Eden Hazard happy to be substituted in Qarabag win to get 'small rest' ahead of 'big' Liverpool clash

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Vaishali Bhardwaj22 November 2017

Eden Hazard insists it was "good" to be substituted off against Qarabag on Wednesday to give him some rest ahead of Chelsea's trip to Anfield this weekend.

The Belgian started Chelsea's Champions League Group C clash against Qarabag in Baku and played as a false No.9 in the absence of Alvaro Morata, who was rested with the game against Liverpool in mind.

Hazard went on to score a penalty and set up Willian for Chelsea's second goal of the night before coach Antonio Conte decided to bring the 26-year-old off for Morata.

Despite having been in fine form for Chelsea since returning from an ankle injury, Hazard said it was the right move for Conte to take him off in Baku because of the "big" game with Liverpool coming up for the Blues in just three days' time.

"We did everything well, apart from conceding the first chance when they hit the post. Maybe that would be different if that went in. We should have scored more [against Qarabag]," he told BT Sport.

"We have a big game at Liverpool on Saturday so it was good to have a small rest. We are ready for Saturday."

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