MORATA BRACE SINKS PALACE AND LIFTS CHELSEA TO SECOND

Alvaro Morata scored a double as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to move the Blues to second in the Premier League table.

Two goals from the Spanish forward and one from his fellow countryman Pedro cancelled out Andros Townsend's equaliser.

Chelsea are now in second place after the victory, level on points with Liverpool; but ahead on goal difference.

Eden Hazard made an immediate impact off the bench, after coming on for the last 20 minutes or so.

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Palace had the first meaningful chance of the match, when some good work from Wilfried Zaha set up Max Meyer who fired over.

The Eagles were defending well in the early stages, but their resistance was broken when Pedro set up Morata who swivelled and fired low past Wayne Hennessey from 10 yards out.

That was Morata's third goal in his last four Premier League games.

Willian had the ball in the net a couple of minutes later; but the Brazilian was called offside after Pedro's initial shot fell to him.

Palace were level not long after half-time, when James McArthur linked up well with Townsend, who was found by his team-mate and the English forward finished well in the bottom corner.

Hazard was brought on for the Blues, just over an hour in, replacing Willian and the Belgian made an immediate impact.

The winger was fouled and took the resulting free-kick, that found Morata and the striker controlled well and finished well with a low shot across the goal.

Source: BBC Sport

Five minutes later, Pedro put the game beyond Crystal Palace when Marcos Alonso zipped a low cross into the winger whose low shot beat Hennessey.

Morata was searching for his hat-trick and it looked as if he was through on goal but Luka Milivojevic's slide tackle denied the forward.

The Spain striker had another brilliant chance after being played through by Hazard; but his lobbed attempt was saved by Hennessey.

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STATS:

- Alvaro Morata has now four goals in his last four Premier League games for Chelsea.

- Eden Hazard becomes only the second ever player to assist three times in consecutive substitute appearances.

- Andros Townsend has scored against Chelsea three times in the Premier League (more than against any other side).

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THE MANAGERS:

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has revealed that he is "proud" of his side after their very impressive start to the season.

"I'm proud of the team," the Chelsea boss said. "The record is not of the coach but of the team. I am lucky because I have very good players who have been able to win without a great deal of organisation from a tactical point of view."

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson thought his side kept Chelsea "at bay pretty well", from a defensive point of view.

"I was proud of the way the players kept at it and kept fighting towards the end," Hodgson said.

"I don't think we were under the cosh by any stretch of the imagination. We were not confronted with lots of chances and opportunities, I thought we kept them at bay pretty well."