Source: PA
Anelka gives Black Cats the blues
New signing Fernando Torres was not needed as Nicolas Anelka reminded Chelsea of his potency at Sunderland, scoring in a 4-2 victory.
The game was only four minutes old when Phil Bardsley picked up possession on halfway and with nobody closing him down, made his way towards goal and sent a swerving right-foot shot past Petr Cech.
But Chelsea flexed their muscles and were level within 11 minutes. Quite what Ahmed Elmohamady was trying to do when he climbed all over Ashley Cole as the pair fought for Michael Essien's teasing cross may remain known only to him, but referee Mark Halsey had little choice but to point to the spot and Frank Lampard needed no second invitation.
Chelsea went ahead eight minutes later when Anelka pounced on a loose ball to slide Salomon Kalou in, and the Ivory Coast international deftly tucked a shot past the advancing Craig Gordon. It was Sunderland who struck the next blow when, after Elmohamady had been felled by Mikel, Kieran Richardson sent a free-kick through a crumbling wall and into the back of the net.
Chelsea regained the lead on the hour when, after Gordon had pulled off a fine save to keep out Lampard's powerfully-struck effort, John Terry hit the rebound into the ground and saw it arc over the keeper and into the net.
Gordon was relieved to see Kalou's 67th-minute shot hit both posts and run to safety, but Anelka instead struck at the death to seal an impressive victory.
