Chelsea beat Bournemouth 2-0 to extend 100% start in Premier League

Chelsea can still improve despite opening the Premier League season with four successive victories, says head coach Maurizio Sarri.

Goals from substitute Pedro and Eden Hazard gave the Blues victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The result leaves Chelsea level on points with leaders Liverpool, who have a superior goal difference, heading into the first international break of the season.

Sarri succeeded fellow Italian Antonio Conte in the summer after the Blues finished 30 points behind champions Manchester City last season.

"I'm very happy with 12 points in four matches. But I always think we can do more. We can improve," said the former Napoli boss.

"I think now for us it's better to think of the next match. Because the gap at the beginning was 30 points. I think it's very difficult to cover this gap in only one season."

Bournemouth produced a gritty defensive display and missed two glaring chances when the game was goalless.

"Chelsea are a different team this year, a totally different way of playing," said Cherries boss Eddie Howe, whose side won 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last season.

"They'll be a difficult team to play against."

• Reaction from Stamford Bridge and around the Premier League

Blues dig deep to continue winning start

Chelsea had to dig deep against a resolute Bournemouth to earn their latest win under Sarri - and once again they left it late to wrap up the points.

Two weeks ago, their winner at home to Arsenal did not arrive until the 81st minute. At Newcastle last week, it was even later.

Against the Cherries, Hazard's second goal in as many games - which sealed the points - came five minutes from time. Sarri's side had dominated possession but struggled to break down Bournemouth until Pedro struck seven minutes after replacing Willian.

The Spaniard exchanged passes with fellow substitute Olivier Giroud before his deflected finish beat former Blues keeper Asmir Begovic for his third league goal in four games.

Hazard doubled the lead with a quality finish from an angle.

Chelsea secured their second clean-sheet win of the season - and first at Stamford Bridge

At 0-0, Marcos Alonso was denied by the post before he was further frustrated by a fine save from Begovic.

But victory came eventually - and Chelsea have won their opening four games of the season for the first time since 2014-15, when they won the title.

Bigger tests lie ahead, but the Blues have made a strong start under Sarri.

Positives in defeat for Cherries

This was Bournemouth's first Premier League defeat since losing at Southampton on 28 April.

Having stunned Conte's Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season, they were good value for a point until Pedro struck after 72 minutes.

Howe gave Premier League debuts to £25m record signing Jefferson Lerma and Spanish full-back Diego Rico, and his side were hard-working and organised for long spells.

But they should have taken the lead, two glaring misses either side of the interval at 0-0, as Callum Wilson fired over from close range before Nathan Ake failed to hit the target against his old club from inside the six-yard box.

"Until that first goal I do think the game was in the balance," said Howe.

"We knew we were going to have limited opportunities to score. We did create the best moments in the game. Those one or two moments you do get, you've got to try to take."

Despite defeat, the Cherries remain sixth in the table after two wins and a draw from their opening four games.

They now face Leicester (home), Burnley (away), Crystal Palace (home), Watford (away), Southampton (home) and Fulham (away) before they come up against another major top-four contender - Manchester United at home on 3 November.

Man of the match - Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)

Until Pedro's goal, Marcos Alonso looked Chelsea's biggest threat as the Spaniard hit the post before being denied by Begovic

Match of the Day pundit Martin Keown: "Alonso is different class down the left. They changed their formation this year to adapt but no one seems to have told him as he is flying own the left hand side even more than when he was a left wing-back. We know what he can do, he has scored lots of goals. He wants to stay high on the pitch and he's been a real success for them."

In fine company - the stats

• Sarri has become the sixth manager to win his first four Premier League games in charge - after Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Craig Shakespeare.

• The Blues have won their first four games of a Premier League season for the sixth time, and the first time since 2014-15 under Mourinho.

• Pedro has scored three goals in four Premier League games this season, having only managed two in his previous 23 appearances in the competition.

• No player has been involved in more Premier League goals this season than Hazard (four - two goals, two assists).

• Hazard has scored in all five of Chelsea's Premier League victories over Bournemouth.

What's next?

Chelsea host newly promoted Cardiff City next at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 15 September (15:00 BST). At the same time, Bournemouth are at home to Leicester.