The Potters were well and truly slaughtered at the Bridge and injuries to key players completed a miserable day at the office.
City now have to face upto finishing the season without captain Abdoulaye Faye, after the centre back limped off after just eight minutes, yet again failing to last anywhere near the distance. At least that brought about the re-introduction of Ryan Shawcross for the first time since his sending off versus Arsenal but the injuries continued to mount with Thomas Sorensen forced to leave the field with a dislocated elbow following a two footed lunge from Chelsea striker Soloman Kalou.
The game started ok for the Potters and the early attacks were all well dealt with by the defence, with Ricardo Fuller also looking dangerous at the other end but lacking support after breaking into the box on more than one occasion.
Ashley Cole had the first real opportunity when his effort was blocked by Sorensen after the keeper parried a shot to the full back. A truly world class save from a Drogba header followed before the ball was finally put into the net by Kalou. A ball to the far side of the area was amazingly controlled by Drogba's heel before he hit a cross to his international teammate Kalou. The ball was missed by Danny Collins, evaded Higginbotham and was bundled in by Kalou from three yards.
The defence had held out for twenty four minutes but eight minutes later the lead was doubled in controversial circumstances. Sorensen parried a shot to the egde of the six yard box and then clambered across before stretching out an arm to divert the ball away. Seeing he may not get there Kalou launched himself, two footed and off the floor, towards the keeper and the ball. He prodded the ball into the net but took the keeper arms with him, dislocating the keepers elbow, and leaving his season over and World Cup dreams hanging by a thread. The ref somehow allowed the goal and Asmir Begovic entered the fray as the game restarted following lengthy treatment.
Two became three before half time when the ref awarded a controversial penalty. Huth wrestled with Kalou outside the box and after struggling to stay on his feet the striker immediately hit the deck once inside the area. It was a clear free kick as Kalou was fouled four times outside the box but kept going before falling as soon as he crossed the penalty area line. Lampard stepped up and rolled the ball into the opposite corner to beat Begovic and seal the game.
It got no better after the break as Collins went missing, giving Kalout the freedom of the wing, and he made no mistake. The hitman burst into the area, and unleashed a shot at Begovic, which the keeper did well to parry. The loose ball fell back to Kalou and the defence stood and watched as he rolled it into the net for a hat trick.
A superb save from Malouda followed, with Begovic pulling off a wonderful point blank save, before the winger amazingly missed from a yard after Collins again went missing allowing Joe Cole the chance to roll the ball across the six yard box.
Lampard showed a deft touch to make it five when he sidefooted the ball over Begovic after being picked out at the back post by Hutchinsons cross. As the game ticked towards the ninety minute mark there was still time for two more goals as Sturridge broke the offside trap, rounded Begovic and rolled the ball into an empty net and then Malouda rounded the scoring off by finally getting his goal, tapping in from close range after Cole was again given time to pick out the winger in the six yard box.