Chelsea 3-0 Luton: Talking points as Sterling and Jackson get first Blues victory of new season

Chelsea have booked their first victory of the 2023/24 Premier League season by demolishing newly promoted Luton Town at Stamford Bridge. Raheem Sterling bagged a brace (17′, 68′), before Nicolas Jackson opened his Chelsea account to set the final score (75′).

Sterling reborn

It was a fantastic game for Sterling. The England international was a threat for the visitors throughout. Apart from the two goals he scored, it was his deflected cross from the right that found Jackson in a great position to tap the third in.

The 28-year-old joined Chelsea last summer from Manchester City, having lost all guarantees of a starting spot for the reigning champions of England and Europe. His maiden season at Stamford Bridge was one that he won’t want to remember for very long, given that his pale performances blended in with the rest of the team that disappointingly finished in 12th place with just 44 points.

He didn’t do particularly well in the opening two matches this term either, a 1-1 home draw against Liverpool and a 3-1 loss away to West Ham. However, as the player closest to Jackson upfront, this time he was given plenty of freedom to roam and attack the visitors’ goal from whichever position the flow of the game took him to. His pace and trickery, particularly inside the box, were a nightmare for the Luton defence, and the first goal was probably the best example of that as he danced in from the right, past several defenders, and calmly put the ball into the net. The second came as a result of a nicely worked team move in which Sterling was involved from the start, ending with right-back Malo Gusto finding Sterling again and him producing another calm finish.