Chelsea shrugged off their injury crisis to sweep Aston Villa aside and secure a victory that keeps them top of the Premier League.

First-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka kept Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side on top of Liverpool on goal difference, and it could have been more but for the reflexes of Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Chelsea, already without the services of Didier Drogba, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien, were missing Alex from their starting line-up and then saw midfielder Joe Cole limp off.

Anelka, struggling with muscle spasms before the match, was also taken off at the break meaning Franco di Santo was Scolari’s frontline striker for 45 minutes. It mattered little, however, as Villa failed to threaten.

Scolari had never met Martin O’Neill before and had spoken of his admiration for the teams the Villa manager has produced - but this crop simply had no chance as Chelsea gave them a first-half masterclass in passing and movement.

Villa had been billed as the team to put pressure on Chelsea’s unbeaten home league record, with the pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young enough to trouble most sides.

As it was, Branislav Ivanovic went untroubled on his league debut as most of the action was ahead of him. John Terry, partnering the Serbian in central defence, said before the match that he wanted to play even if it was on one leg – and he probably could have done that in the first half, such was Chelsea’s dominance.

Friedel’s busy afternoon in goal for Villa started with two early saves. The first effort was from Michael Ballack, who fizzed a drive from 25 yards, then Florent Malouda had a go from the left flank from a similar distance.

Frank Lampard had the first clear opening of the game, in the 18th minute, when Anelka found him with a cross, only for the England midfielder to head wide.

Lampard, however, set up the opener three minutes later after Curtis Davies’ clearance fell to Malouda. The Frenchman slipped the ball inside to Lampard, who in turn helped it on to Joe Cole, who took one touch and lashed his finish past Friedel and inside the near post, his third of the season.

Anelka could have doubled the lead when he cracked a drive from 30 yards but his effort smashed against the crossbar - starting the onslaught on Friedel’s goal.

The American goalkeeper parried a Lampard free-kick and also denied Malouda, who attempted another skidding drive. He also made a double save in the 43rd minute, but could not prevent Anelka tapping in the rebound. Ashley Cole had crossed from the left, Ballack’s drive and Anelka’s follow up were saved - but the France international made sure with his next effort.

It was Anelka’s last contribution as he was taken off at the break for Di Santo, while Villa took off Davies and Luke Young, with James Milner and Carlos Cuellar coming on.

Stiliyan Petrov did have an effort saved by Petr Cech - but then Chelsea took control again. Worryingly for Fabio Capello, the England manager, who was watching from the stands, was the sight of Terry having for treatment on his back.

Joe Cole picked up what was apparently a foot injury and hobbled off down the tunnel, with Salomon Kalou taking his place.

Ballack wasted a glorious opportunity from close range, then Kalou was denied by a brave block from Friedel as Chelsea threatened more. Kalou also had an overhead striker disallowed for offside.