Cole Palmer netted twice as Chelsea, despite a late scare, secured a 3-2 victory against struggling Premier League side Luton on Saturday to overcome their away-day struggles.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team was in firm control when Palmer scored his second goal, putting Chelsea three goals up with 20 minutes remaining. Palmer had initially opened the scoring at Kenilworth Road, followed by Noni Madueke doubling Chelsea’s lead late in the first half.
However, former Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley found the net, sparking a spirited comeback from Luton. Elijah Adebayo scored in a dramatic finale, but Chelsea held on for their second consecutive win, ending a four-game losing streak away from home since November 6.
While the victory was encouraging for Pochettino, the late nervous moments revealed areas to improve for the inconsistent team currently in 10th place.
Pochettino commented, “I’m so pleased because we need to be great to beat Luton. It’s difficult to play here. We are a young team. They need to work together to create this trust and confidence. This type of result when you need your teammates to fight with you will be a really good thing.”
Addressing Thiago Silva’s visible frustration, Pochettino added, “Thiago is like this. He is always moaning and never happy, but that is good.”
Pochettino’s first competitive win as Chelsea boss had come against Luton in August, and while they have struggled since then, this win aimed to avoid finishing 2023 with a 20th league defeat in the calendar year.
Luton, described as a “football romantic” by Pochettino, presented a challenge in their unconventional stadium. Palmer’s early goal set the tone, followed by Madueke’s strike. Although Chelsea wobbled late in the game, they secured the victory, hinting at further growth for Pochettino’s young team.
