Raheem Sterling scored both goals in Chelsea’s 2-1 win at home to Leicester City, overcoming Conor Gallagher’s 28th-minute red card to win with 10 men against Brendan Rodgers’s side.
The west Londoners needed a hero and Sterling’s ability to run at a player and shoot provided the first goal, which deflected off Daniel Amartey and into Danny Ward’s far post.
Kai Havertz set Reece James off down the right and his low cross was met with a Manchester City-esque far post tap-in to make it 2-0.
His brand of silent leadership is what Chelsea paid £47.5million for earlier in the summer, attracting him away from the Premier League champions with a bigger squad role.
They offered him £300,000-a-week to make him the club’s top earner and sold the move as a chance to lead the attack, with Pep Guardiola seemingly moving on following the singing of Erling Haaland from Dortmund.
Indeed, at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, it was Sterling who was the outlet to release pressure on the counterattack and creator when he dropped into the half-spaces between the Foxes’ midfield and defence.
He created the best chance for his team mates with Ruben Loftus-Cheek missing a close-range chance after his through ball.
For all his good work, he is still prone to missing chances with Danny Ward saving a one-on-one opportunity early in the second half.
It shows that Chelsea need even more to challenge at the very highest level in the Premier League. That’s why they are planning to sign one or even two attackers before the transfer window shuts on September 1.
They have both Barcelona’s Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Everton’s Anthony Gordon in their sights having agreed a fee for Leicester defender Wesley Fofana.
Whoever comes in needs to bring more goals to this team, but also know that Sterling will remain the main focal point for this attack in the coming years.
