Chelsea kept pace with Manchester City in the Premier League title race and moved level on points with Liverpool after beating Aston Villa 3-1 on Boxing Day.

Villa boss Steven Gerrard was absent after testing positive for Covid-19 on Christmas Day and watched on from home as his side fell to defeat.

A tight opening 23 minutes yielded little in the way of goal-mouth action, before Mason Mount’s cross-cum-shot nearly caught Emiliano Martinez out, rattling the top of the crossbar.

Villa took the lead soon after thanks to a similar moment of fortune. Matt Targett’s cross was met by Reece James, whose looping header bamboozled Edouard Mendy and floated into the back of the net.

Chelsea were given a golden opportunity to grab an equaliser minutes later when Matty Cash foolishly brought down Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Jorginho levelled proceedings from the spot.

Lukaku nodded Chelsea ahead just before the hour mark, getting in front of Tyrone Mings to meet Hudson-Odoi’s cross and giving his side the lead.

Tuchel’s men made one last chance on the break with Lukaku bulldozing his way past Matt Targett and drawing a foul from Ezri Konsa. Jorginho scored again from the penalty spot to secure the three points.

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