Chelsea’s perfect start to the season came to an end with a pulsating 2-2 draw against Swansea.
The visitors looked to be doing it comfortably as they were largely untroubled by the home side, before two goals in as many minutes saw the Swans suddenly in pole position to take all three points.
It was typically left to Diego Costa to have the final say, with his late bicycle kick – his second goal of the game – seeing the sides come away with a point each.
The Costa show
It is Costa’s world and we are just living in it.
The polarising frontman was very much the centre of attention, as a game of football threatened to break out amidst the Costa-Swansea battle. A staggering miss on the stroke of half-time, being on the receiving end of seven fouls and taking two undeniably world-class finishes all featured in the striker’s game.
It was the third time in four matches the Spaniard had scored a brace against Swansea, and he was the quintessential pantomime villain in another Premier League drama.
Controversial decisions shape result
With challenges flying in all over the pitch, Andre Marriner had a difficult task at the Liberty Stadium.
Jordi Amat could consider himself lucky to have remained on the pitch after a string of cynical fouls, as too could Thibaut Courtois for his slide tackle leading to the penalty. Marriner also adjudged that Gary Cahill was not fouled by Leroy Fer in his defensive howler that led to Swansea’s second goal.
Llorente struggles again
He might not have been helped by the service coming his way, but on the day Gylfi Sigurdsson became Swansea’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, marquee striker Fernando Llorente was again anonymous. The Spaniard struggled to have any impact, only mustering five touches in the opposition box and creating no chances.
The former Athletic Bilbao and Juventus man could be on borrowed time with record signing Borja Baston entering the fray.
Chelsea’s signings snubbed
After their big deadline day moves to the Blues, fans might have been expecting defenders David Luiz and Marcos Alonso to appear for their debuts at some stage.
Both men were unused subs on the bench – perhaps unsurprisingly given their limited preparation in new surroundings and Chelsea finding themselves chasing the game in the final 20 minutes.
However, it did not help the case that both of Swansea’s goals came from defensive errors.
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