Chelsea secured their place in the Champions League next season with victory over Watford at Stamford Bridge.

The win, combined with Arsenal's draw against Brighton, means the Blues are guaranteed a top-four finish in the Premier League.

After a quiet first half, Chelsea scored twice within three minutes early in the second period through headers by Ruben Loftus-Cheek and David Luiz.

Gonzalo Higuain sealed the points with a neat finish from Pedro's pass for his fifth goal for the club.

The win moves Chelsea up to third, one point ahead of Tottenham and four points clear of the fifth-placed Gunners.

FA Cup finalists Watford started brightly, going close through Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu, but were left to rue their slow start to the second half that saw Chelsea quickly take the game away from them.

The Hornets, who stay 10th, have now won just one of their past five Premier League games since their FA Cup semi-final victory over Wolves last month.

Chelsea seal top four going into critical week
Chelsea's Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt is finely poised at 1-1 after the first leg, but Maurizio Sarri could not afford to rest players as he looked to maintain their push for a top-four finish.

The Chelsea boss says that he wants to treat all his remaining games "with the same importance".
It is a delicate balancing act for the Italian, who said he left Eden Hazard out of the starting line-up in Frankfurt on Thursday to keep him fresh for their bid to qualify for the Champions League.

Despite the presence of the influential Belgian against Watford, Chelsea began the game sluggishly, with their only shot in target in the first half a chip from Jorginho that was awkwardly palmed away by Ben Foster.

Chelsea also suffered a blow early on when N'Golo Kante was forced off through injury and had to be replaced by Loftus-Cheek.

There was a smattering of boos from the home fans at the half-time whistle. But whatever Sarri said at the break had the desired effect as his side scored two quick-fire goals to take command of the game.

Hazard was the architect of both, his searching cross from the right following a short corner finding the head of Loftus-Cheek, who headed home his ninth goal of the season. Three minutes later, Hazard's corner found the unmarked Luiz, who powered another header past Foster.

Pedro and Higuain both drew smart stops from the Watford goalkeeper before the Argentine finished the game with 15 minutes left, running onto Pedro's sharp through-pass before chipping the onrushing Foster from a tight angle.

With speculation linking him with a summer departure, this could have been Hazard's final Premier League game for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

If that is the case then it was a fine way to bow out, though it also gave Chelsea a sharp reminder of what they will be missing if the Belgian leaves.

Gary Cahill was brought on in the final stages for his first competitive appearance since November before his expected departure from the club at the end of the season.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48081949

Up Blues! Not a roller coaster season for us but we’re better than Arsenal and of course the over rated Manchester United

We’ll be playing in the Champions league- where we rightly belong- with the best of clubs in Europe.

That been said, Someone needs to tell Sarri to please return Kante to his natural holding position while Jorginho should either be dropped or better still be an attacking midfielder.

Hopefully Hazard stays, while Loftus-Cheek should be integral in the squad next season. And yes, we need a world class striker-hopefully our transfer ban is lifted

With the unstable stature of Chelsea and the present discouraging record against clubs outside the premiership, I don't trust Sarri at the champions league.

I look out for better days for Chelsea.

Big boys....the blues. Watchout for loftus cheek

Chelsea went from title contender from the beginning of the season to Top 4 contender

The team of no dulling! Man u and arsenal don jogodo

Is Buhari back?

On a platter of Gold

Due to mumuness of Arsenal, Man Utd and Tottenham

Chelsea didn't deserved it and it was a Lucky chance

And they will be kick out before quarter finals

Far better than those useless bunch in Manchester United!


Disappointing!

From 13th position....

Chelsea try...

Chelsea can misbehave Sha

I saw it coming.Blues for life! Haters take

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CHELSEA
Man u
Arsenal


3 foolish mumu teams!

fineboynl:
Chelsea didn't deserved it and it was a Lucky chance

So whom among the other 3 teams did?
Or you mean all 4 teams should vacate 3rd and 4th position for whom?

Abegi...

Up Chelsea!

Man United has no remedy ...

Blues for live.......

I didnt believe we could make top four....
Many thanks to God almighty
And team spirit

Chelsea has displaced Tottenham.

Man Utd And Arsenal should not put mouth in our Mata again, we no be una mate oo���
#Ktbffh

Why do I feel Hazard isn't going anywhere?