Chelsea knew that they would have to be on top of their game for the trip at relegation-fighting Burnley. And they were – at least in the second half. But such is the Blues’ quality that it was all they needed at Turf Moor today!For 45 minutes, Burnley looked like they could make the unimpressive Blues suffer, but it was as far as it got for them. Coach Thomas Tuchel must have turned the alarm bells in the dressing room to wake his team and get them to actually start playing.Chelsea turned it UP in the second half 😤 pic.twitter.com/GblejH1rAZ— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 5, 2022 Reece James scored a fantastic solo goal to kick-start his team and wake them from a prolonged Saturday slumber. The defender twisted and turned before finding the bottom corner of Nick Pope’s goal to give the all-black-clad Blues the opener. And Tuchel’s boys never looked back. Two quick goals from German man-enigma Kai Havertz secured the points before Christian Pulisic added the fourth as Sean Dyche’s Clarets sank without trace.It may be a little harsh on the hosts, who gave it their best shot despite the odds being stacked against them. The Clarets needed to recover from their home loss at the hands of Leicester in midweek and attempt to sneak a point or three against the European champions. A task simple enough, isn’t it?There was no way back for Burnley in this match. They will have to search for much-needed points elsewhere. But this was another reminder for Chelsea — and all other teams — that you simply can’t afford to enter any match thinking that it’s going to be easy.Philippe Coutinho bags a goal and assist 🔥Running the show 🤩 pic.twitter.com/wLkMLwFHVZ— GOAL (@goal) March 5, 2022 Chelsea weren’t the only team to run out comfortable winners today. Ollie Watkins got Aston Villa off to a perfect start against Southampton after a great pass from a former Saint Danny Ings. Watkins did fantastic to turn and fire past Fraser Forster. Steven Gerrard’s revolution at Villa Park has given the Villans a new lease of life. The same can be said about Philippe Coutinho, who’s again looking like the player we admired in his Liverpool days. Callum Chambers lifted the ball for Coutinho to square across the box to fellow Brazilian Douglas Luiz. It was a great team goal to double the lead. Of course, Coutinho got on the scoresheet himself with a poacher’s goal from inside the area. Southampton simply were no match for the rampant claret and blues.Newcastle, meanwhile, maintained their rich vein of form against Brighton. The Magpies survived a spell of early pressure from the visitors before scoring two quick goals. Jacob Murphy escaped his markers but could only bounce his shot off the post. Thankfully for the hosts, Ryan Fraser was the first to the ball and he tucked in the back of the net. The little Scotsman turned provided just a couple of minutes later when defender Fabian Schar headed in from his corner kick.Newcastle’s last six Premier League games:🟡 1-1 vs Watford🟢 1-0 vs Leeds🟢 3-1 vs Everton🟡 1-1 vs West Ham🟢 2-0 vs Brentford🟢 2-1 vs Brighton2 points from that 30-point mark. 👀👏 pic.twitter.com/TqOz8c4qxU— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 5, 2022 The visitors were the better team after ther restart and they got a deserved goal thanks to a towering Lewis Dunk header, but despite putting the Magpies under heavy pressure, they weren’t able to find an equalizer. It’s another precious win for Eddie Howe’s team. They are now looking like they won’t be looking over their shoulder in the relegation battle.Miracle man Christian Eriksen made his first start in a competitive match ever since that awful day in Copenhagen. The Dane led the team against the Premier League bottom team Norwich City at Carrow Road. He made things happen for his team straight away. His corner was flicked on towards the Bees’ top scorer Ivan Toney to steer easily into the net. He converted two penalties after the break to ensure a long-overdue win for Thomas Frank’s side.Wasteful Leeds lose their first game in post-Bielsa eraIvan Toney is the first Brentford player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League.He does not miss from the spot. 🧊 pic.twitter.com/2I462qOWwi— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 5, 2022 Patrick Vieira’s Eagles took the lead after 19 minutes of their clash with Wolverhampton at Molineux after Jean-Philippe Mateta made the most out of Wilfried Zaha’s right-wing cross. Ivory Coast international Zaha doubled the lead from the spot after the Canaries’ defender Max Kilman tripped Jeffrey Schlupp in the box. It was a miserable day for Bruno Lage’s Wolves who seldom looked like a team that could come back into the game.PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 28SaturdayAston Villa – Southampton 4-0 (2-0)/Watkins 9, Douglas Luiz 44, Coutinho 52, Ings 54/Burnley – Chelsea 0-4 (0-0)/James 47, Havertz 52, 55, Pulisic 69/Newcastle United – Brighton 2-1 (2-0)/Fraser 12, Schar 14 – Dunk 55/Norwich City – Brentford 1-3 (0-1)/Pukki 90+2 – Toney 32, 52 pen, 58 pen/Wolverhampton Wanderers – Crystal Palace 0-2 (0-2)/Mateta 19, Zaha 34 pen/20:30: (1.32) Liverpool (5.50) West Ham (9.00)Sunday17:00: (6.00) Watford (3.80) Arsenal (1.60)19:30: (1.40) Man.City (4.50) Man.Utd. (8.50)Monday23:00: (1.65) Tottenham (3.80) Everton (5.50)**odds are subject to change
