Chelsea put on a six-goal super show at Stamford Bridge to defeat Manchetser City.

The Blues biggest win of the season came thanks to a Didier Drogba double and goals from Michael Essien, Joe Cole, Salomon Kalou and Andriy Shevchenko.

Manchester City's improvement under the guidance of former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was clearly evident in the opening skirmishes.

Elano's delightful chip into the penalty area in the third minute almost put Stephen Ireland in the clear and Chelsea keeper Petr Cech was required to turn the ball around the post to deny the City striker.

Cech was forced to dive to his right to collect a volley from Georgios Samaras in the 11th minute as City continued to probe Chelsea's defensive capabilities.

But Chelsea fashioned the opening goal in the 17th minute with a well-worked move.

Mikel John Obi found Frank Lampard in space midway in the City half and the England midfielder wasted little time in putting the ball into the path of Michael Essien.

The Ghanaian needed little invitation to run on and unleash an angled drive that eluded City keeper Joe Hart and flashed into the far corner of the net.

But City were still dangerous on the break and, when Mikel fouled Elano 25 yards out, Cech was forced into a flying save to keep out a vicious free-kick from Marin Petrov.

Moments later a header from England international Micah Richards was deflected to safety by Lampard.

But City had Richard Dunne to thank for preventing Didier Drogba from adding a second in the 24th minute when his deftest of touches took Joe Cole's cross away from the Ivorian on the six-yard box.

In the 26th minute Salomon Kalou fed Drogba with a cleverly angled pass but the Ivorian striker, who has scored two goals in his last two games, sent a poor shot into the side-netting.

In the 28th minute referee Mike Riley was the centre of controversy when he booked both Lampard and Richards after the pair has squared up to each other in midfield.

But Lampard had the last laugh seconds later when he split the City defence with an inch perfect pass to Drogba.

The striker controlled the ball perfectly before drilling a low shot under Hart for Chelsea's second and his third goal in as many games.

City should have pulled one back a minute later when Michael Johnson's pass found Stephen Ireland in space, but the City midfielder could not hit the target.

Chelsea almost added a third on the stroke of half-time when Cole's cross was cleared by Dunne, who appeared to trip Kalou in the process.

Chelsea were three-up in the 56th minute thanks to Drogba's fourth goal in three games.

The move had been started by a fine run down the left flank by Paulo Ferreira.

His low cross into the penalty area was flicked on by Drogba into the path of Kalou who then fed Lampard on the penalty spot.

The England midfielder's shot was brilliantly saved by Hart but Drogba reacted quicker than the City defence to strike home the loose ball.

Chelsea were now in rampant mood and Lampard brought another fine save from Hart before Drogba miscued a shot from six yards range.

City's run of six games unbeaten was clearly coming to an end as Cole made it four in the 59th minute.

The England midfielder finished off a three-man move that was started in Chelsea's own half by an overhead clearance from Brazilian defender Alex.

Drogba headed the ball into the path of Cole and he left the City defence behind before drilling a low shot into the net.

Chelsea made it five in the 75th minute when Kalou finished off a pass from Michael Essien and beat Hart with a low shot into the far corner of the net.

The rout was completed by substitute Andriy Shevchenko who shot past Hart from Essien's pass in the dying seconds.