Chelsea vs. Sunderland: 5 Things Learned from Saturday's Match

Chelsea got their third straight win at the Stadium of Light on Saturday with a dominating 2-1 victory over Sunderland. Goals from John Terry and Daniel Sturridge anchored an afternoon in which Chelsea was in control from the first whistle to the last.

Terry would open the scoring, 18 minutes in. Juan Mata’s free kick hit off the woodwork, allowing Sturridge to put it back in to John Terry, who then scored. Sturridge found an unmarked Terry on the far post. He found his first shot blocked by the defense but was able to gather up the rebound and put it in from a sharp angle.

Five minutes after the break, Sturridge would get the decisive second goal and his second in a Chelsea uniform. New signing Raul Meireles would deliver an inch-perfect pass over the top to put Sturridge through on goal. The 22-year-old’s cheeky back heel around Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet had just enough on it to calmly roll into the net.

The win today continued Chelsea’s streak of improving from game to game. Newly-arrived signings of Juan Mata and Raul Meireles have already had an instant impact. The youngsters on the team are also proving their worth, earning playing time and making the most of it.

With the start of the season almost a month behind us and the teams finally settling into place, Chelsea are looking strong and seem to be poised to give the teams from Manchester a run for their money.

Frank Lampard and Raul Meireles Will Be a Lethal Combination

With the arrival of Raul Meireles, many suspected that Frank Lampard may see his place in the starting 11 coming to an end. His age has been creeping up on him as he looks slow and out of pace with the rest of the squad.

Villas-Boas’ high-octane attack does not favor the melodic and steady pace Lampard has been a master of for over a decade. What’s more is that his place on the national team has also been under question.

However, statistically, he has been as good as ever. He has created more chances than any other player in the league going into the match (14) and solidified his quality with a strong performance today.

The arrival of Meireles actually seems to have boosted the play of Lampard more than threatened it. With Mikel, Ramires and Lampard in the midfield, Lamps was the only one who really had the ability to deliver that inch-perfect pass to the forwards. Defenese would press him and not give him the time to do so.

With Meireles on his side, there are now two players that have that ability. Teams must respect the passing of both and cannot overcommit on either, giving each of them enough time to pick their spots.

Both of their talents were on display today as they constantly were picking apart a tight Sunderland defense. Teams will have a difficult time figuring a way to mark both, without giving too much room to either.

Juan Mata May Be the Best Value Signing of the Summer

There is no denying that the odds on favorite for the best signing of the summer goes to Sergio Aguero. With six goals and the most explosive player on a team loaded with talent, he has taken an early lead in both the Golden Boot and the EPL Player of the Year. However, at roughly £38 million, he is expected to put out this kind of production.

Juan Mata was bought for a comparably reasonable sum at £25 million. Statistically, he has not impressed quite as much as Aguero, but his impact on Chelsea’s play has been just as large.

In just 120 minutes of play, he has become the most dynamic player on the pitch for the blues. His play along the left wing has sparked an excitement to the team that has not been seen since the days of Zola. Every player on the team has raised their game with his arrival. You can only expect him to increase his ability as he gets more time with his teammates and becomes more accustomed to the English game.

The first thing Villas-Boas said when he came to Stamford Bridge was a promise to bring a style of "flair" to the team. Mata was the player that helped him live up to that promise.

Daniel Sturridge Is Ready

Daniel Sturridge played very well on loan to Bolton last season. He continued that fine play through the preseason. He was forced to serve a suspension the first three games of the season, but his return did not necessarily guarantee instant playing time. It is one thing to be an OK player at Bolton and good against inferior sides in Asia and another to play at the top level in the Premier League.

However, this did not dampen the confidence Villas-Boas had shown in his young forward. The Portuguese boss seemed to be biting at cage to let Sturridge loose on the league, and after today’s performance, we know why.

A wonderful little cross to Terry set up the first goal and a magnificent run and finish got him his own. In between, he was a menace to the Sunderland defense, making sharp runs along the right flank, widening the back line, creating room for his central teammates.

It became obvious last year that Sturridge would get some playing time this season, but today, he may have just won himself a starting role.

Villas-Boas Knows What He Is Doing

The first three games Chelsea played were somewhat disappointing. Seven points in three games was not the worst possible outcome, but the points were hard to come by. With the teams from Manchester on a tear that seems to never stop, any points dropped against weaker sides could prove fatal in the end.

Villas-Boas’ 4-3-3 attack and squad choices were puzzling at times and did not seem to be the best possible option at others. However, he would right his critics today with perhaps the best coaching performance he has had in his young Chelsea career.

Coming off a long international break where many of his players logged significant time. He also has two huge games coming up over the next week against Bayern Leverkusen and United. Not to mention Didier Drogba was also ruled out. His choice for the starting 11 needed to take this all into account.

His starting 11 could not have been any better. Every player played at the top of the game, and none seemed to have any hangover from the break. New arrival Meireles looked like he had been with the teams for weeks, and fresh off an injury, David Luiz was rightly sat for Ivanovic.

But his biggest and gutsiest move was to sit Fernando Torres. With Drogba out, it seemed like Torres would get the start with little competition. Instead, Villas-Boas started Anelka in the middle to much of the surprise of the fans. In the end, Anelka would finish with little statistical evidence of his play, but the team moved swiftly, and he seemed like the correct choice from the start.

It may have taken four weeks, but Villas-Boas finally looks like the confident and educated coach we all know he is. Considering the amount of time he has been with the team, we can only expect him to grow from there.

The Future of Fernando Torres Is Still in Doubt

If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, then a two-shot of Torres and Luiz is roughly worth £70 million. That was the image that was shown over and over during the telecast of the game today. The two began the game on the bench to the surprise of many. But with Luiz coming off an injury and yet to get enough training in Villas-Boas’ system, he could be excused. However, Torres has effectively played himself into a sub.

The arrival of Villas-Boas was expected to enliven Torres and turn around his awful performance last season. But in three games, he has been given every opportunity to do so and has not lived up to his billing. He has already been dropped from the national team and was forced to hear public statements from the Spanish coach decalring that without club playing time he would get none on the national level.

To make matters worse, Villas-Boas for the first time seemed to be turning on the clubs most expensive player. When asked about Torres' lack of goals, Villas-Boas said:

"It can never compromise the objectives of the team and the things you want to achieve. It's not just about scoring goals, it's about creating opportunities and he's been doing that. The moment when it compromises the running of the team I think it has to come to an end. I have no problem dropping players"

Today’s benching in place of Anelka, essentially the third-string striker going into the season, suggests that the time to move may be close. Anelka had a good game, and Daniel Sturridge seemed to bump himself up the depth chart.

With Drogba’s return imminent, the conundrum that is Fernando Torres will only intensify. Villas-Boas has put the Spaniard on his last legs and needs him to prove that he belongs in the starting 11. No more will his price tag justify playing time.

What Do You Think?

What did Chelsea show you today?