Hazard falls two short of Premier League record as Higuain fires Chelsea back in to top four

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Chelsea returned to winning ways with a 5-0 win over Premier League strugglers Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

Gonzalo Higuain took the lead after 15 minutes, opening his account for the club before an Eden Hazard brace either side of half-time put the Blues in firm control.

Higuain then grabbed his second of the game before David Luiz rounded off the scoring to send Chelsea back into fourth place at least until Sunday when Arsenal face Manchester City.

But who were the winners from the game?

Winner: Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain’s life as a Premier League player started off in the worst possible way as he lasted just 65 minutes in Chelsea’s 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Bournemouth in midweek.

In that time, the Argentinian managed no shots and was caught offside twice in a throwback performance emulating Alvaro Morata at Chelsea.

But things got better for Higuain in his first Premier League game at Stamford Bridge as he opened his account for his new club despite initial fears over his fitness.

The Argentinian opened the scoring for Chelsea after 16 minutes, with a good run behind the Huddersfield defence to get onto the end of N’Golo Kante’s through ball, finishing well past Jonas Lossl.

A goal seemed to add confidence to Higuain’s game as he continued to get himself into dangerous positions, ready to test the goalkeeper at any available opportunity.

And he would get his second to round off the win midway through the second half, with a curling effort from 25 yards, beating the goalkeeper via a slight deflection.

In doing so, Higuain became the first Chelsea player to score a brace on his Stamford Bridge league debut since Mario Stanic did so in 2000. The Argentinian is in esteemed company!

Loser: Paul Tierney

Paul Tierney had very little to do in the game with neither side giving him hard decisions to make. But the referee’s biggest call looked to have been the wrong one as he awarded Chelsea a first-half penalty.

Cesar Azpilicueta made the run into the box and went down under pressure from Elias Kachunga, with Tierney pointing to the spot. Replays showed he may have been wrong on two counts with the Chelsea captain both going down very easily, but any foul looked to have taken place outside the box.

This is something which could have easily been cleared up were VAR in place and either a free-kick awarded to Chelsea, or the decision overturned with a potential booking for Azpilicueta should Tierney have deemed it a dive.

Tierney’s decision-making was also called into question again in the second half as Kachunga went down inside the Chelsea box after a challenge from Andreas Christensen. Another close call, but one which could have been made certain with VAR.

Next season’s Premier League cannot come sooner for technology, but it looks like Huddersfield will not be tasting the benefits.

Winner: Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard was one of many slated during Chelsea’s 4-0 defeat to Bournemouth in midweek, with the Belgian failing to break through the Cherries’ stern back line.

But, like Chelsea, Hazard hit back with a bang helping his side put Huddersfield to the sword with two more goals – taking his Premier League total to 12 for the season.

The first was as straightforward as they come with Hazard doubling Chelsea’s lead after Cesar Azpilicueta was deemed to have been fouled inside the box. Of the 19 Premier League penalties Hazard has taken since joining Chelsea in 2012, the Belgian has missed just twice – against Crystal Palace in 2014/15 and Manchester City in 2016/17. Although on both of those occasions, Hazard finished the rebound.

His penalty took Hazard to 200 goal involvements in his senior league career, with his 116th goal to add to 84 assists in his 379th game.

And the Belgian would not have to wait much longer for number 201, putting Chelsea 3-0 up in pure Hazard style. Played in by Ross Barkley, Hazard rounded the goalkeeper and finished from an acute angle, weaving the ball through the line of Huddersfield defenders trying to prevent the goal.

Hazard was his usual, brilliant self with the dribble too, completing 12 take-ons before being substituted. The most in a single Premier League game this season, Hazard was just two short of the all-time Premier League record achieved by Andros Townsend (14) for Queens Park Rangers against Wigan Athletic in 2013.

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Loser: Marcos Alonso

When Chelsea’s starting XI was announced an hour before kick-off, not many fans were happy to see Marcos Alonso back in the team. And, once again, it was clear to see why.

The Spaniard is a good attacking player, as shown in his time as wing-back under Antonio Conte. But his defensive weaknesses have been highlighted since Sarri’s arrival brought a return to a standard back four.

Pushing high up the pitch, Alonso’s left side was clearly targeted by Huddersfield in the majority of their attacks, with some success.

A better team than one currently sitting bottom of the Premier League would have punished those gaps left by Alonso with David Luiz having to move over to the left on occasion.

These are things which may have been easier for Chelsea to cover with three centre-backs, but Alonso needs to remember there are now only two when he marauds up the pitch.

Winner: N’Golo Kante

Every time Chelsea fail to win, many point to Maurizio Sarri’s use of N’Golo Kante away from his natural defensive midfield position.

But on Saturday Kante once again proved just why Sarri is trusted him in a more attacking role, with the Frenchman recording two assists in the 5-0 win.

The second assist was simple, laying the ball off for Higuain to curl into the top corner. But the first showed another part of Kante’s game.

Holding the ball on the edge of the Huddersfield area, Kante did not look like having an attacking option to pass to and was almost certain to play it back out wide – relieving pressure on the defence.

But the Frenchman saw Higuain itching to run onto a pass and played a lovely reverse ball into the Argentinian, who finished with aplomb to open his Chelsea account.

Aside from the two assists, which took Kante’s Premier League goal involvement to seven for the season, the Frenchamn also showed his defensive game putting out fires with tough tackling and good interceptions before being taken off with the game one.

Loser: Jorginho

Poor Jorginho can’t seem to win. After his abilities were questioned once again following the defeat at Bournemouth, the Italian returned to his usual game-dictating self with composed passing – albeit against a poor Huddersfield side.

Jorginho completed 78 of his 83 passes with an accuracy of 93.98% – his second best accuracy, bettered only by 95.33% recorded against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

But when he was taken off with 20 minutes to go as Sarri looked to test Mateo Kovacic in his role, Chelsea fans expressed their delight at the Italian’s removal.

The post Higuain joins Stanic: Winners and losers as Chelsea return to top four appeared first on Squawka News.



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