Three second-half goals at Stamford Bridge took Chelsea to third in the table and their qualification for next season’s Champions League was later confirmed by results elsewhere.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, on for the injured N’Golo Kante, headed home Eden Hazard’s cross three minutes after the break.
David Luiz doubled the lead a couple of minutes later by heading in Pedro’s cross.
Gonzalo Higuain capped the victory with 15 minutes remaining, chipping keeper Ben Foster after drifting away from Craig Cathcart to collect Pedro’s ball in behind the Watford defender.
And draws for Manchester United and Arsenal mean Chelsea are sure of a top-four finish.
Kante limped off during a poor first half for Chelsea, who were fortunate not to be behind at the interval.
The Frenchman’s 10th-minute injury came after shortly Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga produced a brilliant save to claw away a header from Troy Deeney.
Chelsea were better after the interval and Foster produced fine saves to keep out strikes from Pedro and Higuain before the latter netted his second goal in three games and fifth since arriving at the Bridge.
Gary Cahill, overlooked for most of the season and set to leave Chelsea this summer, was given a hero’s reception by the home crowd when he was brought on for the final few minutes.
Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Luiz (Cahill 89), Christensen, Alonso, Kante (Loftus-Cheek 11), Jorginho, Kovacic, Hazard, Higuain (Giroud 80), Pedro.
Subs not used: Caballero, Barkley, Zappacosta, Willian.
This post was last modified on 05/05/2019