Having been humiliated 4-0 by Bournemouth in their last match, Maurizio Sarri and his players went into this encounter under a fair amount of pressure. A home game against Huddersfield, rooted to the bottom of the table, was a seemingly perfect chance for Chelsea to regain lost confidence. Gonzalo Higuain was in the starting XI despite fears over his fitness - and those fears appeared unfounded as the game progressed.
The Argentine was lively from the start, and twice came close in the opening stages. He got his goal on 16 minutes, latching onto a Kante through ball and twisting his body to smash an effort high into the roof of the net. It was an impressive finish, and more was to come. David Luiz missed a sitter from a corner minutes later, before Kante went close with a blocked effort. But Huddersfield were putting up a good fight; battling for every loose ball and occasionally troubling Chelsea on the break. But they received a hammer blow just before half-time, as Elias Kachunga clattered into Cesar Azpilicueta and conceded a penalty. Up stepped Hazard, who smashed the ball into the bottom-left corner to make it 2-0.
The goal seemed to have sucked the life out of Huddersfield, and they returned for the second half looking a shadow of the team that had made the first so entertaining. The hosts completely dominated the second 45 minutes, barely conceding possession at all as they ran rings around their opponents. Hazard scored the third, rounding Terriers' goalkeeper Johan Lossl and slotting into an empty net. Karlan Grant came on to make his Huddersfield debut, but only two minutes later his side had conceded a fourth. Willian teed up Higuain, and despite being all of 25 yards out, the Argentine curled a beautiful effort into the top corner. Although not important in the context of the match, it was a crucial goal for the striker's confidence. David Luiz made it five just before the final whistle, heading towards goal from a Willian corner. Kachunga tried to clear off the line, but could only divert the ball into his own net.
It was a morale-boosting victory for Chelsea ahead of a daunting trip to Manchester City next Sunday. Meanwhile Huddersfield's survival hopes now look even slimmer - they remain bottom, 13 points away from safety.