A blog of two halves

Animal magic helped the Blues defeat the Tigers, and animal magic is being summoned again for the visit of the Foxes.

Different shapes appeal to different people, but few would deny the alluring symmetry of Marilyn Monroe’s 35-22-35.

There are many painful things in life. Divorce, amputation, the death of a pet. But nothing quite beats losing 3-0 to Arsenal.

Nearly 20 years ago I was in the crowd for my favourite Chelsea match; an FA Cup 4th round tie on a chilly Sunday in January, under the Stamford Bridge floodlights. Visitors Liverpool were 2-0 up at half-time and cruising.

With a sense of injustice still occupying some at the Bridge following last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Swansea – a match that the Blues dominated – Chelsea approach Friday night’s game against Liverpool with renewed determination.

Blues fans are still absorbing the late flurry of transfer deadline activity at the Bridge, with opinion divided about the re-signing of David Luiz.

It’s early days, and there are much sterner tests ahead, but Chelsea’s start to the season has put a spring back into everyone’s step at the Bridge.

A muggy night in London can’t explain away Chelsea’s laboured performance in the EFL Cup, scraping past Bristol Rovers at Stamford Bridge.

Who needs Special Ones when you’ve got Animated Ones? With touchline sprints, pirouettes and long jumps that wouldn’t have disgraced Rio, Antonio Conte instantly endeared himself to Blues fans as he managed a winning start to the new season.

If Chelsea found last year’s Premier League tough going, this campaign adds different challenges.