The Blues’ record signing came off the bench to score his first league goal since September and win a penalty as Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Aston Villa
With Chelsea’s Premier League title hopes seemingly slipping away from them in recent weeks, Thomas Tuchel needed a hero.
Fortunately for the Blues’ manager and all of the club’s fans, he is finally able to call upon his £97.5 million ($136m) club-record signing Romelu Lukaku, and at Villa Park on Boxing Day, the Belgium international showed the difference he can make when he is fit and firing.
Facing a nine-point deficit to leaders Manchester City at kick-off and after struggling for much of the first half against Aston Villa, Lukaku was introduced off the bench for only his sixth appearance since mid-October.
