Chelsea retained control of the Premier League title race as they ran out comfortable 4-2 winners over Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Eden Hazard handed Chelsea the lead only five minutes into the match with a superb low strike past Fraser Forster, before former Chelsea player Oriol Romeu restored parity midway through the first half with a simple tap in.
However, Chelsea went into half-time with the lead intact, as Gary Cahill headed the hosts into a 2-1 lead. Diego Costa then ended his scoring drought, with two fine goals in a dominant second half for Antonio Conte’s men.
Ryan Bertrand pulled a goal back for Southampton in the dying stages of the match, but it was too late to affect the result by then. Here are the best tweets emerging in the aftermath of the match, as Chelsea created a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Full-time: Chelsea 4-2 Southampton! ?
Three points secured with goals from @hazardeden10, @GaryJCahill and @diegocosta (2) ! #CHESOU pic.twitter.com/edJUOHapkw
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 25, 2017
Chelsea 4-2 Southampton FT:
Shots: 17-12
Pass accuracy: 81%-84%
Chances created: 16-6Chelsea seven points clear at the ? pic.twitter.com/I1ymwOwpfI
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 25, 2017
FULL-TIME Chelsea 4-2 Southampton. Hazard, Cahill & Costa’s double send Chelsea 7 points clear at the top #CHESOU pic.twitter.com/1dPUxIChLM
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 25, 2017
Chelsea have now won 25 games this season, the joint-fourth most after 33 games in Premier League history.
Conte up there with the best. pic.twitter.com/n32nLhdvp9
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 25, 2017
Chelsea fans were visibly ecstatic as the Blues established a seven-point lead at the top of the table:
Just in case @SpursOfficial forgot the scoreline from the weekend, we repeated it again today.?? #Chelsea #CFC
— Ash K (@ashish14) April 25, 2017
5 games remaining. 4 wins needed.
Come on Chelsea! pic.twitter.com/LachOrTN9m
— iChelseaTweets (@iChelseaTweets) April 25, 2017
Chelsea win ✔
Hazard goal ✔
Cahill goal ✔
Costa’s 50 PL goal ✔
7 points clear ✔
One step closer to the title ✔Chelsea Football Club. #CFC
— ConteTweets (@ConteTweets) April 25, 2017
8 goals in 4 days. Chelsea FC don got real angry
— K-BLAQ (@youghb) April 25, 2017
4-2 Chelsea ❤️
— Harry (@Hwhizz16) April 25, 2017
3points?
Costa brace?
Hazard cant stop?
Fabregas assist?
7points clear?
We re Chelsea?— EMIR (@Jydeskillz) April 25, 2017
Can’t wait for the Everton game. Our last encounter was the best Chelsea performance I’ve seen in the last 5 years.
— Conte’s CFC (@1995_DB9) April 25, 2017
3 valuable points! 7 points clear now! Almost there..?Come on Chelsea! ? #CHESOU
— Muhammad Jamshad (@iam_jamshad) April 25, 2017
Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were the cream of the crop as the duo led Chelsea to the comfortable win:
And that’s @diegocosta‘s 50th Premier League goal for the Blues! #CHESOU pic.twitter.com/pj03A2zCQJ
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 25, 2017
Diego Costa is the 2nd fastest Chelsea player to 50 PL goals #PL pic.twitter.com/vhcfKHelGW
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 25, 2017
Eden Hazard has now scored 15 league goals this season, his best ever tally for Chelsea in a single campaign.
Peak of his powers. pic.twitter.com/P5OawC9GS3
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 25, 2017
Eden Hazard says to the Chelsea fans: “Diego Costa made it happen” #CFC pic.twitter.com/UHaDm8lXU3
— ConteTweets (@ConteTweets) April 25, 2017
@OfficialFPL Hazard⚠⚠⚠ ??
— Frozen flame (@Greenlite10) April 25, 2017
This team goal is unreal… pic.twitter.com/VBbKG1jiFJ
— T (@HazardFlicks) April 25, 2017
Diego Costa scores his 50th Premier League goal.
Great play from Hazard, brilliant ball from Fabregas.#CFC pic.twitter.com/XDIN8ctCrN— ConteTweets (@ConteTweets) April 25, 2017
Eden Hazard Goal 1-0 to Chelsea #CHESOU #CFC pic.twitter.com/RtZYPDaEQY
— The Blues (@LondonIsBlue12) April 25, 2017
Now dis is how champions play,congrats dear Chelsea,love u Hazard for your beautiful and flawless skills,#2016/17#king of England #CHESOU
— @Supremedora (@Dora2205) April 25, 2017
@calthomson10 Sorry I’m with the kid on this one mind. Hazard is just a different breed of player compared to Sanchez mind
— Ross (@rossconnelly__) April 25, 2017
Massive win. Hazard and Costa fresh and sharp and sublime. Decision to rest them on Saturday looking like an absolute stroke of genius. #CFC
— Grant James (@GrantJames_CFC) April 25, 2017
Hello . This king Costa at his best pic.twitter.com/ZuumDoxU2F
— Chelsea FcⓂ️ (@Chelseafcpoll) April 25, 2017
Diego Costa has now scored 50 league goals for Chelsea in 85 appearance which is the 8th quickest to 50 goals in the competition #CFC GET IN pic.twitter.com/ekDyv2Lcjm
— CarefreeYouth (@CarefreeYouth) April 25, 2017
Costa’s relentless work rate often goes under the radar. Fancy him to score tonight #cfc
— Lee Parker (@Leeparker_tv) April 25, 2017
@ChelseaFC Diego ⚽ Diego ⚽ Diego ⚽
— John D Owen (@Johno1863) April 25, 2017
@ChelseaFC @hazardeden10 G.O.A.T THANK YOU hazard
— VICTOR KANGOGO (@KangogoVictor10) April 25, 2017
@ChelseaFC pic.twitter.com/pqMYnURET3
— BB (@BBPAC) April 25, 2017