Brighton and Hove Albion were no match for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as Maurizio Sarri's changed side won 3-0 in the Premier League.
2018/2019 Premier League
3-0
Match Events
38' GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Brighton (Giroud)
Knockaert is beaten too easily by Hudson-Odoi and the teenager fizzes in a low cross to the near post, where Giroud arrives to squeeze the ball in from very close range! Chelsea lead!
Hudson-Odoi rewards his manager's faith on his first Premier League start, and he's had Knockaert's number ever since the Frenchman replaced March.
60' GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Brighton (Hazard)
Hazard produces a moment of magic and Brighton are undone! He drifts in from the left and picks up the ball in a central area just outside the box.
He feints to shoot, sending Dunk sliding away, before curling a lovely strike into the far corner! Chelsea really need to keep him this summer.
63' GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Brighton (Loftus-Cheek)
Hazard turns provider for Loftus-Cheek as the pair swap roles in an almost identical move, with the Englishman firing into the top-right corner from the edge of the box to make it 3-0 to the Blues!
Hazard further adds to his remarkable tally of goals and assists against Brighton, as well as his contribution at Stamford Bridge.
Match Report
Chelsea's fringe players justified their selection as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Olivier Giroud and Ruben Loftus-Cheek played crucial roles in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
Maurizio Sarri shuffled his pack from Sunday's contentious 2-1 win at Cardiff City, handing Hudson-Odoi his first league start in the process, and Chelsea rarely looked like dropping points as they produced an excellent display at Stamford Bridge.
Hudson-Odoi certainly made an impact out wide, setting up Giroud with a pinpoint cross to give the dominant Blues the lead just before half-time with his first Premier League goal since November.
Eden Hazard doubled their advantage with an hour played and Loftus-Cheek – who set up the Belgian – wrapped things up three minutes later with a gorgeous 25-yard strike, sending Chelsea above Manchester United and into fifth.
Player Ratings
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta(C), Luiz, Christensen, Emerson; Jorginho, Kante, Loftus-Cheek; Hazard, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud.
Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Zappacosta, Barkley, Kovacic, Willian, Higuain.
Brighton XI: Ryan; Bruno (C), Duffy, Dunk, Bong; Stephens, Propper, Bissouma; Jahanbakhsh, Andone, March.
Subs: Button, Burn, Bernardo, Kayal, Izquierdo, Knockaert, Murray.