Florent Malouda (AP)

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London - Florent Malouda scored twice as Chelsea cruised to a 4-0 victory over Blackpool on Sunday, maintaining the champions' perfect start to the Premier League season.

Salomon Kalou put Chelsea ahead after just two minutes, tapping home Didier Drogba's corner at the far post.

Malouda grabbed his first goal from close range in the 12th and scored again just before half time after Drogba had netted on the half-hour with a deflected strike.

Malouda believed the win should have been more emphatic, with Chelsea failing to score in the second half.

"We can be more efficient," Malouda said. "It was not easy at the beginning but it's a real pleasure when we play like that.

Chelsea has a four-point lead at the top of the standings over Arsenal and Manchester United.

The Blues have now scored 21 goals in the Premier League and conceded only one.

The first goal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday came when Drogba's corner was flicked on by Branislav Ivanovic and Kalou supplied the finish at the far post.

It was the Ivory Coast striker's fourth league goal of the season. Michael Essien almost made it two in the 7th but the midfielder's 20-yard (meter) shot was too high.

Chelsea doubled its lead when Kalou put fellow Ivory Coast international Drogba clear of the Blackpool defense. Instead of having a shot himself, Drogba chose to cross for the unmarked Malouda to fire home.

Ivanovic almost made it 3-0 seconds later but his header from Malouda's corner fell just wide of the upright.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was forced into his first save of the game in the 16th when he tipped a shot from Alex Baptiste around the post.

Chelsea's third goal came when Ashley Cole fed Drogba, whose shot on the turn was deflected past Matthew Gilks - his fifth goal of the season.

In the 38th minute another Chelsea attack almost brought yet another goal. Paulo Ferreira headed the ball into space for Kalou to collect but his cross was smashed wide by Malouda.

Another simple Chelsea move sliced Blackpool open in the 41st to make it 4-0. Drogba's ball over the top to Kalou was perfect and he crossed for Malouda to fire into the bottom corner.

Blackpool almost reduced the deficit four minutes after the break when DJ Campbell rounded Petr Cech but Ivanovic cleared the ball off the goal line.

Moments later Luke Varney squandered another chance for the visitors when he volleyed over from close range.

Chelsea had lost the initiative and a 20m shot from Varney was deflected just over the bar as the visitors enjoyed the upper hand.

On the hour, Blackpool substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher forced a fine save from Cech with a curling shot which was going in until the Czech Republic international tipped it over the bar.

Chelsea squandered a chance to go five in front in the 63rd when Drogba put Kalou in the clear but a poor touch allowed Gilks to save his eventual shot.

Malouda squandered two hat trick chances, with a far-post volley tipped over and a shot struck wide.

"In the second half we had so many chances but there was a lack of concentration and a few bad decisions on the last pass," Drogba said. "That's something we have to think about."