Ancelotti stays 'quiet and calm' as Chelsea hammer Stoke

The Blues demolished Stoke 7-0 at Stamford Bridge yesterday to return to the top of the Barclays Premier League, one point ahead of the champions.

Victories over Liverpool at Anfield and Wigan at home would now be enough for Chelsea to clinch their first title since 2006.

They responded to Manchester United's 3-1 win over Tottenham on Saturday by mauling Stoke.

A hat-trick from Ivorian striker Salomon Kalou, a brace from Frank Lampard, including a penalty, and late goals from substitute Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda maintained Chelsea's dream of winning a league and FA Cup double this season. The critical moment for Chelsea will be at Anfield next weekend against a Liverpool side who will still be aiming to finish in fourth place.

Chelsea have now scored 93 goals this season and have eight more than United in terms of goal difference but the only statistic concerning Ancelotti is two wins out of the next two games.

"We maintained good discipline on the pitch for 90 minutes," said Ancelotti. "We played well and quickly, and for that I am happy.

"I told my players at half-time to continue to play. Goal difference was not important for this – we have scored a lot of goals this season in the Premier League.

"But it won't come down to goal difference to decide it. There will be one team that arrives in first place and another who arrives in second place."

He added: "It will be very difficult at Liverpool. But it is in our hands. Liverpool are a fantastic team still going for fourth place. It's ours to lose. But that's a good thing. To have a title in our own hands is a good thing.

"Our destiny is in our hands, so now I am quiet and calm."

Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen's World Cup participation with Denmark will depend on whether his dislocated elbow requires surgery.

Sorensen was hurt trying to prevent Kalou from putting the Blues 2-0 ahead at Stamford Bridge. The champions' victory over Tottenham was not achieved with the last attack, as was the case the previous weekend against Manchester City, but it took goals in the final nine minutes from Nani and Ryan Giggs, with his second penalty of the game, to seal a 3-1 win.

By the time they are in action again, at Sunderland next Sunday, Chelsea will have completed their game with Liverpool, which is by far the Red Devils' best hope of their rivals slipping up.

But even if things are not going United's way at the Stadium of Light, United midfielder Darren Fletcher knows the last couple of weeks have proved there will be no sense of panic.

"We just keep believing in the way we play," said the Scotland captain. "We don't get desperate. Although we throw players forward we still keep passing, try to get the ball wide and create the right opportunities.

"Sometimes the fans might want the ball forward early but 50-50 balls are no good. We want to keep playing the way we know."

Giggs's first penalty was cancelled out by the excellent Ledley King 20 minutes from time.

King's outstanding performance drew further calls from Spurs manager Harry Redknapp for a place among England's 23-man World Cup squad this summer.