Chelsea's ascent to the Barclays Premier League summit was a largely unexpected pleasure. The league's biggest sharpshooters, Manchester City, were firing blanks again at Carrow Road and the Gunners were spiked at Anfield.

With results elsewhere the Blues are now nine points clear of the team in fifth place - effectively 10, taking into account the goal difference advantage - and building up a stranglehold on a Champions League place. With 39 more points still attainable, Chelsea are now the only side capable of matching our own record Premier League tally of 95, set in 2004/05.

Torres is fit and could return to the squad as said Jose Mourinho to the media on Monday afternoon: “We are better than in the last match because Fernando is back and it is one more option for us”. Fernando Torres is available for selection tonight for the first time since leaving the field injured during our 3-1 win over Manchester United. He had scored in successive away games at Hull and Southampton prior to that setback.

Tonight's opponents West Bromwich Albion will be equally fired-up, though: they stumbled 1-3 at Selhurst Park and slumped into the relegation zone.

Chelsea are leaders for the first time since August and it is no coincidence that has happened while the defence has become formidable again. Just two goals have been conceded in the 11 matches in all competitions since the disappointing Capital One Cup defeat at Sunderland.

Our next win will be the 150th during Jose Mourinho's two spells at Stamford Bridge and the next goal scored will be the 400th under his management. His record is:

Played 221, won 149, drawn 46, lost 27; goals scored 399, goals conceded 146.

Pepe Mel, eventual successor to former Chelsea man Steve Clarke at the Hawthorns, arrived from Spain with a reputation for forging attractive teams under difficult circumstances.

He conducts media conferences in Spanish via a translator but the fact he had been taking English lessons before the call from the Midlands signified his ambition to switch to the Premier League.

He has not had an easy start to life in the Black Country: two points from a possible 12 since 20 January, with a drop from 13th to 18th in the table. It is not the kind of continuity the Hawthorns' board was seeking. The former Real Betis boss's appointment was delayed by a few weeks because he initially preferred bringing in his own backroom staff. Instead he is dovetailing with incumbents such as Keith Downing and Dean Kiely.

The Baggies are unbeaten in their last four games at the Hawthorns and have achieved home draws with Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton this season. However, their tally of four victories all season represents the joint worst in all four English divisions - and half were achieved against opponents reduced to 10 men.

In handing Eden Hazard the ball for a penalty kick to complete his first Chelsea hat-trick, Frank Lampardeschewed the chance to reach his own half century from the spot for the Blues.

The brilliant Belgian now has a dozen Premier League goals this season.


- Match preview by chelseafc.com