Olivier Giroud’s presence on the sidelines provided confirmation Antonio Conte had got the new striker he wanted during the January transfer window.

Brighton 0 - Chelsea 4: Chelsea’s 4-0 victory at Brighton at the weekend has quietened the critics who suggested there was a crisis building at Stamford Bridge but it hasn’t ended speculation about their search for a striker after manager Antonio Conte challenged Michy Batshuayi to fill the void – but also left the door open for him to leave.

Striker Alvaro Morata is suspended but left wing-back Marcos Alonso is back from a ban when Chelsea play at Everton.

Willian insists Chelsea will not give up on the Premier League title after they bounced back from their loss to West Ham with a 3-1 win at Huddersfield.

Willian scored one and made two others as Chelsea finally turned in a display worthy of Premier League champions to win 3-1 at Huddersfield.

Chelsea finished second in Champions League Group C after rallying to draw 1-1 with Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea 3 Newcastle 1: Eden Hazard maintaining his fitness and form is clearly key to Chelsea hanging on to the coattails of what passes for a title race this season. Getting him to stay at Chelsea long-term is central to any future success the London side might challenge for.

Jurgen‘s angry. Apparently, he’s angry cos that nasty old referee stopped him making the substitution that would put a man exactly in the spot that would have prevented Willian’s goal.

Roma 3 Chelsea 0: Chelsea crumbled last night as Roma moved to the top of Champions League Group C with a 3-0 victory at Stadio Olimpico last night.

Chelsea 3 - Roma 3: Eden Hazard scored twice as Chelsea battled to a 3-3 draw with Roma to stay top of Champions League Group C. Chelsea had surrendered a two-goal lead to trail 3-2 with 20 minutes remaining after former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko’s quick-fire double.

Atletico Madrid 1 Chelsea 2: Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi proved there is life after Diego Costa as Chelsea fought back to win 2-1 at Atletico Madrid last night.

Chelsea 6 FK Qarabag 0: Chelsea will face tougher tests than this, a stroll in cruise control against Champions League rookies Qarabag, but the Blues are back in the big time and showed how much they want to reprise their 2012 triumph.

Jose Mourinho believes former club Chelsea remain Premier League favourites despite Antonio Conte struggling in some areas, the ongoing Diego Costa debacle, and their chastening opening-weekend defeat.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has laughed off Diego Costa's suggestion that he has been treated like "a criminal" and says the striker is in "the past".

Antonio Conte expects this season to be his most difficult in management.

Juventus secured their place in the Champions League final after coasting to a 2-1 win over Monaco in Turin last night.

Monaco 3 Manchester City 1 (6-6 on agg, Monaco win on away goals): Manchester City played their part in another Champions League thriller but it ultimately cost them their place in the competiton after they crashed out on the away goal’s rule to Monaco.

Monaco 2 Tottenham 1: Hugo Lloris’ penalty heroics could not rescue Tottenham’s Champions League campaign as Mauricio Pochettino’s men slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Monaco last night.

The head of Ivory Coast’s army said the regional bloc representing nations in West Africa is considering military intervention in Mali.

Everton 3 Larissa 1

BLACKBURN ROVERS crashed out of the UEFA Cup in the first round after giving themselves too much to do at Ewood Park.

Larissa 2 Blackburn 0

Everton have denied any wrongdoing in the transfer of their former striker Ibrahima Bakayoko to Marseille in July 1999.

AS ROMA and AC Milan leapfrogged Juventus to the top of Serie A with comfortable wins over Lecce and Modena respectively.