A hat-trick from Ivorian striker Salomon Kalou, a brace from Frank Lampard, including a penalty, and late goals from substitute Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda maintained their dream of winning a League and FA Cup double this season.

Stoke were rocked by the loss of goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen who was stretchered off with a suspected fractured elbow as he attempted to deny Kalou from scoring Chelsea’s second. He is now set to miss out on this summer’s World Cup finals with Denmark.

Chelsea were helped by an injury to Stoke defender Abdoulaye Faye in the eighth minute.

The Stoke captain had been struggling with a thigh injury all week and he was replaced by Ryan Shawcross.

It was Shawcross’s first game since his tackle on Aaron Ramsey left the Arsenal midfielder with a badly broken leg at the end of February.

Chelsea should have taken the lead in the 12th minute when Frank Lampard’s shot was palmed into the path of Ashley Cole by Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen.

But Cole, playing his first game since fracturing an ankle against Everton in February, smashed his shot straight at the Dane.

In the 18th minute Drogba sent a speculative effort over the crossbar but two minutes later the Ivorian forced a superb save from Sorensen.

Full-back Paulo Ferreira found Drogba unmarked at the near post but his powerful header was brilliantly tipped away by the Stoke keeper.

In the 22nd minute Drogba latched on to a superb ball from Florent Malouda, rounded Sorensen and then inexplicably smashed his volley high into the crowd. It should have been Chelsea’s opener.

But he made up for it a minute later when he superbly controlled a sweeping pass from Malouda and crossed for Salomon Kalou to head home from close-range.

Lampard almost made it two in the 26th minute but his volley was collected safely at the near post by Sorensen.

Chelsea made it 2-0 in the 31st minute with another superb move. Nicolas Anelka’s pass was cleverly played into the path of Lampard by Drogba. The England midfielder drilled a first-time shot which Sorensen saved but Kalou poked home the rebound.

But Sorensen was injured trying to prevent Kalou from scoring and is understood to have fractured his elbow. The Stoke keeper was stretchered off after undergoing lengthy treatment on the pitch.

Sorensen required oxygen as he left the pitch to be replaced by Asmir Begovic.

Chelsea made it 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute when Robert Huth brought down Kalou and Lampard stroked home the spot-kick.

Chelsea were in total control and their goal difference had been significantly increased after Manchester United had closed the gap to one with victory over Tottenham yesterday.

Referee Steve Bennett added seven minutes of injury time at the end of the first-half following Sorensen’s treatment.

Sorensen's injury will almost certainly rule him out of the World Cup for Denmark.

In the 52nd minute Kalou, clearly looking for a hat-trick, sent a curling shot just over the angle of the post and crossbar.

Stoke made a change in the 59th minute when Tuncay replaced Dave Kitson. The departing Kitson was clearly not happy with the decision and gestured to the bench before going straight down the tunnel.

Anelka was unlucky not to hit the target in the 65th minute when his 20-yard drive flashed past the post.

Chelsea had lost some of their verve and it was clear a change was required if the home side were to increase the tempo once again.

But before they had chance to make one, Kalou completed his first hat-trick for the club in the 68th minute to make it 4-0.

The Ivorian striker cut in from the right flank and although his first effort was saved by Begovic, Kalou slammed home the rebound.

It was the last action for the striker who was replaced by Joe Cole to a standing ovation from the home fans.

Malouda failed to score from a yard out when Anelka’s cross eluded the Stoke defence and the France international was thwarted by a great save from Begovic in the 78th minute.

Chelsea made it five in the 81st minute when substitute Sam Hutchinson crossed for Lampard to score his 25th of the season with a clever volley.

But worse was to follow for Stoke as substitute Daniel Sturridge and Malouda added late goals to make it 7-0 at the final whistle.