Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said he is “really excited” by Hakim Ziyech after the new arrival grabbed a goal and an assist in a comfortable victory over winless Burnley at Turf Moor.
Making his first league start for the Blues, Ziyech wrong-footed Burnley keeper Nick Pope, expertly dispatching Tammy Abraham’s lay-off in the 26th minute to net his first Premier League goal.
Defender Kurt Zouma doubled the advantage just after the hour mark, rising highest to head home a Mason Mount corner.
And Morocco international Ziyech then turned provider seven minutes later, sliding through Timo Werner who side-footed an effort beyond the onrushing Pope.
“I’m really impressed and really excited. I could see his personality and work-rate off the ball,” Lampard said.
“That bit of quality gives us something different.”
Chelsea rise to fourth while Burnley remain 18th in the table, with Ashley Barnes missing one of the Clarets’ few chances when through on goal in the opening minutes.
Lampard’s side strike perfect balance
Chelsea ended a run of back-to-back goalless draws by emphatically beating Russian Premier League side FK Krasnodar 4-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
And their attackers were once again in full force with an Abraham header forcing Pope into a routine save shortly before Ziyech’s opener.
Having fired blanks in his first three Chelsea appearances, former Ajax winger Ziyech has now scored two in two. The 27-year-old looked increasingly lively, scoring and assisting as Chelsea’s new-look attack continued to shine.
The visitors’ six key summer signings, Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, Edouard Mendy, Thiago Silva, Ziyech and Werner all started for the first time after Werner replaced Christian Pulisic who awaits a scan after tweaking his hamstring in the warm-up.
And, after rallying against some early Burnley pressure in the second half, goals from Zouma and Werner sunk the hosts before substitute Olivier Giroud poked in a low cross from Chilwell only to be flagged for offside.
The Blues, who have often been criticised for looking top heavy this season, were rarely threatened at the back, Barnes’ early chance the only moment a fourth consecutive clean sheet looked in doubt.
Clarets look out of ideas
The Lancashire side were unlucky in their loss to Tottenham last week and should have come away with all three points in the fixture before at West Brom.
But against an in-form Chelsea side they looked toothless, with this latest defeat meaning they have collected only one point from their opening six games.
After the game, Burnley manager Sean Dyche remained pragmatic, saying he did not think “panicking would change anything”.
He added: “I don’t panic in general, to be honest. I think structure, organisation and hard work – that may change things.
“There has to be a bit of realism – playing against these sides, top-six sides, they can punish you, and they punished us today.”
Burnley’s loss comes against the backdrop of a £200m takeover bid from Egyptian businessman Mohamed El Kashashy and lawyer Chris Farnell.
Despite Sean Dyche repeatedly calling for his squad to be strengthened, permanent signings this summer were limited to Brighton midfielder Dale Stephens and back-up goalkeeper Will Norris.
And Stephens, starting for just the third time this season, was taken off by Dyche at half-time as Burnley struggled to maintain possession.
Barnes could have given the hosts an early lead but failed to punish Chelsea’s high line, looping his effort off target when put through on goal by full-back Matthew Lowton.
But it was Chelsea’s afternoon, and once they netted their opener, there looked to be only one winner.
Ziyech’s bright start – the stats
- Chelsea have won six of their seven away Premier League matches against Burnley (D1), winning each of their past four in a row.
- Burnley suffered their heaviest home Premier League defeat since December 2019, when they were beaten 4-1 by Manchester City.
- Hakim Ziyech became the first Chelsea player to score in his first two starts for the club since Diego Costa in August 2014.
- Since the start of last season, Ziyech has been directly involved in 30 goals in 40 matches in all competitions across spells with Ajax and Chelsea (11 goals, 19 assists).
- Ziyech is the first player to score and assist on his first Premier League start since Ruben Neves in August 2018, and the third African player to ever do so, after Mohamed Salah and Dame N’Doye.
- Edouard Mendy has conceded just one goal in six appearances for Chelsea in all competitions – Kepa Arrizabalaga has conceded 14 goals in his past six appearances for the Blues.
What next?
Burnley are away at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Friday, 6 November (17:30 GMT) while Chelsea return to European action, hosting Rennes in the Champions League on Wednesday, 4 November (20:00).
Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits? 😂🎶
Nigerian comedian and content creator Josh2Funny has taken his comedy game into music, and Nigerians are definitely having something to say about it.
The comedian released his 15-track album, “On Behalf of Josh,” on July 10, 2026, but instead of fading away after release, the project has continued to generate conversations on X.
And the big question now is:
Should Josh2Funny continue with music or go back to skits? 😂
Fans have been divided. While some listeners openly criticized the album and told him to return to comedy, others found songs they genuinely enjoyed.
One X user joked:
“Josh2Funny stopped doing skits and started music, Everybody wan chop this music money 😂”
Another simply said:
“This Josh2Funny Album no enter make he just go back skit abeg 😂”
But then came “Lembe.” 🔥
The track caught fire on X and eventually became a trending topic in Nigeria. The #LembeChallenge also gained momentum as creators began jumping on the song.
Josh2Funny later announced ₦1 million for winners of the challenge, giving the song another major push.
And it didn’t stop there.
‘INTERNATIONAL’ FT. ICE PRINCE ALSO TRENDED
On another day, “International” featuring Ice Prince generated its own buzz on X.
One fan even called it their favourite song from the album, while praising the collaboration. The post itself pulled thousands of views, showing that people weren’t only talking about Lembe.
From album criticism to trending songs and challenges, “On Behalf of Josh” has kept Josh2Funny’s name in the conversation.
Whether you love the album or think he should return to skits, one thing is clear:
Josh2Funny has succeeded in getting Nigerians talking. 😂🔥
So, let’s settle this once and for all:
Should Josh2Funny continue with MUSIC 🎶 or return to SKITS 😂?
Music or Skits? Drop your answer! 👇
RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.
Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.
For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.
Entertainment Gists
Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype
If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.
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