temporarily up to fifth.
Chelsea beat Bournemouth 5-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and they were 2-0 up after two minutes and 29 seconds. It is the earliest Chelsea have ever been two goals ahead in a Premier League game.
Jordan Henderson, the 36-year-old midfielder, put Chelsea ahead with a shot that went in off the post. Cole Palmer, who had extended his Chelsea contract earlier in the day, made progress into the box and cut the ball back for him. Henderson then set up Morgan Rogers, whose shot flicked off Bournemouth defender Antonio Silva and into the far corner.
There were no more goals before half-time. Early in the second half, a mistake by Silva let Pedro Neto cut the ball back for Joao Pedro, who scored 30 seconds after the restart. Bournemouth pulled one back in the 51st minute: Moises Caicedo, making his first start of the season in midfield, made a clearance that hit Evanilson and rebounded into the net.
Joao Pedro scored his second in the 67th minute, side-footing home after a low cross from Pep Chavarria. Henderson completed his brace in the 70th minute, bending a free kick in from 25 yards after Palmer was brought down.
Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso called it "a very complete performance" and said the side were in control for most of the game.
Alonso was just as pleased with Henderson:
"We signed him for everything and if he's able to score two beauties, as today, we are more than happy for him, but apart from the goals, he's done many, many good things."
Henderson had two goals and an assist in the match. It was the oldest such involvement for any side since Cristiano Ronaldo in April 2022.
Bournemouth boss Marco Rose was frank about the defeat. "We were not ready, we were not sharp enough," he said. Rose said his side had "three points after six games" and that they would "stick together". Bournemouth are still without a Premier League win this year after six matches.
The win ended Chelsea's three-game winless run in the Premier League and moved them temporarily up to fifth in the table. The defence is still a problem: Chelsea have conceded 13 goals in six Premier League games. Marco Palestra, the summer arrival, made his Chelsea debut as a substitute for Joao Pedro, after a hamstring injury earlier in the season.
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