Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Florent Malouda smashed in an early opening goal from 25 yards in the fifth minute, seven minutes before his corner was headed in by Michael Essien, with the Ghana midfielder adding a third on 22 minutes.

Petr Cech kept out Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's point-blank header just before the break, but the Blues were always in control, with fit-again England midfielder Joe Cole making it four as he netted his first goal since October last year.

Chelsea's performance had been even more admirable without the likes of injured quartet Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Deco and Michael Ballack.

Their quick, incisive passing game was too much for Wolves who spent much of the game chasing shadows.

It was Cole who began brightest in the first five minutes, attempting to slice open the defence with a through ball for Malouda before chipping over the back line in search of Salomon Kalou.

But Malouda would be the man to score first. Breaking down the centre of the pitch after Craddock failed to clear properly, the Frenchman drilled a phenomenal left-footed strike into the net from 25 yards out.

Michael Essien made it 2-0 after 12 minutes, rising unmarked at the near post to head home Malouda's corner, and then scored again in the 21st minute.

The Ghanaian midfielder started a flowing move that involved Ashley Cole and Malouda before Essien drove a shot from the edge of the penalty area through a crowd of players.

Chelsea made it three in the 22nd minute when John Mikel Obi fed Essien with a short pass on the edge of the penalty area and the Ghanaian's low drive went under Hennessey for his second of the game.

Shortly after that, 18-year-old Gael Kakuta made his Chelsea debut, replacing Anelka up front, and immediately made his presence felt, dancing around the Wolves defence before launching a shot into the side netting.

Kakuta showed with his first few touches exactly why he was coveted by Chelsea, as the Blues rained more efforts on Hennessey's goal.

Essien, striving for his hat-trick, had a dipping volley from 30 yards tipped on to the bar by Hennessey and then hit the sidenetting from long distance, Kakuta shot just wide and Kalou wasted a good chance when he beat the offside trap but shot high over the bar.

In the end it was exhibition stuff from Chelsea, while Wolves were on a damage limitation exercise, and when the news came through that second-placed Arsenal were losing at Sunderland, there was a loud cheer from the home fans.

The win opened up an eight-point lead for Chelsea as Arsenal lost 1-0 to Sunderland, while Manchester United wait to play Everton later.