- Hazard, Loftus-Cheek score beauties
- Loftus-Cheek adds assist
- Hudson-Odoi lively, gets assist in first PL start
Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a goal and an assist as Chelsea clobbered Brighton and Hove Albion 3-0 on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.
Callum Hudson-Odoi had an assist in his first Premier League start, while Olivier Giroud and Eden Hazard also scored.
Chelsea rises fifth with 63 points, level with fourth place Arsenal and a point back of Spurs. Manchester United has 61.
Brighton has 33 points, five points clear of the drop zone.
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Hudson-Odoi was making his first start and saw his bid for an opener deflected over the bar.
He also nearly played set-up man, but a cross was headed high by Cesar Azpilicueta.
Giroud was the goal scorer, however, getting his 78th Premier League goal by popping a Hudson-Odoi-produced chance past Mat Ryan.
The 38th minute goal came on Chelsea’s 10th attempt to Brighton’s one.
[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ]
2 - Chelsea have had two English players (Hudson-Odoi & Loftus-Cheek) assist a goal in the same Premier League match for the first time since January 2012 against Bolton (Terry and A. Cole). Lions.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 3, 2019
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Hazard buttressed Chelsea’s advantage at the hour mark, taking a pass from Loftus-Cheek and skewering Lewis Dunk before curling home.
Loftus-Cheek got a goal of his own moments later from almost the same distance as Hazard. Cruising.