French striker Nicolas Anelka scored a hat-trick (30, 45 and 53) and strikes from Brazilian defender Alex (27) and Frank Lampard (51) secured the big win for The Blues.

Now Chelsea are first in the league table level on points with Liverpool who will face Tottenham later on Saturday.

Elsewhere, champions Manchester United beat this year's surprise package Hull City 4-3 at Old Trafford.

A Cristiano Ronaldo brace (3, 44) sandwiched Michael Carrick's left-footed strike (29) before Nemanja Vidic scored United's fourth on 57 minutes.

The visitors' goals came through Daniel Cousin (23), Bernard Mendy (69) and a Geovanni spot kick on 82 minutes.

While Hull drop to sixth in the table with 20 points, United climb to third one point more than City.