Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge has admitted that he is surprised by his recent form after he opened the scoring in his side's 3-1 defeat of Everton at Stamford Bridge.
The 22-year-old's strike was his fourth goal in four games for the Blues after he spent the latter part of last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers, and he believes that he is in the form of his life.
"In the first team it's the best I've ever played," Sturridge told ESPN. "In the youth team and things like that, I used to do this pretty regularly, but it comes as a surprise to me because I'm doing it in a professional game. I'm enjoying it and I'm glad that I'm taking it into the first team.
"I think we played a great team game today. The manager told us to move the ball quickly and to play one-touch football as much as possible, and I think we did that today. We played very well."
The win has moved Chelsea to within a point of second-placed Manchester United, but Sturridge said that he is pleased that much of the focus this season is on United and their local rivals Manchester City.
"I'm happy for everyone not to talk about us, so we can get on with what we're doing," he added. "It doesn't matter whether people talk or not, just as long as we can continue beating every team that's put in front of us. It doesn't matter what the opposition is, we want to win every game."
The London club next host Belgian side Genk in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Jack Prescott
