Hazard inspires Chelsea victory

Chelsea continued their fine record against Brighton with a 2-1 victory at the Amex Stadium to stay in touch at the top of the Premier League.
First-half goals from Pedro (17) and Eden Hazard (33), who suffered a late injury scare, sent Maurizio Sarri’s side on their way to victory but Solly March pulled one back for the hosts in the 66th minute to set up a nervy finish.
Chelsea, who were forced to take Hazard off after he was caught on the ankle by Dale Stephens’ late challenge, held on for all three points to stay fourth, eight points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Brighton, who stay 13th in the league, are still looking for their first win over Chelsea in any competition since January, 1933.
Hazard was at the heart of Chelsea’s brilliant first-half performance. He produced his fourth assist in as many Premier League games in the 17th minute, producing an exquisite pass across the face of goal to hand Pedro the easiest of finishes at the far post.
Chelsea looked to be in full control but Sarri, who warned his side against complacency when they threw away a lead to lose at Wolves, wouldn’t have been happy when Mateo Kovacic’s pass across the face of goal gifted possession to March. The Brighton midfielder hit the target from 25 yards but the effort had nowhere near enough power to trouble Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Hazard, who ended a seven-match league run without a goal, then got on the scoresheet, scoring his eighth of the season to double the visitors’ advantage. Leon Balogun gifted possession to Willian, whose pass released Hazard and he made no mistake, wrong-footing Mat Ryan to pick out the bottom corner.
Marcos Alonso nearly made the points safe in the 63rd minute, striking a superb 20-yard effort against the post.
The visitors, who were forced to take off Hazard after he picked up an ankle knock following Stephens’ late tackle, had a scare late on when Alonso hauled down March just outside the penalty area, but the Spain international escaped with a booking, with David Luiz adjudged to have been in position to cover.
March got back to his feet to strike the resultant free-kick high over the crossbar as Chelsea held on for victory.
Chelsea winger Willian has now been directly involved in 50 goals in the Premier League (27 goals, 23 assists); becoming the third Brazilian player in competition history to reach this milestone, after Philippe Coutinho (76) and Roberto Firmino (64).
Only Glenn Murray (8) has had a hand in more Premier League goals for Brighton than Solly March this season (6 – one goal, five assists).
In the end it was Hazard’s first-half performance that was the difference between the two sides.
He produced a brilliant pass to set up Pedro’s opener before a calm finish wrong-footed Ryan to give him his eighth goal of the season.
Hazard has now been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season (17 in 16 apps) than he was in the whole of last season (16 in 34 apps). He is the first Chelsea player to assist a goal in four consecutive Premier League games since September 2014, when Cesc Fabregas did so.
Chelsea will now be hoping the Belgium international, who was substituted late on, can shake off what appeared to be an ankle knock ahead of their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth on Wednesday.
Chelsea’s next task is a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday (7.45pm). Their next Premier League encounter is also at Stamford Bridge against Leicester on Saturday (3pm).