toptop
Eden
Hazard scored twice as Chelsea powered to the top of the Premier League with an
emphatic 5-0 thrashing of Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.
In a hugely one-sided contest, Hazard set the hosts on their way with the
opening goal in the 19th minute.
Marcos Alonso doubled the advantage 23 seconds later and Diego Costa made it 3-0
shortly before the break.
Hazard scored the fourth for a Chelsea side brimming with confidence and Pedro
completed the rout in the 65th minute.
The win sees Chelsea go top of the Premier League after Manchester City were
held at home by Middlesbrough earlier in the day.
It is also their fifth successive league victory and clean sheet, neither of
which ever really looked in doubt against an overwhelmed and below-par Everton.
Toffees boss Ronald Koeman tried to match the hosts with three at the back, as
Phil Jagielka and Maarten Stekelenburg returned to the starting line-up along
with Tom Cleverley.
But the visitors' plans started to unravel as soon as the 19th minute when
Gareth Barry lost possession midway inside the Chelsea half, the hosts countered
and Hazard cut in from the left and fired into the far corner.
Less than a minute later it was 2-0 as Hazard's clever turn set up another break
and Pedro cut across for Alonso to drill a shot through the legs of
Stekelenburg.
Chelsea continued to dominate and Victor Moses struck the post after meeting
Alonso's cross on the half volley.
The visitors offered nothing in response in a remarkably one-sided first half.
Costa extended Chelsea's lead in the 42nd minute when he fired in from a corner
and the striker could have scored a second in injury-time when he raced clear,
but failed to hit the target.
The slick hosts did add another after the break, Hazard driving goalwards after
collecting a backheel from Pedro and then drilling a shot into the bottom
corner.
Everton looked completely hapless and, after Stekelenburg saved from Costa, it
was 5-0 when Hazard's shot was palmed out for Pedro to finish into an empty net.
Still the visitors showed no sign of a comeback and Stekelenburg had to save
from Costa and then David Luiz as Chelsea pushed for more.
Moses had the hosts' final chance but he saw his effort saved as Antonio Conte's
side had to settle for five.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Courtois (6), Azpilicueta (7), David Luiz (7), Cahill
(7), Moses (8), Kante (7), Matic (8), Alonso (8), Pedro (8), Costa (8), Hazard
(9).
Subs:Terry (5), Oscar (5), Batshuayi (5).
Everton: Stekelenburg (5), Coleman (4), Williams (3), Jagielka
(3), Oviedo (3), Funes Mori (3), Barry (3), Bolasie (3), Barkley (3), Cleverley
(3), Lukaku (4).
Subs: Mirallas (5), Davies (5), Lennon (5).
Man of the match: Eden Hazard.
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
Teams
Chelsea Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill (c) (Terry 84),
Moses, Matic, Kante, Alonso, Pedro (Oscar 71), Costa, Hazard (Batshuayi 80)
Subs Not Used Begovic, Aina, Ivanovic, Chalobah
Booked
Goals Hazard 19, 56, Alonso 20, Costa 42, Pedro 65
Everton Stekelenburg, Coleman, Jagielka (c), Williams, Funes,
Oviedo (Mirallas 35), Barry (Davies 66), Cleverley, Barkley, Bolaise (Lennon
60), Lukaku
Subs Not Used Robles, Holgate, Valencia, Deulofeu
Booked Bolaise, Jagielka, Barry
Goals
Attendance 41,429
Referee Robert Madley