Chelsea cruise past Huddersfield

Chelsea’s attacking trident of Willian, Pedro and Eden Hazard had far too much for a timid Huddersfield, pulling them all over the pitch to record an easy 3-1 victory. As such, they are now level on points with second-placed Manchester United, while Huddersfield stay 12th.

From the off, Huddersfield sat back, allowing Chelsea’s back three to do as they pleased - most often, this was the quick switch. And eventually the pressure told, Jonas Lossl getting into a tangle trying to play out from the back; Victor Moses was first to the loose ball, and three swift passes later, Chris Lowe was bumping Tiemoue Bakayoko’s chipped finish into his own net.

Just before half-time, Chelsea scored again, a switch from Cesar Azpilicueta allowing Marcos Alonso to cross for Willian to head home, and then just after half-time, a sumptuous finish from Pedro finished things.

Huddersfield actually tried to score a goal in what was left of the match and eventually they did, Laurent Depoitre heading an injury-time consolation, but they were soundly beaten, lacking the aggression which has characterised their play this season. They will do well to relocate it, and quickly.

Are Chelsea better without Morata? Eden Hazard was excellent through the middle, and though he is not as good as Lionel Messi, he has the ability to beat men, bring others into play, and score goals. And alongside him, Pedro and Willian are similarly elusive - if they continue in this vein, Morata will struggle to win his place back.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea): Willian was closer to his best than Hazard, but Hazard was still the main man. He is a player.

Huddersfield Town: Lossl 5, Smith 5, Zanka 5, Schindler 6, Lowe 4, Kachunga 5, Williams 5, Hogg 4, Mooy 6, Ince 5, Mounie 6. Subs: Whitehead 5, Hadergjonaj 6, Depoitre 6.

Chelsea: Courtois 6, Azpilicueta 7, Christensen 6, Rudiger 7, Moses 7, Kante 6, Bakayoko 6, Alonso 7, Willian 8, Hazard 8, Pedro 7. Subs: Batshuayi 6, Drinkwater 6, Ampadu 6.

23’ - GOAL! Huddersfield 0-1 Chelsea (Bakayoko). This is superbly taken, but what a ricket from Lossl who slips as he makes a clearance, trying to play out. Moses is first to the loose ball, Hazard leaps and plays a square pass behind one leg with the other, Willian slides Bakayoko in, and he lifts the ball over the keeper before Lowe makes sure, trying to clear and hurting himself in the process.

40’ - CLOSE! Huddersfield venture an attack and Willian launches a break, Hazard's dancer's feet drawing a free-kick out of Zanka down the right. In comes the free-kick, and Bakayoko glances a header just wide.

43’ - GOAL! Huddersfield Town 0-2 Chelsea (Willian) Another switch of play, Azpilicueta launching a fine pass out to Alonso, who takes a quick touch and booms a quick cross into Willian at the back post, away from Lowe. He heads down across goal, and thus did this game finish.

45’ - THIS COULD GET MESSY. Hazard has possession in space outside the box after Ince gives the ball away, Kante is wildly gesticulating at Pedro, in space to his left, and eventually he twigs, feeding him in, but in the time Lossl has sprinted out and takes the finish on the chest.

50’ - GOAL! Huddersfield Town 0-3 Chelsea (Pedro) Another lovely finish. Out on the left, Alonso has all manner of time to measure a cross, and when it lands in the box, Willian gets between it and Schindler, holding him off to lay back for Pedro, who opens his body and curls powerfully into the corner, two-thirds of the way up.

90+3’ - GOAL! Huddersfield Town 1-3 Chelsea (Depoitre) This is a very well-taken goal, Hadergjonaj curling in hard and flat for Depoitre, who smacks a header into the far corner. Courtois is fuming.

Marcos Alonso has been involved in 13 goals since making his Chelsea debut, two more than any other Premier League defender - if, indeed, he is a defender.

Willian has been involved in four goals in last four starts.