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Olivier Giroud’s header hauled Chelsea back into serious contention for a Champions League spot.
The French forward nodded home Victor Moses’ right-wing cross on 32 minutes.
It boosted the Blues’ previously wafer-thin hopes of snatching a top-four place, moving them to within two points of fourth-placed Tottenham and three of third-placed Liverpool.
Chelsea have also played a game less than Liverpool but the Reds have a vastly superior goal difference.
Antonio Rudiger thought he had doubled the lead 11 minutes into the second half, but he was well offside when heading in from close range after Gary Cahill had headed Cesc Fabregas’ corner towards the German.
And Marcos Alonso, back in the Chelsea side after suspension, went close with a spectacular volley wide from another Moses cross.
Former Chelsea man Dominic Solanke, on as a substitute, twice headed over late on as the visitors tried in vain to find an equaliser.
Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger, Moses (Zappacosta 89), Kante, Fabregas (Pedro 90), Bakayoko, Alonso, Hazard (Willian 85), Giroud.
Subs not used: Caballero, Barkley, Christensen, Emerson.
This post was last modified on 22/09/2018
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Is there a worse player in Europe than Solanke? Surely not. Makes Voronin look like Messi. Liverpool MUST offoad this guy ASAP. Pay someone to take him if necessary.