Champions Chelsea, returned to winning ways after a comfortable 3-0 defeat of West Brom at Stamford Bridge. Eden Hazard scored a brace, with Nigeria international, Victor Moses the other scorer as the Blues dispatched the Baggies easily to move fourth in the league.
After two consecutive defeats, Antonio Conte made four changes to his team, with the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, and Olivier Giroud, making his first start since his move from Arsenal, all handed a starting berth.
Despite losing Daniel Sturridge, whose Stamford Bridge return lasted just four minutes, the Baggies were the better side in the early stages and almost took the lead after Moses’ poor header gifted Rodriguez a chance, but the forward drags his shot wide.
The hosts survived a difficult first half that saw the away side fight for every ball to take the lead thanks to a 25th minute goal from Hazard.
With the hosts much better in the second half, they had to wait until just after the hour mark to double their advantage and it came courtesy Moses, who came alive in the second half.
Alvaro Morata takes a shot from the edge of the box and it goes behind for a corner to Chelsea, which is easily handled by the visitors. But when it comes back in, as Moses finds Cesc Fabregas, whose return pass takes two deflections, before falling kindly for Moses to slot home the second.
Moses wasn’t done, as seven minutes later he almost made it 3-0 but saw his left footed effort saved by Ben Foster, before Hazard eventually scored Chelsea third of the night, a minute later.
It’s the second time this season Hazard would be scoring twice against the Baggies, having done so in the first fixture at the Hawthorns back in November last year.
Chelsea were cruising now, and so was Moses, who came close again nine minutes from time, but this time he was only able to shoot wide, as the Blues held on for the win and clean sheet.
A deserved victory for Conte and his men, who now move up to fourth on the table, while West Brom are now seven points from safety, and rooted to the bottom of the table.
Up next for the champions is a trip to KCOM stadium, where they take on Hull City in the FA Cup, while host Southampton also in the FA Cup.
