Eden Hazard is starting to look like his old self again after starting the season with an injury as Chelsea took apart West Brom 4-0.
Chelsea returned to Premier League action after the international break with a 4-0 hammering of West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.
The home side were actually the first side to find the back of the net only for Salomon Rondon's header to be correctly ruled out for offside. West Brom then made a cardinal error: making Eden Hazard angry.
The Belgian was furious at not being awarded a free kick for Gareth Barry's naughty tackle and reacted almost immediately by firing a shot goalwards. Ben Foster could only push the ball into the path of Alvaro Morata, who duly slotted home. Hazard then got on the scoresheet himself a few minutes later after he ran onto Morata's clever flick and rounded the goalkeeper.
Marcos Alonso made it 3-0 before half-time when he was bizarrely left unmarked at the far post and turned in Cesc Fabregas' free kick from an acute angle. A perfectly weighted ball from Fabregas then allowed Hazard to grab his second goal on 62 minutes to cap a superb individual display. West Brom offered very little all game but should have had a consolation when substitute James McClean found himself one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois, only to fire wide of the upright.
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Positives
Perhaps scarred by losing passively at lowly Crystal Palace after the last set of international fixtures, the attitude from the whole team was excellent from start to finish. The defence was well organised and the attack clinical when the chances arrived, which meant that key players Hazard, Fabregas and N'Golo Kante could be substituted with Wednesday's Champions League game against Qarabag in mind.
Negatives
West Brom's typically rugged approach saw the team get drawn into some unnecessary yellow cards with both Hazard and Morata booked for needless acts of petulance.
Manager rating out of 10
9 -- Antonio Conte had clearly drilled into his players the importance of starting quickly as they were on their toes from the first whistle. He also got his team selection spot on with three players in midfield allowing Fabregas to roam free and pull the strings while Hazard tore the opposition apart.
Player ratings (1-10, 10=best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Thibaut Courtois, 7 -- The only moment of alarm the goalkeeper experienced was when Rondon's disallowed header squirmed beyond his grasp. Otherwise spent the game as a virtual spectator.
DF Cesar Azpilicueta, 7 -- Had a flawless game until a mistake in the 85th minute allowed McClean a clean run on goal. Otherwise untroubled.
DF Andreas Christensen 8 -- Another composed display from the young Dane, whose consistently excellent performances look set to keep David Luiz on the substitutes' bench for the foreseeable future. Read the play well and was intelligent on the ball.
DF Gary Cahill, 7 -- Had to stand up to the physical test posed by Rondon and did so with relish. Was much improved at playing the ball out from the back.
MF Davide Zappacosta, 7 -- Solid defensively though underused by teammates in attack despite finding himself in good positions on several occasions. However, he did not always use the ball as well as he might have done when he was played in.
Eden Hazard ripped West Brom's defence to pieces, scoring twice in Chelsea's 4-0 win on Saturday.
MF N'Golo Kante, 8 -- Another day, another consummate performance from the little Frenchman. He chased, harried and surged forward when in possession. A typically effective display.
MF Tiemoue Bakayoko, 7 -- Got forward well and might have scored after he spun his defender superbly only to see his shot blocked. Did not always pass the ball accurately enough but played well overall.
MF Marcos Alonso, 7 -- Enjoyed a keen tussle with Matt Phillips and the Chelsea star gained the upper hand through the course of the game. His nonchalant controlled finish to make it 3-0 oozed class.
FW Cesc Fabregas, 8 -- Chelsea posed threats all over the pitch but it was odd to see somebody like Fabregas allowed so much space in which to operate. Set the tempo in midfield with his magnificent passing that garnered two assists.
FW Eden Hazard, 9 -- He isn't usually the most confrontational of players but after being booked, he channeled his anger the right way. Ripped West Brom to pieces with his speed of thought and close control while scoring twice and creating another.
FW Alvaro Morata, 8 -- Showed that he is as good at playing in teammates as he is at scoring himself. Took his goal smartly before a sumptuous flick set up Hazard with whom he linked wonderfully all game.
Substitutes
MF Danny Drinkwater, 7 -- Controlled the midfield well and might have added a fifth goal had his stinging shot not been blocked on its way to goal.
FW Pedro, NR -- Struggled make much impact despite displaying his usual endeavour.
FW Willian, NR -- Showed some neat touches and good energy.
Phil is one of ESPN's Chelsea bloggers. You can follow him on Twitter @PhilLythell.
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Source: espn.co.uk