Brilliant Hazard takes Chelsea up to third

Chelsea 2 West Ham 0

Eden Hazard scored twice to take Chelsea up to third in the Premier League.

The Belgian opened the scoring with a brilliant individual goal on 23 minutes and sealed Chelsea’s win with an injury-time second – his 19th goal of the season.

Hazard put the Blues ahead when he collected Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s pass midway inside the West Ham half and evaded four challenges before slotting past keeper Lucasz Fabianski.

Hazard then turned provider with a lovely ball through to the recalled Gonzalo Higuain, who blasted against the near post and later had a shot blocked by former Fulham man Ryan Fredericks after being found by Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross.

Loftus-Cheek kept his place in the side along with Hudson-Odoi, who brought a fine save from Fabianki shortly before half-time after racing down the right to collect another superb ball from the electrifying Hazard.

West Ham posed much more of a threat in the second half.

Manuel Lanzini shot tamely at Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was also relieved to see a strike from Aaron Cresswell flash wide and Marko Arnautovic’s late header deflected just over by Emerson.

But Chelsea were always dangerous and they doubled their lead when Hazard fired into the far corner after being picked out by Ross Barkley.

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