Eden Hazard brought up a century of Chelsea goals with his 100th and 101st strikes in a match-winning display at Vicarage Road, as Chelsea capitalised on Arsenal’s earlier slip up at Brighton.
Goals in first-half stoppage time from both Eden Hazard and then Roberto Pereyra sent the sides in level. Chelsea initially thought they’d snatched the lead heading into half-time, when Hazard latched on to Mateo Kovacic’s pass before sitting Ben Foster on the floor and rolling the ball home but just two minutes later through a neatly worked corner routine saw Roberto Pereyra’s volley from the edge of the area nestle in Kepa Arrizabalaga’s left-hand corner.
Watford adopted a high press that has proved so effective against Chelsea at times this season, but the Blues played out from the back with superb composure and despite possessing little attacking threat they regained the lead in the 58th minute when Hazard despatched his penalty having been brought down by the onrushing Foster. Willian and N’Golo Kante both had good opportunities to double their sides lead but for all their good work they were unable to do so. Chelsea’s rearguard stood strong though and Maurizio Sarri walked away with a much needed three points.
