Summary

  • Raheem Sterling scores twice and assists for Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea earn first win under Mauricio Pochettino

  • Luton are still looking for their first points this season

  1. Postpublished at 22:57 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 LutonImage source, Getty Images

    That was Chelsea's first Premier League win at Stamford Bridge since March (1-0 v Leeds), ending a run of eight home league games without a victory (D5, L3).

    Judging by their performance tonight though, the Stamford Bridge blues won't be a problem for Mauricio Pochettino's side this season. They were superb against Luton.

  2. 'Jackson can become one of world's greatest strikers'published at 22:54 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Chelsea

    Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Really pleased. All credit to the players. I'm so happy because it is important to have that winning feeling again. Happy with the three points, a fully deserved, solid performance."

    On how to navigate games your side are expected to win: "Well we saw their game against Brighton and they played really well. The result in the end was a bit tricky. The team is very strong, they know what they need to do on the pitch, and they have good quality.

    "The important thing is that we were very solid, we had good discipline and without the ball we defended really well. Then of course we created chances and very much deserved the victory."

    On Raheem Sterling: "He is very, very important for us. He has the experience and quality and brings goals and assists to help the team to win games. The connection with [Nicolas] Jackson was good tonight, and the assist for the goal was very good. It is always good when the offensive players are involved in the goals."

    On Nicolas Jackson: "We knew his quality when we signed him, we saw that before. It is not that we ask him to run and press the ball, he is quality in the way he recovers the ball, but he also can finish. It is only a matter of time, once he settles into the Premier League, he will show it more. He has top quality

    "I have no doubt that he can become one of the greatest strikers in the world - the quality is amazing and it is there."

    On returning to winning ways: "Always it is difficult but the energy is there. Sometimes we rush the last past or we want to win the game before it is over, but that is why we need to have confidence and trust in our process.

    "It is important now to rest and recover and then focus on Wimbledon. We have many injuries in the squad, it is not so big to be able to play with so many unavailable. But we now focus on Wednesday."

  3. 'They were ruthless'published at 22:49 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Luton Town

    Luton boss Rob Edwards to BBC Match of the Day: "I've seen improvement in the two weeks since Brighton. I'm really proud of the players. In the end it came down to moments. I thought we competed well in the game.

    "Before their second I thought the game had become a bit transitional. I could smell a goal and I thought it would be us that got it. They were ruthless in their end and we weren't.

    "When we had those few opportunities, shots were blocked, we lacked that one bit of detail.

    "You could see we had momentum. I thought there was something coming but they have some top players who make good decisions and have that quality with the final pass and decisions.

    "But I'm proud of the lads, we've seen improvement and we're going to keep moving forward.

    "We've gave everything. There are ways to lose games. They players followed the game plan and did everything we demanded. We competed but we want to take points."

  4. Postpublished at 22:46 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Nicolas JacksonImage source, Getty Images

    "He can become one of the greatest Premier League strikers."

    Strong words from Poch. Nicolas Jackson had a very good game though, holding the ball up well, creating chances out of nothing, and getting the goal his game deserved.

    Top stuff from the new signing.

  5. 'Win provides confidence in what we are doing'published at 22:43 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Chelsea

    Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino speaking to Sky Sports: "Really pleased. Really pleased for the players, for the fans, well-deserved. It was a solid performance. I am happy because the first victory is always very important, to provide the team with the confidence and trust in the way we are doing things.

    On the dominance shown during the game: "I think we needed that, we needed to feel the trust and the confidence in what we are doing. It is about what it provides for the future, for the next few games and past that until the international break.

    On Raheem Sterling's performance: "He played with freedom on the pitch, we know what he is capable of. On the wing, inside, between the lines, in the pocket, he has the quality to play many places and the he had quality to run and finish.

    "We are pleased for him, he needs to keep going and contribute more goals and assists to help the team to win.

    On Nicolas Jackson: "It is really important for him [to get off the mark] because he is a young player, coming in from a different league - the Premier League is always difficult.

    "We asked him to run, to press in the phase when we don't have the ball. Then the quality with his feet, to run with the ball and to link with his team mates. He can become one of the greatest strikers in the Premier League with time."

  6. Postpublished at 22:40 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Luton Town

    Luton boss Rob Edwards to Sky Sports: "I don't like losing, none of us do. But there are ways to lose. When our fans reacted like that, applauding us off, we know we've done something right.

    "We were up against it, against a really good team today. I thought we were really brave, I am proud of the players.

    "I've seen improvement from the game against Brighton. We were aggressive when we could be and tried to go for them. In the end both ends of the pitch let us down slightly. They were ruthless in the key moments and we weren't. There are areas to work on.

    "Second half I thought we started as the better team. We had to make something happen but we weren't able to.

    "It was going to go one way or another, we needed to score but they did.

    "The players have worked so hard, I'm not going to blame anyone. We have to make sure we can do the basics for 100 minutes. Football is difficult, especially at this level."

    On more transfers: "We're still working on one or two bits but I'm delighted with what we've done. Brighton and Chelsea away are tough games. I know we haven't got anything from those games but we've shown that we can compete."

  7. Postpublished at 22:36 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Thiago SilvaImage source, Getty Images

    Aged 38 years and 337 days, Thiago Silva became the second-oldest outfielder to start the first three Premier League matches of a season, behind Teddy Sheringham, who did so for West Ham aged 39 years and 147 days in 2005-06.

