Sterling double helps Chelsea see off Luton

Raheem Sterling has been directly involved in 17 goals in his last 17 Premier League appearances against promoted teams (13 goals, four assists), including six in his six appearances in this run as a Chelsea playerRaheem Sterling’s double and a goal from Nicolas Jackson gave Chelsea their first Premier League win under manager Mauricio Pochettino as they saw off Luton Town at Stamford Bridge. Sterling, who has started the season in excellent form, picked the ball up wide on the right and jinked his way through three players before firing into the bottom corner in the 17th minute. The England winger then doubled Chelsea’s lead in the 67th minute when he scored from close range from a Malo Gusto cross.Sterling was involved again as Chelsea got their third, sending a low cross into the area for Jackson to score his first goal for the club. Luton, who are still looking for their first points of the season since being promoted from the Championship, caused Chelsea problems throughout the game but the Blues’ quality saw them take all three points.Chelsea, who handed a full debut to their £100m signing Moises Caicedo, will be happy with the win but Pochettino will know they have much to work on as they were far from their best. The match was not as one-sided as the scoreline suggests, and it needed a good save from Robert Sanchez to stop Luton levelling when the score was 1-0. Ben Chilwell should have made it 2-0 before the two second-half goals from Sterling and Jackson, but chose to pass instead of shooting when through on goal. Sterling getting back to his bestAfter his £50m transfer from Manchester City, last season Sterling scored nine goals in 38 appearances – his lowest return since his debut campaign with Liverpool. This season, however, Sterling looks like he is getting back to his best. Pochettino has spoken to the forward throughout this pre-season and the beginning of the campaign as he looks to get the best out of him – which seems to be having the desired effect. Sterling’s opening goal showed exactly why he is a key part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad when fully fit. He has not been in the past two Three Lions squads because of fitness issues, but it would seem likely that he will be included following his start to this season when the latest squad is named next week. His second goal against Luton showed his calmness when in dangerous positions, and the pass for Jackson’s goal highlighted his quality. If Chelsea are to get back to the top end of the table Sterling will be key to their hopes, as he is by far the most experienced and proven attacker they possess. More to follow.helpHow to playRate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfectionChelseaSquad number1Player nameSánchezSquad number2Player nameDisasiSquad number6Player nameThiago SilvaSquad number26Player nameColwillSquad number27Player nameGustoSquad number23Player nameGallagherSquad number25Player nameCaicedoSquad number21Player nameChilwellSquad number7Player nameSterlingSquad number8Player nameFernándezSquad number15Player nameJacksonSquad number16Player nameUgochukwuSquad number29Player nameMaatsenSquad number37Player nameBurstowLuton TownSquad number24Player nameKaminskiSquad number12Player nameKaboréSquad number16Player nameBurkeSquad number4Player nameLockyerSquad number29Player nameBellSquad number26Player nameGilesSquad number14Player nameChongSquad number13Player nameNakambaSquad number6Player nameBarkleySquad number11Player nameAdebayoSquad number9Player nameMorrisSquad number5Player nameAndersenSquad number7Player nameOgbeneSquad number17Player nameMpanzuSquad number19Player nameBrownSquad number45Player nameDoughtyLine-upsChelseaFormation 3-4-2-11Sánchez2Disasi6Thiago Silva26Colwill27Gusto23Gallagher25Caicedo21Chilwell7Sterling8Fernández15Jackson1Sánchez2Disasi6Thiago Silva26Colwill27Gusto23Gallagher25Caicedo21ChilwellSubstituted forMaatsenat 86’minutesBooked at 90mins7SterlingSubstituted forBurstowat 90+2’minutes8FernándezBooked at 73mins15JacksonSubstituted forUgochukwuat 83’minutesSubstitutes3Cucurella11Madueke16Ugochukwu29Maatsen37Burstow43da Silva Moreira47Bergström48Humphreys50BeachLutonFormation 5-3-224Kaminski12Kaboré16Burke4Lockyer29Bell26Giles14Chong13Nakamba6Barkley11Adebayo9Morris24Kaminski12KaboréSubstituted forDoughtyat 70’minutes16BurkeSubstituted forAndersenat 77’minutes4LockyerBooked at 27mins29Bell26Giles14ChongSubstituted forOgbeneat 77’minutes13NakambaBooked at 30mins6BarkleySubstituted forMpanzuat 77’minutes11AdebayoSubstituted forBrownat 70’minutesBooked at 78mins9MorrisSubstitutes5Andersen7Ogbene8Berry10Woodrow17Mpanzu19Brown23Krul38Johnson45DoughtyReferee:Robert JonesAttendance:39,893Live TextMatch ends, Chelsea 3, Luton Town 0.Second Half ends, Chelsea 3, Luton Town 0.Substitution, Chelsea. Mason Burstow replaces Raheem Sterling.Ian Maatsen (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Foul by Ian Maatsen (Chelsea).Tom Lockyer (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Attempt blocked. Jacob Brown (Luton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Moisés Caicedo.Substitution, Chelsea. Ian Maatsen replaces Ben Chilwell.Attempt missed. Jacob Brown (Luton Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Carlton Morris with a headed pass.Attempt saved. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Chilwell.Substitution, Chelsea. Lesley Ugochukwu replaces Nicolas Jackson.Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Foul by Alfie Doughty (Luton Town).Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Axel Disasi.Attempt blocked. Carlton Morris (Luton Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.Attempt blocked. Carlton Morris (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marvelous Nakamba.Attempt blocked. Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.Foul by Malo Gusto (Chelsea).Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.

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