Chelsea put an end to a series of four consecutive Premier League away defeats by securing a 3-2 victory over Luton Town in an intense match at Kenilworth Road.
The Blues, now maintaining an undefeated record in their last league game of the calendar year since 2011 (with 8 wins and 4 draws), asserted themselves early in the game. Noni Madueke tested Thomas Kaminski within the first five minutes, and despite the Luton goalkeeper’s initial saves, Cole Palmer capitalized on a wayward pass from Issa Kaboré to open the scoring.
Following unsuccessful pressure from Luton, Chelsea showcased a clinical touch, countering swiftly to double their lead. Madueke, receiving the ball from Palmer on the right, scored his first goal for Chelsea with a powerful shot at the near post after shifting the ball onto his weaker foot.
The second half saw increased energy from Luton with the introduction of Tahith Chong and Chiedozie Ogbene. However, they struggled to create meaningful chances, and Chelsea punished them with another effective attack. Palmer, assisted by Jackson, rounded Kaminski and calmly scored his second goal despite facing multiple challenges.
Despite Luton’s efforts, including Adebayo hitting the bar and Barkley scoring in the 80th minute, Chelsea maintained their composure. Adebayo then reduced the deficit to one after Doughty’s initial shot was saved by Petrović. Although Luton’s pressure was relentless, Chelsea held firm to finish 2023 on a positive note and kept the Hatters in the relegation zone.