Pedro Neto opened the scoring just before half-time, and Enzo Fernández sealed the win late on as Enzo Maresca’s side climbed to second place, three points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Tottenham on Sunday.
The result continues Chelsea’s impressive run, with eight wins in their last 10 matches across all competitions, marking a memorable 50th Premier League game in charge for Maresca.
It also set the tone for a crucial week, with Chelsea hosting Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday and Arsenal in the league on November 30.
Chelsea could slip back to third if Manchester City avoid defeat against Newcastle later on Saturday, but regardless, this gritty win in freezing Lancashire further strengthened their title momentum.
Burnley, meanwhile, remain fourth from bottom and have now lost five of their last seven league matches.
Chelsea battle through injury headaches
The Blues were without Cole Palmer, who fractured his toe after accidentally stubbing it against a door just as he was set to return from two months out with a groin injury.
Fatigue also ruled out Ecuador midfielder Moisés Caicedo, who was left on the bench after returning from international duty on Thursday.
Maresca, already frustrated at being handed another early Saturday kick-off, saw his mood worsen inside five minutes when goalkeeper Robert Sánchez inadvertently kicked the ball into Fernández’s head, forcing a brief concussion check. The Argentine was able to continue.
Chelsea gradually took control, with Neto firing wide and Jamie Gittens missing from a tight angle. Burnley defender Kyle Walker made a crucial block to prevent Gittens turning in Neto’s cross on his 400th Premier League appearance.
Trevoh Chalobah escaped conceding a bizarre penalty after handling Sánchez’s pass in the box, with the referee ruling the goalkeeper had not yet restarted play.
Chelsea capitalised on that reprieve with a well-worked opener in the 37th minute. Marc Cucurella cushioned a high ball inside the area and worked it back to Gittens, whose lofted cross found Neto at the far post. The Portuguese forward launched himself into a diving header, directing it into the far corner — his fourth goal of the season.
Liam Delap forced a save from Martin Dúbravka shortly after, while Gittens’ deflected strike fizzed narrowly wide at the start of the second half.
Neto, played in by Fernández, struck the near post with a powerful effort as Chelsea pushed for a second.
Burnley’s best chance came when Zian Flemming blazed over from close range, unmarked inside the Chelsea box.
Chelsea punished the miss in the 88th minute. A smooth attacking move ended with substitute Marc Guiu squaring for Fernández, who finished clinically from close range to secure the points.
AFP
