Chelsea 5-0 Barrow: Christopher Nkunku’s hat-trick helps Enzo Maresca’s much-changed Blues cruise into the Carabao Cup fourth round

B sides do not come stronger than the one played by Chelsea and it was to the credit of the visitors from Barrow that even amid this footballing lesson, they were dancing along in their away end.

The club sitting top of League Two had sensed what was coming as soon as the teams were confirmed for this Carabao Cup clash at Stamford Bridge. 

Enzo Maresca made 11 changes, but it was hardly a bargain bin of back-ups. It cost £415.8million to assemble, and naturally, that superiority showed on a night when Christopher Nkunku helped himself to a hat-trick.

Nkunku cost £52m when signed by Chelsea, while there was also £89m Mykhailo Mudryk, £54m Pedro Neto and £46.3m Joao Felix among the starters in attack. And that was before getting to the bench, where there was a certain £50m left back in Ben Chilwell, brought on for the second half to mark his first minutes of the season after ending his exile.

As well as Nkunku’s treble, an unfortunate own goal by Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman and a tap-in by Neto completed the scoreline. But the visiting supporters were determined to enjoy themselves on their 600-mile round trip, ending the evening singing: ‘We are top of the league.’

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall thought he had it in the 62nd minute but his volley was blocked by Ben Jackson. Then came the academy boys, with Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George introduced for the final half hour. 

Chelsea insiders find it frustrating how much criticism they receive for bringing in big signings while they have a perfectly good production line at Cobham.

Yet the Premier League club can cite this as proof that they are not disregarding their own, and George ought to have scored when he had only Farman to beat.

In the 69th minute, Kian Spence forced Filip Jorgensen into an acrobatic save when his free-kick looked to be heading into the top-right corner. Jorgensen was then grateful to get his hands on the ball after a goalmouth scramble caused mass confusion.

In the 75th minute, Farman dawdled on the ball. Nkunku seized the opportunity to take it from him and with Barrow’s goalkeeper out of the picture, he claimed ownership of the match ball. This time, he performed his trademark celebration, pulling a blue balloon out of his sock and blowing it up.

Chelsea reached the final of the Carabao Cup last season, losing to Liverpool. If they are to get to Wembley all over again, they will need to navigate their way beyond stiffer competition than this.