Chelsea see off Brighton with Eden Hazard the star
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea consolidated fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday that became harder work than had seemed likely in the first half.
Having won 4-0 at the Amex Stadium last season, they were on course for a repeat after taking a 2-0 lead at the interval.
Eden Hazard set up the first goal for Pedro after 17 minutes and scored the second himself before halftime following a defensive error.
Brighton came back into contention through Solly March's goal midway through the second half and Lewis Dunk went close to an equaliser.
The home side have not beaten Chelsea in any competition since 1933 but they stayed 13th in the table, nine points clear of the bottom three places.
Chelsea moved three points clear of London rivals Arsenal, who were beaten at Southampton. Reuters
PREVIEW
What time does it start?
Brighton vs Chelsea kicks off at 1:30pm (GMT) on Sunday 16th December.
Where can I watch it?
The match will not be shown live on TV or online in the UK.
Independent Sport will keep you up to date with all the goals as they fly in via our live blog.
Highlights will be shown at 10:15pm on BBC Two.
Player to watch…
David Luiz: After a torrid individual display at Tottenham three weeks ago, the Brazilian scored and played superbly in Chelsea’s win against Manchester City last week. As unpredictable as ever, the 31-year-old defender has solidified a partnership with German Antonio Rudiger at the back, and the Blues have only conceded 13 goals in the league this season.
Form guide…
Brighton: LLDWWL
Chelsea: LWWLWD
Odds…
Brighton to win: 15/2
Chelsea to win: 11/25
Draw: 17/5
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
Danny Ings headed home Matt Targett's excellent whipped cross to give Southampton the lead...
But Henrikh Mkhitaryan clinically headed home at the end of an Arsenal move down the left to level for the visitors at St Mary's...
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea, 41 minutes
It has been a rather sloppy affair from both teams at the Amex Stadium this afternoon, with neither team able to force much beyond the two Chelsea goals.
Southampton 1-1 Arsenal, 43 minutes
Southampton have three centre-halves, including the giraffe-like Jannik Vestergaard ready to compete for a cross into the box from a corner, so it is a little curious when it is taken short to Nathan Redmond, who cuts inside, keeps cutting inside, keeps cutting inside and finally has his shot blocked.
Odd.
GOAL! Southampton 2-1 Arsenal (Danny Ings, 44 minutes)
Another superb header from Danny Ings and Southampton lead again!
Once more Ings is superbly found, this time by the particularly lively Nathan Redmond, but Ings still has plenty to do to beat Bernd Leno.
Ings' weight is going backwards but he strains the sinews in his neck to power the ball back towards whence it came, looping it up into the air and watching it drop into the bottom corner.
Two superb headers. 2-1.
Half time at the Amex. It hasn't been a vintage half from Chelsea by any means, but a goal and an assist from Eden Hazard give them a 2-0 lead at the interval.
And half time along the South Coast, too. Danny Ings has used his head in impressive fashion twice, and Southampton have a deserved 2-1 lead against a disappointing Arsenal.
What do we make of that then? Two intriguing first halves, particularly at St Mary's.
If you fancy some half time reading, may I direct you towards a very important and typically brilliantly written column from Jonathan Liew:
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