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Raheem Sterling scored twice and set up the third goal to help Chelsea beat Luton 3-0 in the Premier League and give Mauricio Pochettino his first win as Blues manager.
Nicolas Jackson added his first Chelsea goal in the 75th after being on hand to tap in a low cross from Sterling, helping ease concerns about Chelsea’s scoring prowess following a loss and a draw in the team’s opening two games of the season.
Sterling had been one of the few bright spots for Chelsea in those games and again looked back to his best in giving the hosts the lead with a superb solo effort in the 17th.
Picking up the ball wide on the right, he drove in from the wing with purpose, darting into the box and cutting inside three defenders before sliding a left-footed finish past goalkeeper Thomas Kaminsky.
His second came after more Chelsea pressure in the second half. Malo Gusto whipped a low ball into the box to a wide-open Sterling, who swept it home into the bottom corner.
Raheem Sterling. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Stamford Bridge suddenly found its mood transformed, and within minutes it was three. Enzo Fernandez sent a clever spinning ball up to Sterling, whose cross took a slight deflection before finding Jackson in front of the net.
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Pochettino praised his two goalscorers and believes their performances are important for confidence.
He told Sky Sports: “He (Sterling) needs to feel the confidence and be free on the pitch. I am very pleased for him and he needs to keep going and contribute with goals and assists.”
It's flowing football from the Blues and Raheem Sterling has his second of the match against Luton Town ????
Conor Gallagher to Moises Caicedo to Malo Gusto to Sterling. As easy as you like.
“The first victory is important to provide the team with confidence,” he added.
“I think we need to feel that; it is important because feeling that, we can build something important.
It was a second straight loss for promoted Luton, whose first home game of the season was postponed last weekend because of ongoing work on their home stadium to get it up to Premier League standards.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are set to have key new signing James Maddison fit for the trip to Bournemouth, but coach Ange Postecoglou has fired a warning to the players on the fringes of his bloated squad.
Maddison trained for the first time this week on Friday after he sat out a number of sessions with a sore ankle sustained during last weekend’s impressive 2-0 win over Manchester United.
Postecoglou has handed minutes to 18 members of his squad during his promising first two Premier League games in charge but now faces a busy final week of the summer transfer window, with outgoings a priority for the club.
Offers will be listened to for former captain Hugo Lloris, Djed Spence, Eric Dier, Japhet Tanganga, Sergio Reguilon and Tanguy Ndombele while Davinson Sanchez, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Bryan Gil could exit if the right bid comes in.
Youngsters Alfie Devine and Troy Parrott have departed on loan to Port Vale and Excelsior Rotterdam respectively during the past 24 hours, but Tottenham still have 31 players aged 21 or over and will need to submit a list of 25 to the Premier League on September 13.
“At the moment you can see by doing the maths, we have got too many players,” Postecoglou said.
“In terms of when we submit our final list, there will be guys here who won’t be on that list if nothing changes so I am pretty sure that will change.
“From now until the end of the window I am sure there will be some movement.”
Postecoglou was asked specifically if Lloris could remain at the club despite the Frenchman stating back in June his desire for a new challenge.
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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou after Tottenham beat Manchester United. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Australian did not completely rule it out but noted Guglielmo Vicario is his number one and Fraser Forster will be his back-up goalkeeper.
He added: “You can’t just have any number of players you want. There is a list and it is unlikely we will have three goalkeepers on our final Premier League list.”
Spurs look set to be boosted by Maddison’s presence for the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at Bournemouth despite fears of a potential injury lay-off when the midfielder left Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on crutches and in a protective boot last Saturday night after he took a blow to his ankle in the win over Manchester United.
But Postecoglou said: “Madders trained today unrestricted. We’ll see how he pulls up but at this stage it looks like he will be available.”
