How did Eden Hazard’s superb counter-attacking display fire Chelsea to victory against West Ham?

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For the first 20 or so minutes at the London Stadium, Chelsea faced one of the toughest periods that they have had to overcome all season. Pinned back into their own half, West Ham were bombarding them with aerial balls into the box for the likes of Andy Carroll. The experienced back three of Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill looked comfortable, but it was becoming increasingly hard to see where a goal was going to come from for the men in black. Then, Eden Hazard came to the rescue.

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Hazard had N’Golo Kante to thank for winning the ball back excellently 20 yards from their own goal, but Hazard deserves credit for his role in pressing Mark Noble to deny him the opportunity to put the ball straight back into the box, and the Belgian then raced off down into the West Ham half.

A neat link up one-two pass with Marcos Alonso set him away, and whilst it was far from easy, the forward rounded Darren Randolph as if he was little more than a cone on the training field to slide an opening goal into the back of the net at a crucial moment for the league leaders.

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Hazard was crucial to the side’s counter-attacking play throughout, constantly looking to get the ball forward with pace and drive down the flank up against makeshift right-back Cheikou Kouyate. Hazard enjoyed that freedom, but he certainly didn’t shirk off on his defensive duties when required and provided Marcos Alonso with all the support he could have wanted when the pressure was on in those opening stages.

This was a superb display from the Chelsea man as he continues to show his improvements as an all round performer this season, not only in finding the back of the net but in getting back to help his team out. That kind of difference is what looks very likely to take the Premier League trophy to Stamford Bridge in May.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Serg Hoholok.