Chelsea Premier League Champions 2009-10: Where the Title Was Won

Chelsea are Premier League champions for 2009/10.

Eighty-six points. 27 wins. 103 goals scored, a new Premier League record.

Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba with 29 goals. Golden Glove winner Petr Cech with 17 clean sheets (jointly held with Liverpool's Pepe Reina).

Much to be proud of for the Chelsea team in this league campaign. It was not all plain sailing however with several key moments that helped shape the season.

This is a look back at some of the moments that helped bring the league title to Stamford Bridge.

15 August 2009: Chelsea 2 Hull City 1

On the first day of the season, Chelsea had a seemingly straightforward fixture against Hull City.

Nobody told Hull however, who took the lead in the 27th minute through Stephen Hunt. Didier Drogba leveled for Chelsea with a stunning free-kick before halftime.

Didier Drogba won the game for Chelsea in the dying moments with a fortunate cross-some-shot to break Hull City hearts and give Chelsea their first three points of the season.

12 September 2009: Stoke City 1 Chelsea 2

Late goals were very much the order of the day for Chelsea in this tricky fixture.

Chelsea trailed to an Abdoulaye Faye header before Didier Drogba equalized with a fine strike in first half injury time. Then in injury time at the end of the second half, Florent Malouda struck to win the game for Chelsea.

8th November 2009: Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0

A tense affair between the Premier League's top two sides.

The game was eventually settled in the 76th minute, when Chelsea captain John Terry headed in a Frank Lampard free-kick to give Chelsea a real advantage in the title race.

29th November 2009: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3

According to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, striker Didier Drogba "doesn't do much other than score goals."

Of all people, Wenger should know better than to dismiss the big Ivorian who added another two goals to his tally against his favourite opponents.

A 3-0 win cemented Chelsea's place at the top of the table and put them 11 points ahead of their London rivals.

16 January 2010: Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2

Following their victory at the Emirates Stadium, Chelsea's form took a nose dive and they recorded just two wins in their next six Premier League games.

The visit of Sunderland was the first game Chelsea faced without their African players who had gone to the African Cup of Nations. This was a period in which Chelsea were expected to struggle.

Chelsea won 7-2 with goals from Nicolas Anelka (2), Frank Lampard (2), Florent Malouda, Ashley Cole and Michael Ballack. This was followed by wins against Birmingham City and Burnley as Chelsea took maximum points from this period.

7 February 2010: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0

Remember what Arsene Wenger said about a certain Chelsea player earlier? Guess who popped up with two goals, making it 12 goals in 12 games against Arsenal, to win the game for Chelsea. That's right, Didier Drogba.

Not only did Drogba's goals secure a league double over Arsenal but they also dealt a severe blow to Arsenal's own title ambitions.

24 March 2010: Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 5

Once again, Chelsea had followed up a win over Arsenal with a period of inconsistency.

The away trip to Fratton Park came on the back of an exit from the Champions League against Inter Milan and a very disappointing draw against Blackburn Rovers.

A 5-0 win (with a little help from Portsmouth goalkeeper David James) was the perfect tonic followed up by a 7-1 victory against Aston Villa.

3 April 2010: Manchester United 1 Chelsea 2

A game surrounded by controversy, this should not be allowed to deflect from a great Chelsea performance.

Penalty appeals were turned down for both sides before Joe Cole gave Chelsea the lead in the 20th minute with a cheeky back heel in the United six-yard box. Didier Drogba came off the bench to hammer home Chelsea's second goal despite receivung the ball in an offside position. Macheda pulled one back for United, though there was a suggestion of handball about his goal.

Victory took Chelsea to the top of the table and gave them a real advantage going into the last few games of the season.

2 May 2010: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2

The away trip to Anfield, not historically one of Chelsea's favorite away grounds, was reckoned by many to be Chelsea's toughest fixture in their run in.

However, a blunder by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in the 32nd minute when he passed straight to Chelsea striker Didier Drogba helped settle Chelsea's nerves. Frank Lampard added a second in the 54th minute and Chelsea looked comfortable from there on in.

This victory also meant Chelsea had a perfect record over the "Big Four," though it was increasingly difficult to justify Liverpool's place in this group over the course of the season.

9 May 2010: Chelsea 8 Wigan Athletic 0

In the end, it all came down to the last day. The task for Chelsea was simple—win and they were champions. Wigan Athletic, however, had beaten Chelsea 3-1 earlier in the season, perhaps not as straightforward as it appeared?

Chelsea cruised through in a game that saw Wigan play over an hour with 10 men. Chelsea won their fourth ever League title and third in six years.

Chelsea scored eight goals to reach 103 Premier League goals this season, passing the previous record of 97 set by Manchester United in 2000. Didier Drogba's hat-trick took him to 29 goals and was enough to win him the Golden Boot whilst Petr Cech's clean sheet earned him the Golden Gloves award.