Chelsea boosted their Champions League qualification hopes with a comfortable 3-0 win over Premier League strugglers Watford.
The result lifts the Blues back up to fourth in the table, after they were temporarily leapfrogged by Manchester United.
Nigel Pearson’s side remain a point above the relegation zone but have played a game more than Aston Villa, who travel to Liverpool on Sunday (16:30 BST).
Olivier Giroud opened the scoring for the Blues, latching on to Ross Barkley’s clever pass and steering a left-foot shot into the bottom right corner.
While Watford worked hard to contain the hosts they offered little to suggest they were capable of a first win at Stamford Bridge since 1986.
And they fell further behind before the break, with Etienne Capoue’s rash challenge on Christian Pulisic resulting in a Chelsea penalty that Willian duly converted.
Thereafter it was relatively plain sailing for Frank Lampard’s side, who rounded off the scoring when Barkley found the top left corner from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross.
The Blues have now won three of their four games since the top flight resumed in June.
Chelsea regain mojo and top four place
Manchester United’s thumping victory against Bournemouth had seen Chelsea drop out of the top four places for the first time since 26 October.
But this was the perfect response from Frank Lampard’s side who were brimming with energy throughout and appeared galvanised by Wednesday’s lacklustre defeat at West Ham.
The Blues made four changes to their starting XI and looked considerably more assured defensively while Willian – who scored a penalty in his third consecutive game – Barkley and Pulisic provided the thrust going forward.
England midfielder Barkley was particularly impressive, demanding the ball in tight areas and then restricting his number of touches to get out of trouble and maintain Chelsea’s attacking momentum.
Chelsea’s opener was the perfect example as he controlled and swivelled away from a defender in one movement and then sliced open the Watford defence with his next touch.
Barkley, who played more attacking passes (47) than any of Chelsea’s other front six players, also capped a fine individual performance with his first Premier League goal of the campaign late on.
Watford’s worrying lack of goals
After meekly losing to Southampton last Sunday, manager Nigel Pearson had called for his side to produce a performance that “better represented” them.
And his players initially responded with a committed and gritty show, albeit one that lacked the quality to suggest they were ever going to trouble their hosts.
There was no lack of application. Pearson’s side collectively ran almost 5km more than their higher-placed opponents – it was simply a gulf in class.
But they were also guilty of moments of carelessness in possession, such as when Capoue presented Chelsea with an easy opportunity to double their advantage.
Danny Welbeck’s introduction in the second half did provide them with some pace and quality in the final third but it was too little too late.
Welbeck wriggled into several promising positions and forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into a superb save late on, but it was one of very few moments that would have excited any Watford supporters watching at home.
And it was a performance indicative of a side, if you discount Jan Bednarek’s own goal, that has failed to score in three consecutive defeats and is now anxiously looking over its shoulder at their relegation rivals.
