Eden Hazard urged Chelsea to replicate their morale-boosting 4-0 win over Manchester United as they battle for the title.
Inflicting Jose Mourinho’s worst defeat in English football drew the Blues within a point of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the table just a month after they had suffered damaging back-to-back losses to the latter two.
Hazard was in particularly inspired form, scoring a sublime third to end the visitors’ hopes of a comeback, but urged his team-mates to ensure the momentum from Sunday is not frittered away.
“It gives a lot of confidence,” he said. “We started well and for the fans and us it was a great afternoon. It was a big game and we’ve already lost big games this season against Liverpool and Arsenal, so we did well.
“In football the most important thing is three points. We have a lot of confidence now, we’ve won three games in a row and we have to continue like this.”
The Blues follow their victory over Manchester United with a string of challenging matches, including an EFL Cup tie at West Ham and three games in November that include the visit of high-flying Everton and, at the month’s end, a clash with Tottenham.
