Defending champions, Chelsea moved second after a dominant 5-0 thrashing of Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Antonio Rudiger opened the scoring for the Blues inside three minutes, before Danny Drinkwater doubled their lead six minutes later with a remarkable effort, his first goal for the club.
Full-time: Chelsea 5-0 Stoke City! ?
Our final game in 2017 ends with five goals and three points! Rudiger, Drinkwater, Pedro, Willian (pen) and Zappacosta the goalscorers! #CHESTK pic.twitter.com/Sv3oBfeheh
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 30, 2017
Pedro Rodriguez made it 3-0 in the 23rd minute, after an excellent inter-change of passes with Willian Borges as Antonio Conte side went into the break in a comfortable position.
Willian added a fourth after the break, with second half substitute, Davide Zappacosta completing the rout late on.
A convincing performance and result for the Blues, who move into second place, ahead of Manchester United, who face Southampton later.
‘To finish [2017] this way is great for me, the players, the club, the fans,” a visibly elated Conte said moments after the game. ‘This year was a fantastic year. To win the title is not easy, to be able to do this with your first chance, I will remember this year in my mind forever.”
Elsewhere, Bournemouth handed Everton a first defeat under new manager, Sam Allardyce, at the Vitality stadium.
Ryan Fraser score twice, after Idrissa Gana Gueye cancelled out his initial opener for the Cherries.
The win snaps a run of eight PL games without a win for Eddie Howe’s team.
At Vicarage Road, goals from Jordan Ayew and Luciano Narsingh earned Swansea an important come from behind 2-1 win over their hosts, Watford
Full Results
Man United 0-0 Southampton
Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
B’mouth 2-1 Everton
Chelsea 5-0 Stoke
Huddersfield 0-0 Burnley
Watford 1-2 Swansea
Newcastle 0-0 Brighton
