Chelsea 3-0 Luton Town: Raheem Sterling nets brace as Mauricio Pochettino’s side land first Premier League win of season

Raheem Sterling stole the show with a sensational brace as Chelsea secured their first Premier League win of the Mauricio Pochettino era with a 3-0 success over Luton Town at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues, who handed a first start to British-record signing Moises Caicedo, dominated from the kick-off and twice went close through Sterling before the 28-year-old broke the deadlock on 17 minutes.

The England international slalomed past three challenges on the right side of the area and rolled a neat, low finish into the far corner to cap a wonderful solo effort.

Luton were playing for the first time since their opening weekend loss at Brighton, but Rob Edwards’ men never looked like pulling off a surprise as the hosts continued to dominate after the interval.

Nicolas Jackson, Ben Chilwell and Enzo Fernandez all wasted fine openings before Sterling guided home Malo Gusto’s cross on 68 minutes.

Summer signing Jackson then stabbed in his first goal for the club from Sterling’s excellent delivery to seal the points 15 minutes from time.

The result sees Chelsea climb to eighth in the standings prior to the rest of the weekend action. Luton drop to the foot of the table and are pointless having lost both of their matches heavily since returning to the top-flight.

Next up, Luton host Gillingham in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night. Chelsea are in action in the same competition on the following evening when they entertain AFC Wimbledon.

Chelsea avoid banana skin on a night full of positives. Three Premier League matches in and it feels like a belated lift-off in the Poch era down at the Bridge. There were good signs in the draw with Liverpool and loss at West Ham, but there’s no tonic greater than three points and any slip here would have really cranked up some unnecessary, early pressure on the former PSG boss.

Instead, his team finally found the goals to complement their flowing performance. There were still moments of real profligacy that greater opposition than Luton could punish, but in Sterling they have someone who appears to have found his groove again and is capable of plundering a good haul of goals over the course of a season. A clean sheet, together with a maiden PL goal for Jackson were further positives for the Blues who look like a promising side capable of significant improvement as the campaign progresses, particularly if they do sign another forward to add a lethal edge in attack in the dying embers of the transfer window.

As for Luton, there were times when they looked like being overwhelmed and they will need to learn and adapt to Premier League standards quickly if their fairytale return to the top-flight isn’t to become a chastening experience.

Raheem Sterling (Chelsea). On another evening the former Man City star would have left the Bridge with the match ball. He saw a sizzling volley brilliantly saved and had another goal-bound attempt blocked before producing the moment of individual genius that laid the path for the Blues’ first win of the campaign. There’s no doubt the forward looks more at home with life under Poch and certainly seems to have his mojo back, which is good news for both Chelsea and England.

CHELSEA: Sanchez 6, Disasi 7, Colwill 7, Silva 7, Gusto 8, Chilwell 7, Caicedo 7, Fernandez 8, Gallagher 7, Sterling 9, Jackson 8. Subs: Ugochukwu n/a, Moreira n/a, Burstow n/a.

LUTON TOWN: Kaminski 7, Lockyer 6, Burke 6, Giles 7, Bell 7, Chong 6, Nakamba 6, Kabore 6, Barkley 5, Morris 6, Adebayo 6. Subs: Brown 6, Doughty 6, Andersen 5, Ogbene 5, Mpanzu 5.

17’ – GOAL! – Chelsea 1-0 Luton Town. Sterling jinks beyond several challenges on the right and rolls a lovely, low finish into the bottom corner.

50’ – CHELSEA CHANCE! Chilwell pinches the ball deep in Luton territory and plays a one-two with Jackson. The wing back is clean through in the middle of the penalty area but tries to lay a pass to Sterling for a tap-in, but the visitors manage to divert it behind for a corner. Why didn’t Chilwell shoot there?

56’ – CHELSEA CHANCE! Fernandez can’t find the finish at the far post as he hits the foot of the woodwork after a lightning counter saw Jackson feed Sterling to send in a devilish, low cross.

68’ – GOAL! – Chelsea 2-0 Luton Town. Sterling nets his second of the evening as he guides Gusto’s excellent, low cross beyond Kaminski.

75’ – GOAL! – Chelsea 3-0 Luton Town. Jackson snares his first goal for the Blues as he slides in to tap home Sterling’s driven, low cross from the right.

Chelsea are now unbeaten in the last 100 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge when they’ve been leading at half time (W81 D19), with Arsenal in October 2011 the last team to come from behind after trailing at the break (5-3).

The Blues kept a clean sheet for the first time in 12 Premier League matches.

It was only Chelsea’s second win in their last 17 matches in all competitions.