Fernando Torres rediscovered his goalscoring touch as the Blues cruised past Genk in their Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard, who returned to the side after sitting out Saturday’s Premier League win over Everton as part of a three-match domestic ban, has endured a lean spell since his move from Liverpool in January but was back to his clinical best with his first European goals for Chelsea.
Another former Anfield man, Raul Meireles, and Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic also found the target before a fifth from Salomon Kalou ensured the hosts remain unbeaten at the top of Group E.
With Frank Lampard captaining the side in place of the rested John Terry, the Londoners quickly found their rhythm and were ahead with just eight minutes on the clock.
Meireles, finding himself with time and space outside the box, unleashed a venomous 25-yard drive past Laszlo Koteles.
Torres made it two just two minutes later, stroking the ball home after collecting Lampard’s pass and the striker added his second with a well-placed header on 27 minutes.
Ivanovic headed a fourth from a Florent Malouda free-kick just before the break before Kalou, on as a substitute for Lampard, wrapped up an impressive performance by scoring from close range after Kotele had denied Torres a hat-trick with a smart save for the outclassed Belgians.
Pictures: Check out more images from the Chelsea v Genk game
