Chelsea’s many puzzle pieces click into place as Hakim Ziyech flourishes and defence gels

Ziyech’s growing understanding with Mateo Kovacic and Reece James will trouble better teams than Sheffield United

N’Golo Kante, Tammy Abraham and Hakim Ziyech (Reuters)

There are times when Chelsea are seductive to watch. They have stockpiled a lot of talent at Stamford Bridge. On Saturday, in the 4-1 victory over Sheffield United, they were a pleasure to witness. It might be too early to say that Frank Lampard is building something special in west London but his team is capable of exhilarating moments.

There were fine performances all over the pitch against Chris Wilder’s side. Hakim Ziyech turned in the most impressive display. The 27-year-old cost an initial fee of £33.4m from Ajax in the summer and showed his full range of skills, playing a part in three of his team’s four goals.

The Moroccan has the delicacy of touch and vision to pick out team-mates in congested penalty areas as well as the ability to rifle in incisive crosses. His clever pass down the channel allowed Mateo Kovacic to tee up Tammy Abraham for the equaliser and a deep, dangerous cross gave Ben Chilwell the opportunity to bundle the ball into the net and give Chelsea the lead. Ziyech’s free kick from wide dropped beautifully for Thiago Silva to head home the third and make the game safe. The way he released Timo Werner with a defence-splitting pass from deep was breathtaking. The German wasted that chance, although Werner redeemed himself by scoring the final goal.

After a slow start, Chelsea enjoyed expressing themselves. Ziyech’s growing understanding with Kovacic and Reece James will trouble better teams than Sheffield United. Werner, wide on the left, took a while to grow into the game but once Mason Mount began switching the point of attack from central positions, the home team began dragging the defence out of position.

Mount experienced the rough end of Lampard’s tongue in the first half for dwelling on the ball. The 21-year-old responded by picking up the pace. Sometimes Mount has had to carry too much of the creative burden. That has changed because of Chelsea’s abundance of attacking talent. “My role now is trying to get them on the ball to do what they do,” Mount, who excelled in a deeper position, said.

At the back, the home team were solid after the opening 10 minutes when they were very ragged. Chilwell had an uncomfortable start and was put under pressure three times by Chris Basham, whose awareness and composure shone in the build up to David McGoldrick’s opening strike. The goal came from a corner but if United believed they could profit further from dead-ball situations, they were disappointed.

“Last year we weren’t happy that we conceded too many goals from set pieces and they’re a crucial part of the modern game,” Lampard said. “We looked at it over the course of the off-season. The personnel have certainly helped. We are bigger and more aggressive naturally.”

Silva and Kurt Zouma were largely untroubled on the ground or in the air and N’Golo Kante was his usual busy self, providing some early protection for the defence. Edouard Mendy was a reassuring presence in goal, aside from one occasion when he flapped at a corner.

There was little on show to reassure United, who are stuck at the bottom of the table with a single point. After their early positive spell, confidence drained away rapidly. Wilder’s frustration was evident on the sidelines. He launched into a plaintive howl of complaint at the officials and believed that his players were on the wrong end of decisions before the final two goals. Injuries have played a part in the team’s poor start to the season but on Saturday they had a doomed look, which is worrying so early in the campaign.

This means that the biggest question for Lampard is how to judge his team’s performance given the paucity of the opposition. The portents are positive and although much bigger tests lie ahead, when Chelsea click they have the look of a very good side.