Crespo cuts it in Drogba's absence

Fans onside
The Chelsea fans have taken their time to warm to the Argentinian but following the 2-0 win over Liverpool FC on Sunday, there can be few still unwilling to acknowledge the technique and value of the man in the No9 shirt.

Regular place
Drogba's extended commitments in the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast have left Crespo unchallenged as the Premiership pacesetters' main striker. He has started every one of the last five games which, with José Mourinho's preference for rotating his frontrunners, is a feat in itself and has responded in positive fashion.

Ahead of Drogba
The last ten matches have yielded five goals for Crespo and enabled him to edge ahead of Drogba in the Chelsea scoring charts. Crespo has eleven, one more than his African rival but both trail Frank Lampard who has 15.

Left-footed strike
Like all the masters of his art, it matters little to Crespo whether the opportunity falls to his right or left foot. That was shown against Liverpool when a wonderful left-footed strike sealed his team's victory at Stamford Bridge. The angle was not helpful after Asier Del Horno had played him through but the finish gave José Manuel Reina no chance as the ball arrowed past him into the far corner.

Second 'goal'
It was then followed by another opening for the 30-year-old which this time arrived on his right side. A flick of his boot sent the ball arching over Reina, only for the effort to be ruled out by the assistant referee's flag though replays suggested that the offside decision was incorrect.

Final goals
Liverpool, of course, need no reminding of Crespo's lethal qualities, with the Argentinian having scored twice against them in last year's UEFA Champions League final. That came at the end of a season-long loan with AC Milan that followed a difficult first term for Crespo at the London club.

New start
He returned last summer determined to show the Chelsea supporters his true worth and the campaign has mostly gone to plan. Team-mate Eidur Gudjohnsen gave an insight into the reasons for this, when he said: "Hernán goes about his work on the training ground in a lighter mood than before. He knows the boys now and is working in a better atmosphere.

Excellent movement
"The group knows each other better," Gudjohnsen added. "In the first year after Roman Abramovich's arrival we signed a lot of players of which Hernán was one and big steps needed to be made as a team. His movement is very good, he can score from distance, but if a tap-in is needed, nine times out of ten he is there to put it in the back of the net."