Hakim Ziyech makes flying start as Chelsea go through the gears in win at Burnley

It seems Turf Moor is the place for Chelsea players to announce themselves to the Premier League, with Hakim Ziyech marking his first start in the competition by helping his club get back into the top four.

Christian Pulisic had done the same almost exactly a year ago in this fixture when he scored his first goal for the club and ended up with a hat-trick.

The American forward was injured in the warm-up this time around and it was Ziyech’s turn to shine. The Morocco international scored the opener before providing an assist for Timo Werner after Kurt Zouma also got on the scoresheet. Ziyech, 27, has been made to wait to make an impact for Frank Lampard’s team, but has made up for it this week by scoring on his first start in the Champions League, then following it up with this performance.

It was the first time a Chelsea signing had scored in his first two starts since Diego Costa, but the player Ziyech is looking to emulate is Eden Hazard. The initial signs are promising for a forward who can glide around players but is equally happy picking passes.

“You need to play with confidence and not be afraid to make mistakes,” Ziyech said. “Otherwise it won’t go how it’s supposed to go. Every week we make steps. It’s been a good week for me. I feel good and I feel at home.”

His goal in the first half also shows he has an eye for goal, with his finish from the edge of the area going through Dale Stephens’ legs and wrong-footing Nick Pope, a scrappy goal but in an area where he will do most damage as he cuts in from the right flank.

Lampard has been impressed with his £40 million signing for making himself at home while being unable to play. He watched Project Restart from the stands, then got injured in pre-season to delay his introduction to the first team, but he has a confidence the Chelsea manager has seen in other match-winning players. While matching Hazard like-for-like may be impossible, Lampard has a hungry player who answered the question of a cold afternoon in Burnley. After the blow of losing Pulisic in the warm-up, Lampard had Ziyech in a team along with Werner and Tammy Abraham as forwards and a midfield that had Mason Mount and Kai Havertz looking to break forward. It will be firepower that keeps them in the Champions League places.

At the back it was the first time Lampard has recorded clean sheets in consecutive Premier League games. Here, they were helped by Thiago Silva returning after being given a midweek breather for the “maintenance” a 36-year-old needs at this stage of his career, or indeed to prepare to face Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes. Barnes had an early sight of goal when he was played through by Matt Lowton’s lofted pass, although his finish lobbed over the bar and there was no Var check despite being clattered by Edouard Mendy. “I’m confused about penalties now. I’m not saying we would have gone on to win, but it would have given us a foothold in the game,” said Burnley manager Sean Dyche. “I don’t know how that isn’t a penalty.”

Chelsea had a penalty shout themselves turned down when Josh Brownhill nudged Ben Chilwell in the back, but they were ahead in the 26th minute through Ziyech’s goal. Werner had created the opening with a cutback from the right, with Abraham teeing up Ziyech to get his shot away. “I expected a lot of Hakim because I was very aware of his qualities and that’s why we brought him to the club,” said Lampard. “He brings something different with his eye for a pass, his receiving, his crossing. But what I’ve seen since he’s been here as well is his personality.”

Zouma doubled the lead in the second half when he headed – or more accurately used his shoulder – when he was left unmarked from Mount’s corner. James Tarkowski was nearest to him but Burnley had switched off, conceding from another set-piece as they did in their defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last week. Ziyech provided the assist for the third goal after Burnley had lost the ball in dangerous territory and Reece James intercepted. Ziyech was fed the ball and split the hosts’ defence to allow Werner to run on and score his fifth goal of the season.

“It was a very complete performance,” said Lampard. “Some of the passing and movement from minute one to the end of the game was very good. This feels like a nice step forward.

“We’ve certainly had a nice bit of momentum from this week. We got a draw and a clean sheet at Man United, then the two performances have got progressively better. We’re not at the end of the road, I’m not going to jump up and down, but today was a very positive day.”

It leaves Burnley still without a win this season at the end of a week when they were subject to takeover interest from an Egyptian businessman.

“I don’t panic in general, to be honest, I’m not that sort of fella,” said Dyche. “I don’t think panicking will change anything. I think structure, organisation and hard work, that may change things.”