Hazard scored his eighth Premier League goal of the season against Brighton
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says there is more to come from Eden Hazard, after the Belgium forward masterminded Chelsea's win against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Hazard scored one goal and assisted another as Chelsea, who started without a striker, held on to beat the Seagulls.
The 27-year-old set up the Blues' opener with a wonderful pass across the face of goal for the arriving Pedro to tap in on 17 minutes.
Willian then pounced on a loose pass from Leon Balogun and played in Hazard, who ran from just over the halfway line, outpacing the Brighton defence before slotting past Mat Ryan.
It was his eighth league goal of the season, breaking an eight-game scoring drought, and he has nine assists - the most in Europe's top five leagues.
"I think that Hazard could have played better because his level is a very high level," said Sarri. "He can do more for him and for us.
"But I think after the two injuries, he lost the physical condition. Now he's improving. In one or two matches he'll be back at the top."
Brighton, who welcomed back Glenn Murray to the starting XI after a shoulder injury, barely threatened in the first hour.
But they improved following Murray's substitution for Romanian striker Florin Andone and pulled a goal back in the 66th minute.
Bernardo headed a cross back across goal and Solly March was unopposed as he hooked his shot past Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Seagulls fans felt Marcos Alonso should have been sent off as last man after fouling March late on, but the Spaniard was only shown a yellow card.
Chelsea withstood the hosts' late attacks to record their first win in three away matches and stay in fourth in the Premier League, two points behind Tottenham.
Brighton remain in 13th place.
- Reaction to Chelsea's win and Sunday's other Premier League action
Chelsea only have one fit striker in Olivier Giroud after Alvaro Morata suffered a knee injury in midweek, but they chose to keep the Frenchman on the bench.
Hazard made up for the lack of firepower up front, starting as a false nine flanked by Willian and Pedro, and the Belgium continued his fine form.
He has now been involved in more Premier League goals this season (17 in 16 games) than he was in the whole of last season (16 in 34 games).
His influence waned in the second half as Brighton grew into the game and his afternoon was ended by a hefty challenge from Dale Stephens, which led to him limping off in the 83rd minute.
Like Hazard, Chelsea's performance dropped after the break and Brighton finished the stronger of the two teams.
They held on though, and Sarri will surely be pleased they did not squander their lead and were able to build on last weekend's impressive 2-0 victory against Manchester City going into the busiest part of the season.
"I think that we played a good match," said Sarri, who confirmed Hazard's injury was not serious.
"We could have won by more goals. We conceded a goal in a moment when we were in full control. The last five minutes against a very physical team were difficult to manage."
Brighton leave themselves 'too much to do'
Brighton were poor in the first-half and careless in possession.
Top-scorer Murray, so often the hero for Chris Hughton's side, struggled to gain a footing, failing to register a shot or a touch in the Chelsea box.
March had their sole effort on goal in the first half, a 20-yard effort that was easily collected by Kepa.
They started the second half in the same manner and Anthony Knockaert was getting visibly frustrated.
The fact Brighton improved after Murray's withdrawal on 60 minutes was telling and the Seagulls movement and intensity increased with the introductions of Andone and Yves Bissouma.
Brighton pressed hard for an equaliser and Sarri admitted he was "worried" about the last five minutes of the game.
Lewis Dunk had their best chance to get a point, but his header in the 92nd minute was just wide.
Hughton admitted they left themselves "too much to do", despite a spirited last half hour.
"They had two chances in the first half and scored two goals," said Hughton. "We started the game well but you can't give them the leg up by going behind.
"Then you have to have a response in the second half which we did in the second-half. If we get the one goal then anything can happen. I can't fault the effort our players put in."
Discussing Alonso's yellow card for pulling back March, Hughton added: "Some refs would have give it [a red]."
Man of the match - Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard is the first Chelsea player to assist a goal in four consecutive Premier League games since September 2014, when Cesc Fabregas did soStats - Chelsea rack up the goals
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Chelsea have scored 37 goals in the Premier League this season, their most at this stage of a campaign since 2014-15 when they won the title (38).
