Chelsea breezed to a 3-0 victory over Premier League bottom club West Bromwich Albion on Monday night, as an Eden Hazard brace, and a Victor Moses goal saw the Blues return to the top-four, and defeat for the Baggies leaves them still adrift at the bottom of the table, and seven points away from safety.
Here are four talking points from the game:
1. Hazard Brilliance Ignites Chelsea
Belgian fans will be licking their lips at the thought of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne teaming up at this year’s World Cup. Much has been made of De Bruyne’s brilliance in the Premier League this season, and rightly so, but tonight was the platform for Hazard to strut his stuff.
He may lack the constant involvement that his fellow countryman De Bruyne brings to a side, but Hazard produced two moments of brilliance tonight in Chelsea’s comfortable win, as he grabbed himself his second brace against West Brom this season.
Having hardly touched the ball in the first 20 minutes, Hazard then came to the party, and he drove a ball into Olivier Giroud’s feet, and the Frenchman clipped the ball back to Hazard, and he swiped the ball into the bottom corner to put the home side in front.
Hazard yet again drifted out of the game for a while, but in the second half rocketed back into the limelight, as he cut in from the right-hand side, and having been pushed on to his weaker left-foot, he elected to take up the chance of shooting from 18 yards, and he rifled the ball past a static Ben Foster to put Chelsea 3-0 in front.
His running statistics may not be on the same level as the aforementioned De Bruyne, but he is a hunter ready for his prey to take their eye off the ball, and then he pounces, and delivers that killer blow.
2. Giroud Shows Glimpses On First Start
Olivier Giroud was handed his first start by Antonio Conte since his move from Arsenal, and a battered and bruised Frenchman showed signs that he could be a decent signing for the Blues in the final few months of the season, and beyond.
He exited the pitch an hour into the game donning a bandage Terry Butcher would’ve been proud of, and Jonny Evans certainly let him know he was in for a battle with one crunching tackle earning the Northern Ireland defender a yellow card.
But back to Giroud’s display. You could tell he had been devoid of game time, as often his final ball was lacking, but he showed glimpses of what he can bring to Stamford Bridge, and he was instrumental in Eden Hazard’s first goal, with a delightful clip to the brilliant Belgian.
Giroud was always an outlet for the Chelsea midfield, and was often the starting point of a Blues attack, but while he was found wanting on a few occasions in front of goal, Giroud could be a shrewd signing for Conte, and he certainly impressed with the returning Alvaro Morata replacing him with a third of the game to go.
- Lampard: 237
- Drogba: 159
- Hazard: 104
Only 27 years-old, surely he'll get close to Lampard's record!
#CHEWBA
3. Foster Stakes England Claims
Ben Foster is certainly not first in line for England’s number one jersey this summer, but the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper certainly threw his hat into the ring this evening in front of the national boss, Gareth Southgate, who was seen watching tonight’s match in the stands.
Foster may currently be behind the goalkeeping triumvirate of Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford and Joe Hart for a spot on the plane to Russia, but in the first half he showed his qualities between the sticks, as he made a point-blank save from Davide Zappacosta, while moments later he denied Olivier Giroud with his out-stretched boot.
Yes, they were two saves you would expect a keeper to make, but with the likes of Pickford and Hart seen making notable mistakes for Everton and West Ham United, respectively, it’s making sure you save the ones you should, before trying to get a block on those ones that only the elite will save.
He may have let three goals in come the final whistle, but Foster was good enough to keep out a couple of second half shots as well from Victor Moses and Alvaro Morata, and could be a potential wildcard pick for Southgate come the summer.
4. Sturridge Injury Woes Continue
Daniel Sturridge joined West Bromwich Albion on loan from Liverpool to try and get his career back on track, but the England striker suffered yet more injury agony in the opening minutes of the game, as he appeared to pick up a hamstring issue, and it looks like a return to the treatment table.
A man blessed with brilliance, Sturridge was hoping he could show his former employers Chelsea what they are missing, and more importantly attempt to string a few games together over the coming weeks, as he looks to get back to full fitness, but following his first involvement in the game, Sturridge was seen dropping to the floor, and seeing his night finished after only three minutes.
Sturridge disconsolately walked straight down the tunnel, and is now set for another spell on the sidelines, and in a World Cup year it’s hard to see him being able to come back from the latest injury. A sad sight for such a gifted player.
