Christian Pulisic scored a brace as Chelsea eased past Crystal Palace with a 4-1 victory at Selhurst Park.
The American winger made it four goals in as many matches against The Eagles and helped the Blues regain a spot in the top four.
Kai Havertz also starred scoring the opening goal before and creating Pulisic’s first of the evening. Kurt Zouma then scored to make it 3-0 before half-time.
Christian Benteke pulled one back for Palace in the second half before Pulisic completed the romp with a tap-in.
‘Results, Results, Results!‘
Thomas Tuchel insisted his side still have a long way to go to securing Champions League football next season despite the resounding victory.
Tuchel said: ‘The challenge today was to have a reaction to our last Premier League game and it was the next step in the right direction after the win against Porto so it was very good.
‘I came here with the target of finishing in the top four this season, the challenge is still on but there is still a long way to go.
‘We continuously need results, results, results!
‘We had a setback last week but it is not the moment to look at the other results of our rivals, we have to keep on going.
‘We managed to close a big gap when I arrived and now we are in a good position in the middle of the race but it will be tough until the very end.’
Blues rampant from the start
Chelsea took control from the start having 86% possession in the opening 10 minutes and that was converted into two quick-fire goals for the visitors.
Havertz opened the scoring with an elegant curling effort into the far corner of the net.
The German then turned provider as he found Pulisic in space and the American smashed the ball past Vicente Guaita at the near post to double the score.
Havertz oozed confidence in the first half and almost doubled his tally lifting the ball over Patrick van Aanholt before firing towards goal but The Eagles’ keeper Guaita produced a fine stop to deny the effort.
However, Chelsea soon got their third as Kurt Zouma towered over Gary Cahill to nod home Mason Mount’s free-kick.
Palace had Guaita to thank for keeping the score to just three before half-time as the Spaniard did well to deny Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi before van Aanholt cleared Antonio Rudiger’s headed effort off the line.
Chelsea in cruise-control in the second half
After the break, Ben Chilwell twice went close to adding to his goal in midweek, first with a shot that fired just wide of the post before blazing a shot over the bar from Hudson-Odoi’s brilliant first-time cross.
Despite the visitors dominating the ball, it was the hosts who clawed a goal back against the run of play after Christian Benteke powered in Jeffrey Shclupp’s cross.
However, a comeback never looked likely of materialising as Chelsea reacted with more attacking force.
Havertz went close to restoring the Blues’ three-goal lead but his first time effort was well saved again by Guaita.
Instead, it was Pulisic who doubled his own tally to restore the three-goal cushion racing in at the back post to tap home Reece James’ deflected cross.
Havertz then spurned another opportunity to score a second after being played through on goal by Hakim Ziyech but his tame effort was easily collected by the Crystal Palace keeper.
