Goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, David Luiz and Gonzalo Higuain confirmed Chelsea’s top-four finish in the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Watford at Stamford Bridge.

The scoreline suggests otherwise but the visitors had unmistakably been the better side in an opening 45 minutes in which the Blues had Kepa Arrizabalaga to thank for a world-class save to deny Troy Deeney.

The Stamford Bridge club have been criticised for starting well and ending games poorly in recent months but this particular match was exactly the opposite, and after the break Chelsea quickly took control with two goals in as many minutes, almost identical headers from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and David Luiz, both from Eden Hazard crosses, before Gonzalo Higuain added the gloss with 15 minutes remaining.

Watford had the better of the first half and Kepa Arrizabalaga brilliantly saved a header from Troy Deeney, while Chelsea lost N’Golo Kante to an early injury.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was Kante’s replacement and only three minutes after half-time he headed in the opener from Eden Hazard’s cross.

The Blues’ advantage was doubled on 51 minutes as David Luiz got on the end of Hazard’s 15th assist of the season, the most in the Premier League, to head past Ben Foster.

Kovacic won a corner as the hosts countered quickly and this time, Hazard opted to cross directly, picking out David Luiz for his third goal of the season. Within five second-half minutes Chelsea had the game sewn up, and where Watford had looked dangerous in attack and organised at the back, they now looked incredibly vulnerable every time the Blues came forward.

Deulofeu could have put them back in it but dragged a shot wide and then somehow Chelsea failed to score as Pedro, Loftus-Cheek and Higuain all went close, Foster making two excellent saves to keep the score down.

But the Hornets’ goalkeeper was beaten for the third time on 75 minutes by Gonzalo Higuain’s lofted finish.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com