Strikes from Daniel Sturridge, John Terry and Ramires gave the Chelsea a comfortable victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge this evening.
The win puts the Londoners to within a point of Manchester United and three of new leaders Manchester City.
Sturridge must be looking to be elevated into the England starting line-up if he continues his impressive form.
With Wayne Rooney suspended for three group games in Euro 2012, Sturridge could force his way into the matches next month against Spain and Sweden, both at Wembley.
Certainly his goal, a well executed header from close range following fine set-up play from Juan Mata and Ashley Cole is proof that Fabio Capello has a striker to play who is in form.
That goal on 30 minutes settled Chelsea after Everton showed spirited resistance.
But the visitors were undone deep in to added time at the end of the first half.
A needleless free-kick conceded by Tony Hibbert, wide on the left, saw Frank Lampard launch a sizzling in-swinging drive. Up popped John Terry to glance the ball home from close range ahead of Toffee’s goalkeeper Tim Howard.
With the game effectively over, it was now a case of by how many goals Chelsea would win.
The third goal came on 63 minutes and it was a beauty in terms of team play and control.
The architect of the move was Mata, twice involved with Didier Drogba, the pair slicked open Everton’s defence and with a fine left footed cross from Mata, Ramires was on hand to tuck the ball home from four yards out.
Everton, to their credit kept plugging away and more importantly plugged the gaps in their defence.
Their reward was a consolation goal with 10 minutes remaining.
It came by virtue of substitute Apostolos Vellios’s first touch, 20 seconds after entering the fray.
He touched home a neat glancing ball from other sub Royston Drenthe’s left byline cross.
A final effort by Lampard – well saved by Howard ended what turned out to be a comfortable victory for Chelsea, defeating Everton, in the league for the first time since 2006.