The Sunday Mail
AN inspired performance from Eden Hazard helped Chelsea back to winning ways in the Premier League with a comprehensive 4-0 victory against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Antonio Conte’s side were without a win in five games in all competitions heading into the clash on the south coast, but Hazard set the Blues on their way in the third minute before Willian rounded off a sensational team goal three minutes later to give the visitors the perfect start.
Brighton’s response to the early setback was good, creating a number of decent chances but Willy Caballero was on top form to deny Tomer Hemed and the crossbar kept out Davy Propper’s header early after the interval.
Ezequiel Schelotto was also denied by a smart block from Caballero and the hosts were eventually made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal as Hazard (77) added his second of the afternoon and Victor Moses (89) rounded off the scoring as Chelsea wrapped up all three points to move above Liverpool into third.
Before kick-off, the Amex Stadium rose as one for a minute’s applause to mark the passing of Cyrille Regis and both teams sported black armbands in respect of the former striker.
Man of the Match – Eden Hazard
Hazard was in the mood at the Amex Stadium. Every time he got on the ball he terrified Brighton’s defenders and his finishing was at its exquisite best as his double inspired Chelsea to a comprehensive away victory.
His perfermonace left Jamie Redknapp, who watching the game in the studio for Sky Sports, purring.
“If VAR looked at his performance today, then some it would have illegal as he was that good”, the former Liverpool midfielder said. “Willian was fantastic as well – as was Batshuayi, but Hazard was playing a different game. He was at his energetic, beautiful best today.”
The pundit – Thierry Henry
“Hazard is unplayable when he’s in that mood. When he plays like this it’s more than likely Chelsea are going to win the game.
“I like what Antonio Conte does. I watched the game against Leicester and they weren’t scoring goals – Conte took him off. When you do that to a player like him with the quality he has, it woke him up. From the beginning, he meant business.
“Conte did it last season ahead of a game with Arsenal and we all know what he did to Arsenal with that goal last year. I like the way Hazard reacted from the Leicester game.
“That’s the job of the boss – sometimes a player might be tired, sometimes a player needs a reminder that he’s not doing enough. I’m not saying Hazard wasn’t. Usually when you take the main player off after an hour when you’re supposed to win that game. It got the reaction of, ‘OK, I’m on the bench, but we’ll see next week’.” — Skysports
