Chelsea saw off the challenge of a below-par Leicester City at Stamford Bridge, with Diego Costa scoring hisseventh goal in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, Leicester's ill-fortunes continue as they again ship goals away from home.
After a somewhat cagey opening six minutes, Chelsea took the lead thanks tosome sloppy set-piece defending from the Foxes. Diego Costa ran off the back of Wes Morgan far too easily from a corner, and was able to fire home unopposed at the back post.
The goal sprung Chelsea into life, and they began to play the ball around with more confidence. A great passfrom former Leicester manN'Golo Kante let Eden Hazard in, but his volley was miss-hit.
David Luiz showed his dead ball talents with a wonderful free-kick that rattled the woodworkas Chelsea continued to boss proceedings.
The Bluesmade it 2-0 just past the half-hour mark when, after theLeicester midfieldfailed to cut out a Nemanja Maticpass, Hazard took the ball roundKasper Schmeichel and slotted home.
Leicester just could not string five passes together and spent the vast majority of the first half without the ball.
44 - Since his debut in August 2012, Eden Hazard has scored more PL goals than any other midfielder in the competition. Menace.
Ranieri's side came out in the second half like a team who had been given a stern half-time talking to, playing with far more determination and ambition. They had good possession in the Chelsea half, but werealmost stung on the counter attack when Victor Moses forced a good save from Schmeichel.
The game opened up, andLeicester almost got a goal back. A Marc Albrightoncross was turned onto his own post by David Luiz, but the Blues escaped.
Kante came very close to a goal against his former club, but for a goal-saving block from Morgan.
Chelsea did find their third goal late on. An inventive one-two between Moses and Nathaniel Chalobah gave the Nigerian international the chance to finish, and he did so with composure.
Chalobah. Woof! #Chelsea https://t.co/cLoD4tALF1
Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahil; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Diego Costa, Hazard
Subs: Begovic, Aina, Terry, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi, Solanke
Leicester: Schmeichel, Hernandez, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Albrighton, Drinkwater, Amartey, Schlupp; Musa, Vardy
Subs: Zieler, King, Simpson, Slimani, Gray, Ulloa, Mahrez