Thursday night's 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers gave us the only 100 per cent record at the end of the Conference League's initial stage, progressing to the last 16 in first place in the table.

That also made it eight victories in a row in all competitions, as focus returns to the Premier League ahead of what could be our final trip to Goodison Park on Sunday, with opponents Everton planning to move to their new stadium at the start of next season.

It will definitely by Chelsea's last match before Christmas, hoping to give the Blues supporters an early gift of three points and a ninth consecutive win.

Those involved on Friday included Pedro Neto, who is available again after serving his one-match suspension in the Premier League, and captain Reece James making his first steps back into partial training, although it is too early for him to be considered for selection.

The squad were at Cobham working towards that goal of a ninth victory in a row on Friday, with Enzo Maresca crediting the players' willingness to accept new ideas on the training pitch as key to the team's form.

‘It’s the players,’ he said. ‘You can coach them the way you want but if they are not open-minded or if they don’t understand what I require, it becomes complicated. So first of all, it’s them.

‘Then it’s a mix of things - the club, the coaching staff, the players. It’s all important that we share the same vision and sometimes that isn’t easy, but that is the reason why.

'The players are all understanding more where they have to be to receive the ball and where they have to move on the pitch. So we are really happy.’

Hopefully we will continue to see that in action on the pitch at Goodison Park on Sunday, to bring another victory back home for Christmas.