Chelsea see off Brighton with Eden Hazard the star
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea consolidated fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday that became harder work than had seemed likely in the first half.
Having won 4-0 at the Amex Stadium last season, they were on course for a repeat after taking a 2-0 lead at the interval.
Eden Hazard set up the first goal for Pedro after 17 minutes and scored the second himself before halftime following a defensive error.
Brighton came back into contention through Solly March's goal midway through the second half and Lewis Dunk went close to an equaliser.
The home side have not beaten Chelsea in any competition since 1933 but they stayed 13th in the table, nine points clear of the bottom three places.
Chelsea moved three points clear of London rivals Arsenal, who were beaten at Southampton. Reuters
PREVIEW
What time does it start?
Brighton vs Chelsea kicks off at 1:30pm (GMT) on Sunday 16th December.
Where can I watch it?
The match will not be shown live on TV or online in the UK.
Independent Sport will keep you up to date with all the goals as they fly in via our live blog.
Highlights will be shown at 10:15pm on BBC Two.
Player to watch…
David Luiz: After a torrid individual display at Tottenham three weeks ago, the Brazilian scored and played superbly in Chelsea’s win against Manchester City last week. As unpredictable as ever, the 31-year-old defender has solidified a partnership with German Antonio Rudiger at the back, and the Blues have only conceded 13 goals in the league this season.
Form guide…
Brighton: LLDWWL
Chelsea: LWWLWD
Odds…
Brighton to win: 15/2
Chelsea to win: 11/25
Draw: 17/5
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
Southampton 2-2 Arsenal, 68 minutes
Southampton try their hardest to hand Arsenal the lead, with Alex McCarthy forced to rush out and lucky that his clearance rebounds away from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off of Alexandre Lacazette.
Southampton 2-2 Arsenal, 69 minutes
A second change for Arsenal as they look for a winner, and here comes Mesut Ozil.
Alex Iwobi jogs off.
Southampton 2-2 Arsenal, 71 minutes
Southampton make their own alteration.
Danny Ings wasn't fully fit coming into this game but has had quite the productive 70 minutes. Two goals, and plenty of running.
Wearily he hugs his replacement Charlie Austin. Can Austin find a winner for Southampton?
Southampton 2-2 Arsenal, 73 minutes
Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be Arsenal's final change.
Stephan Lichtsteiner is the latest Arsenal defender to pick up a knock. Unai Emery will hope it isn't too serious. Laurent Koscielny has been limping for most of the game, too.
Southampton 2-2 Arsenal, 75 minutes
Southampton lead!
Or do they?
The flag is up!
Bernd Leno just about keeps out an initial header and Southampton scramble home the rebound.
But as the first header was one a Southampton player has strayed offside and he is correctly flagged as such, halting their celebrations.
So nearly...
Brighton 1-2 Chelsea, 77 minutes
Stuart Attwell has had a hit-and-miss game with the whistle in hand at the Amex, and Dale Stephens is fortunate to escape punishment after a very firm challenge on Eden Hazard.
Southampton 2-2 Arsenal, 78 minutes
Alexandre Lacazette is just offside from Henrikh Mkhitaryan's cross, but Alex McCarthy isn't to know that, reacting quickly to save superbly with his left leg.
It could go either way, this one.
Southampton 2-2 Arsenal, 80 minutes
Bernd Leno comes out to get a punch to a Southampton corner, and Arsenal have men pouring forward on the break.
It isn't he most fluent passage of football but they do finally work the chance, Matteo Guendouzi letting fly from 20 yards.
It is blocked and spins towards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who can't quite divert it towards goal sliding in from the right wing.
Brighton 1-2 Chelsea, 83 minutes
Eden Hazard receives an ovation from the travelling Chelsea support. Another excellent (and at the moment match-winning) performance from the Belgian. Olivier Giroud is his replacement.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined proceeding a littlee earlier and has been prominent since coming on, carrying the ball through the Brighton defence impressively on a couple of a occasions already.
GOAL! Southampton 3-2 Arsenal (Charlie Austin, 85 minutes)
Have Southampton snatched it?
Shane Long finds space down the right and gets his head up.
Charlie Austin is charging forward down the opposite side and extends his hand up, knowing he's got the run on the Arsenal defence.
Long's diagonal floated pass is perfectly weighted, though Bernd Leno doesn't cover himself in glory, rushing out and getting nowhere near it, allowing Austin the simplest of headers into the empty net to send St Mary's wild.
Southampton may be on their way to a huge home win...
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