Drogba scored a hat-trick as Chelsea started their title defence by beating West Brom 6-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard, who had suffered a slight knock to his ankle playing for England in midweek, showed no ill effects as he sprayed a couple of early passes around on what was now a slick surface after heaving rain in west London.

West Brom, though, were not content to just sit back, working the ball well across field for James Morrison to drive a shot wide from the edge of the Chelsea box.

Chelsea were awarded a free-kick just outside the Baggies penalty area when Florent Malouda was tripped by Pablo Ibanez.

Keeper Scott Carson spilled Drogba's free-kick straight to John Mikel Obi, whose follow-up effort was blocked. The ball then dropped straight to Malouda and he tapped in the opening goal after just six minutes.

The champions were in full flow, with Ashley Cole whipping a low ball across the six-yard box after another surge down the left.

However, the conditions worsened, and Cech had to be at full stretch to touch away Dorrans' deflected effort which looked to be creeping in the far corner.

There was something of a scramble when Gonzalo Jara missed his kick in the West Brom box, but this time Carson took no chances as he booted the loose ball clear.

Czech striker Roman Bednar smashed a fine finish into the roof of the Chelsea net on 18 minutes, but the offside flag had already gone up for what looked a marginal decision.

The visitors, who finished second behind Newcastle in the Championship last season, continued to try to take the game to Chelsea, putting together some promising passing moves.

Despite some positive build-up, the Baggies still lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

Cole drew some predictable jeers from the travelling fans when he went to take a throw-in - but they were soon drowned out by the home faithful showing the England defender their full support.

Another tight offside flag, this time against Chelsea, from Lampard's chip into the box was raised when Malouda bundled the ball in.

After a drop in tempo, Chelsea slowly started to find their rhythm again.

After 39 minutes, Gabriel Tamas fouled Drogba, giving Chelsea another chance to deliver a ball into the West Brom box from just right of centre.

Lampard struck his 20-yard shot well, which Carson parried - but this time Malouda could not keep his follow-up on target as he sent a looping header over.

It was, though, 2-0 just before the break.

West Brom were made to pay for conceding another free-kick just outside the box, which Drogba smashed through the wall and into the bottom corner.

There were no changes by either side for the start of the second half.

Both teams continued to knock the ball about well as the conditions had settled down.

Malouda drilled a 20-yard effort wide, before Dorrans' deflected shot was also off target from a similar range at the other end.

On 53 minutes, the Scotland midfielder chipped a free-kick over the wall, but the ball dropped onto the top of the net, much to the relief of Cech.

Chelsea then moved 3-0 ahead when Drogba bundled in a second.

Terry flicked Malouda's inswinging corner goalwards and Mulumbu hacked it off the line, but the ball was not cleared and Drogba, who won the Golden Boot with 29 goals last season, was quick to smash it in from close range.

With the points safe, Chelsea made a change on the hour when full-back Paulo Ferreira was replaced by Branislav Ivanovic.

Lampard walked in a fourth after a clever exchange between Nicolas Anelka and Cole down the left.

The England midfielder was then replaced by Benayoun, as the Israeli made is debut following a summer move from Liverpool - who were described as a "small club somewhere north of the M25" by Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck in his programme notes, hitting back at comments by Joe Cole following his free transfer summer move to Anfield.

West Brom made a double change on 67 minutes when Ishmael Miller came on for Bednar and Dorrans was replaced by Simon Cox.

It made no difference, though, as Drogba completed his hat-trick with a 20-yard effort which cannoned off Gabriel Tamas and flew into the bottom corner past a wrong-footed Carson.

The Ivory Coast striker was given a well-deserved break when he was replaced by countryman Salomon Kalou for the final 20 minutes.

Malouda scored the sixth in the 90th minute.