Mikel makes impact

Mikel Obi strolling around Chelsea’s midfield isn’t normally one to excite. But these aren’t normal times for Chelsea and the team’s travelling support responded to the midfielder’s performance in their 3-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday by chanting his name throughout.

The Nigerian has become accustomed to a role on the fringes. A player synonymous with seeing out games, he didn’t start back-to-back Premier League matches at all during 2015. But he’s begun 2016 with a second successive start and his presence could yet have a restorative quality for Chelsea.

Mikel was the only player on either side to gain possession of the ball as many times as they surrendered it on Saturday – a statistic aided by his characteristically simple distribution. The 28-year-old found a team-mate with 78 of his 82 passes.