  8. 'He's a leader in this squad'published at 22:32 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Gary Neville
    Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

    It seems like Sterling might have been wondering if his best years were beyond him. He's probably had to reset since coming to Chelsea. He's a leader in this squad. He has to step on the gas and show them. He's won lots of titles and he's come back at the start of this season a different player.

  9. Sterling wants to be Chelsea top scorerpublished at 22:29 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Chelsea

    More from Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling speaking to Sky Sports: "It's a target I had to set myself [being Chelsea's top scorer this season], it's something I know I can do. If I'm 100% at something, I know what I can do and that's what I'm doing this year, just 100% focus on scoring goals and helping my team.

    "A lot happens in your career, a new challenge, coming into a challenge is difficult and your head can be a little bit blurry and sometimes you need that clear vision to see exactly what you want and my love for football is too much at this age, at 28, to kind of fizzle out.

    "I want to make sure that I'm maintaining those standards that I have set myself for the last couple of years and keep going."

  10. 'He's one of the great England players'published at 22:27 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Jamie Carragher
    Former Liverpool defender on Sky Sports

    Sterling's nowhere near the end of his career, but he's one of the great England players of his generation, he really is. You think of this great England team who have achieved quite a lot, he's right at the front of that and he'll be desperate to be back in the squad.

  11. 'He needs to be direct'published at 22:26 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
    Former Netherlands striker on Sky Sports

    Sterling's got a pre-season with the new manager. I think for Raheem, you need to simplify things. He needs to be direct and that's what he did today. When you come in the pockets you have to do a lot of other things. As Gary said, he needs to be on the wing running at people.

  12. Postpublished at 22:24 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Gary Neville
    Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

    I think it's interesting he said about the change. There is no doubt Raheem Sterling is wide and driving in at the back post. That is where Pep Guardiola changed his game and made him a 20 goal a season man. He played well against Liverpool, but you're not there to play a game, you're there to win a game. He did that tonight. Sterling is better as a player who plays on the last line.

  13. 'I want to get back to being obsessed with football'published at 22:21 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Chelsea

    Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling speaking to Sky Sports: "I was happy, obviously I think we started half decent against Liverpool and then with the loss last week we needed to get a win here, I'm just happy to contribute with that.

    "It was a bit of frustration from last season from myself personally because I felt like I was always coming with my back to goal. A bit deep and I wasn't giving myself enough chances to get into the box.

    "I had a conversation with the gaffer earlier last week and we've gone through the role and I know exactly what he needs from me and it's as simple as that, I need to get on the back foot and do what I do and drive at players and get on it and that's when I'm most effective.

    "I came in a difficult period, that's all finished.. I think the most important thing, I've had a look at myself and I'm a person who always tries to analyse what I've been doing, what I've done wrong, what I can change.

    "It's as simple as that, I want to get back to being obsessed with football. Just football 24/7 and nothing else and focus on top performances and goals and assists."

  14. 'Hopefully Jackson can go on and build on his goal'published at 22:18 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
    Former Netherlands striker on Sky Sports

    Nicolas Jackson works so hard for the whole team.

    His stats are magnificent; most sprints, most runs into the box. But you want him to cause problems for defenders and get into those areas to take chances.

    He did that for the third goal. Right place at the right time and he put it away.

    Hopefully he can grow from that and score more goals.

  15. Postpublished at 22:15 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Good points Luke and Nick.

    We'll have full quotes from Luton boss Rob Edwards, as well as Mauricio Pochettino and Raheem Sterling so stick around.

    Sterling says he "wants to get back to being obsessed with football".

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:13 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Luke: In Luton’s defence Chelsea wasted chances to score more today. There will be games other teams waste chances and Luton won’t, only takes one shot on target to win a game...

    Nick: Can everyone get over the "Long season for Luton" narrative already please. We've lost away to Brighton and Chelsea! It's not quite the same as a home match against Everton, is it?

  17. Sterling cashing inpublished at 22:10 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Raheem SterlingImage source, Getty Images

    Raheem Sterling loves playing against promoted sides.

    The 28-year-old has been directly involved in 18 goals in his last 17 Premier League appearances against promoted teams (14 goals, four assists), including seven goals in the six appearances he's made against them since signing for Chelsea.

  18. 'Sterling brought the goals to go with his performance'published at 22:08 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    FT: Chelsea 3-0 Luton

    Gary Neville
    Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

    You always felt that Chelsea were better than Luton, which is understandable given the cost of the squads and where the clubs have been in recent years.

    But it is an important victory for Chelsea. They could not leave this home game against Luton without the three points, they had to win, and they did.

    The big thing of the night was Raheem Sterling and his performance. He's in fantastic form, getting better and better, and today he provided the goals to go with it.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:05 British Summer Time 25 August 2023

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Anon: I’m a Luton fan here. We’ve played Brighton away who’s team have been bought for money way beyond anything we’ve ever seen before. We were in the game at 2-1 before a lack of experience. Tonight we were 1-0 down and had an opportunity to make it 1-1. We’ve played two sides, who will be a struggle for most sides in this division. We’re in fairy tale land as it is, but we’ve played two sides who have quality in there team. Chelsea’s midfield two cost upwards of 200 million…