5 major talking points from Middlesbrough v Chelsea

Chelsea's 1-0 win away at Middlesbrough on Sunday afternoon moves them top of the Premier League table.

Diego Costa's first half volley was enough for the Blues to pick up their sixth consecutive league victory.

This was the first league encounter between the two sides since January 2009 where the Blues picked up a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge thanks to a brace from former striker Salomon Kalou. 

Middlesbrough’s recent form against Chelsea is very poor and the weekend’s result was their seventh consecutive defeat against the South-West London side in all competitions. Their last victory over Chelsea came in August 2006 where they won 2-1 thanks to a 90^th minute goal from Mark Viduka.

Middlesbrough currently sit 15^th in the Premier League table and currently hold the worst goal scoring record of any team in the league this term.

SHOOT! looks at the five major talking points of the game.

The Streaks Continue

Victory for the Blues extends their winning run to six league matches. Not only does their winning streak continue, but that's also the sixth consecutive clean sheet in the league for Antonio Conte's side.

If they are to cement themselves in the title race they'll need to keep this run going for as long as physically possible.  This is definitely easier said than done, with Chelsea's next two fixtures being against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and former Champions Manchester City.

Middlesbrough's form comes to an end

Despite the defeat ending Boro's three game unbeaten run (including draws away at Arsenal and Manchester City), the Teesside outfit are in 15th position, just one point clear of the relegation zone.

Fixtures are not favouring Middlesbrough at the minute and they are not getting any easier with ‘the Smoggies’ facing Champions Leicester City, Liverpool and Southampton all inside their next four fixtures.

It is vital that they pick up points against relegation rivals such as Hull City, Swansea City and West Ham United if they want to avoid an instant relegation to the Championship.

Luiz's Solidarity

Chelsea's deadline day signing had left them as a bit of a laughing stock in the footballing world after they announced the return of cult hero David Luiz.   However, with six clean sheets on the bounce and form that keeps Chelsea skipper John Terry out of the starting line-up, is Luiz's return a stroke of genius by Conte?

Luiz was one of the Blues' stand out performers on Sunday and you'd struggle to spot the 'mistake' that a lot of pundits and fans claim he has in his game.

The £30 million signing is proving to be a new player under Conte's management and will his form earn him a quick recall into the Brazil national squad?

Where are Middlesbrough's goals coming from?

Middlesbrough may be sat in 15th in the Premier League table, but they have scored the least amount of goals of any Premier League side this season.

With top scorer Christian Stuani not featuring against Chelsea, all eyes were on star signing Alvaro Negredo.

However, the on-loan Valencia striker was again unable to score leaving the former Spanish international with only 1 goal in his 12 league appearances on Teesside.

If Middlesbrough are to stay up this year, they seriously need to sort their goal scoring problems out fast.

Moses now a fan-favourite

The Nigerian international may have had to be very patient in his Chelsea career, but Victor Moses is finally getting both regular football and fan recognition.

After loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham, Moses has seriously impressed Conte this term and has started every game since the switch to three at the back.

His performances this season have prevented Willian and Branislav Ivanovic from getting regular game time and with the fans spending large chunks of Sunday chanting 'Victor Moses' could this be the revival of the wingers’ career?