Five of Brighton's six home defeats in the Premier League have come against the traditional 'big six' teams, including both such defeats this season (1-2 v Spurs and Chelsea).
Chelsea have won each of their seven games against Brighton in league competition, their best 100% record against a single opponent in league history.
Brighton have kept just three clean sheets in their past 19 games in the Premier League, conceding 31 goals in this run.
Willian has now been directly involved in 50 goals in the Premier League (27 goals, 23 assists), becoming the third Brazilian player in competition history to reach this milestone, after Philippe Coutinho (76) and Roberto Firmino (64).
Only Glenn Murray (eight) has had a hand in more Premier League goals for Brighton than Solly March this season (six - one goal, five assists).
Brighton travel to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 GMT kick-off).
Meanwhile, Chelsea host Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday (19:45), before Leicester visit Stamford Bridge in the league on Saturday (15:00).
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Brighton
1Ryan
22Montoya
14Balogun
5DunkBooked at 55mins
30Bernardo
11KnockaertSubstituted forLocadiaat 83'minutes
6Stephens
24Pröpper
20March
13GroßSubstituted forBissoumaat 81'minutes
17MurraySubstituted forAndoneat 60'minutesBooked at 69mins
2Bruno
3Bong
7Kayal
8Bissouma
9Locadia
10Andone
23Steele
Chelsea
1ArrizabalagaBooked at 90mins
28Azpilicueta
2Rüdiger
30David Luiz
3AlonsoBooked at 87mins
7Kanté
5Jorginho
17KovacicSubstituted forBarkleyat 75'minutes
11PedroSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 66'minutes
10E HazardSubstituted forGiroudat 83'minutes
22Willian
4Fàbregas
8Barkley
12Loftus-Cheek
13Caballero
18Giroud
27Christensen
33Emerson
Referee:
Stuart Attwell
Attendance:
30,645
Match Stats
Home TeamBrightonAway TeamChelsea
Possession
Home42%
Away58%
Shots
Home6
Away10
Shots on Target
Home2
Away3
Corners
Home4
Away1
Fouls
Home14
Away6
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Chelsea 2.Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Chelsea 2.
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt missed. Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Solly March with a cross.Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Marcos Alonso.BookingPosted at 90'
Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.Posted at 90'
Attempt missed. Martín Montoya (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Solly March with a cross following a corner.Posted at 90'
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by N'Golo Kanté.Posted at 88'
Attempt missed. Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.BookingPosted at 87'
Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Posted at 86'
Foul by Marcos Alonso (Chelsea).Posted at 86'
Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 86'
Offside, Chelsea. César Azpilicueta tries a through ball, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek is caught offside.Posted at 84'
Ross Barkley (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 84'
Foul by Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion).SubstitutionPosted at 83'
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Jürgen Locadia replaces Anthony Knockaert.SubstitutionPosted at 83'
Substitution, Chelsea. Olivier Giroud replaces Eden Hazard because of an injury.Posted at 82'
Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).Posted at 82'
Florin Andone (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Yves Bissouma replaces Pascal Groß.Posted at 80'
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Bernardo tries a through ball, but Pascal Groß is caught offside.Posted at 79'
Attempt missed. Ross Barkley (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Willian.Posted at 78'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.Posted at 76'
Delay in match Eden Hazard (Chelsea) because of an injury.Posted at 76'
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 76'
Foul by Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion).SubstitutionPosted at 75'
Substitution, Chelsea. Ross Barkley replaces Mateo Kovacic.Posted at 75'
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 75'
Foul by Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion).Posted at 72'
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 72'
Foul by Florin Andone (Brighton and Hove Albion).BookingPosted at 69'
Florin Andone (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Posted at 69'
David Luiz (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 69'
Foul by Florin Andone (Brighton and Hove Albion).SubstitutionPosted at 66'
Substitution, Chelsea. Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaces Pedro.
Goal!Posted at 66'
Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Chelsea 2. Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bernardo with a headed pass.Posted at 64'
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Marcos Alonso.Posted at 63'
Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) hits the right post with a left footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Eden Hazard.Posted at 61'
Foul by David Luiz (Chelsea).Posted at 61'
Florin Andone (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.Posted at 60'
Jorginho (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com
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