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The Ben Jacobs Chelsea column!
Chelsea got a very encouraging 3-0 victory over Luton on Friday. It was an important game for them to win. They were favourites on paper, but that didn't mean much last season. Chelsea were able to kill off the game and now they have two more winnable games against Wimbledon and Nottingham Forest to build some momentum.
The most encouraging positive from Luton was Raheem Sterling, who got two goals and an assist. Sterling was used in his best position and he can be like a new signing for Chelsea if he gets going.
Reports this summer suggesting that Sterling was surplus to requirements, and Chelsea were open to a sale, were wide of the mark. Chelsea have always been committed to Sterling, and Sterling to Chelsea.
Mauricio Pochettino values Premier League experience. It's easy to look at the Chelsea project at the moment as just young stars, but proven Premier League quality is obviously going to be key to Chelsea getting back into the Champions League.
Sterling showed flashes of form against Liverpool, was excellent against West Ham and was a man-of-the-match contender against Luton along with Enzo Fernandez.
If Chelsea choose not to move in the market for another traditional forward then Sterling's goals and assists are going to be very significant. Remember at Manchester City he had six consecutive seasons in double figures for goals.
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