Leicester 0-3 Chelsea: Blues go clear at the top of the Premier League table without star man Diego Costa
Chelsea put their Diego Costa transfer saga to one side as the Blues moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Spanish striker did not travel with the rest of Antonio Conte’s squad due to a training ground bust-up, but it mattered little as two goals from Marcos Alonso and a strike from Pedro ensured the visitors did not miss their leading goal scorer at the King Power Stadium.
Eden Hazard was the preferred option up front to replace the dropped Costa and the tactical switch had the desired effect, with the runaway leaders convincingly dismantling the champions.
Chelsea marked their bright start to the game with a goal as Alonso coolly put the Blues ahead with just over five minutes played.
Cesar Azpilicueta’s right wing cross bounced around in the box before the ball eventually made its way to Hazard. Opting not to shoot, Hazard teed up his teammate eight-yards from goal, as Alonso curled his effort past Kasper Schmeichel.
The champions managed to stem the flow of Chelsea’s attacks and create an opening of their own past the quarter hour.
Marc Albrighton delivered a fine cross into the box for his opposite fullback Ben Chilwell to attack. But despite rising above Victor Moses at the back post, Chilwell failed to generate the necessary power and direction to trouble Thibaut Courtois.
Conte’s side were proving a difficult obstacle to surpass as the half wore on, with the Blues holding their own at the home of the champions.
But the Foxes threatened to unlock the visiting defence approaching the interval when Jamie Vardy spun David Luiz on the right flank. The England international fizzed in a low cross past Luiz - who was facing his own net - forcing Courtois to palm away the defender’s goal bound clearance.
And Chelsea nearly made the Foxes rue their missed chances as Pedro flashed a cleverly worked free-kick wide of the post.
Luiz shaped up as if he was about to take a strike on goal, before sliding in a pass to Hazard. The Belgian midfielder played a first-time pass to Pedro, but he sliced his effort well off target as the opportunity disappeared.
The Blues doubled their lead within six minutes of second half action as Alonso bagged his second of the night.
Alonso reacted to a Christian Fuchs clearance, before sizing up an effort on goal, and watching his strike deflect off Leicester captain Wes Morgan and into the back of the net. The double ricochet left Schmeichel with no chance and gave the visitors some well-deserved breathing space.
Incredibly, Alonso nearly grabbed a hat-trick just past the hour mark after his well-timed volley flew past the Leicester post.
Moses delivered a deep cross to the edge of the box for the waiting Alonso, who measured his effort within inches of perfection, as his dipping volley had beaten the outstretched hand of Schmeichel, but also the far post too.
But Conte’s side capped off their dominant display with a third goal through Pedro with 20 minutes left to play as the forward headed into an empty net.
Willian was put clear on the right flank before being confronted by Schmeichel, who rushed from his goal to distract the Blues winger. However, Willian’s clever dink found teammate Pedro, and the former Barcelona man finished with ease to seal all three points.