Double trouble For Manchester United

There was a familiar look to the scoresheet for Chelsea’s Premier League encounter against West Ham United on Monday, not only in the scoreline but in the identity of our two scorers.
As was the case when we hosted the Hammers on a Monday evening at 8pm for our Premier League opener back in August, the Blues again prevailed 2-1 with Eden Hazard opening the scoring before Diego Costa netted the decisive second goal.
It was Hazard’s 11th goal of the season and the 17th in the league for  Diego Costa, who is now the third-highest scorer behind Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur and Romelu Lukaku of Everton.
It was also the 13th time the dynamic duo have both scored in the same game for Chelsea during the three seasons they have been together at Stamford Bridge. Six came in our league-winning campaign in 2014/15 and one was added last season in our FA Cup triumph against Manchester City before the pair brought their total for this season to six with their double act at West Ham.
Here are the other five games in our current campaign when they have both managed to get on the scoresheet.

West Ham, Stamford Bridge, 15 August

Chelsea’s deadly duo got the goals as Antonio Conte’s reign began on a winning note. After opening his Premier League account in our 34th match of the 2015/16 season, Hazard needed only 47 minutes to get his first of this season, blasting home a penalty after Cesar Azpilicueta had been fouled. James Collins levelled for the visitors but Diego Costa gave the Blues a deserved three points when his low shot from just outside the box went through the legs of Collins and past the despairing dive of Adrian to make it 2-1 a minute from time.

Leicester, Stamford Bridge, 15 October

Playing our second match following Conte’s switch to a 3-4-3 formation, Chelsea dominated Leicester City with a 3-0 win over the defending league champions. Much of the damage was done in the opening half with Diego Costa opening the scoring after seven minutes, meeting Nemanja Matic’s flick-on with a controlled left-footed volley, before Hazard was sent clear by Pedro in the 33rd minute and rounded goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to make it 2-0. Both players celebrated by paying tribute to Willian, whose mother had passed away earlier that week.

Southampton, St Mary’s Stadium, 30 October

Chelsea made light work of a difficult away game against Southampton, who had not been beaten at St Mary’s Stadium for eight months before the arrival of the Blues, who won 2-0. Hazard broke the deadlock after six minutes, taking a pass from Victor Moses and cutting inside Steve Davis before drilling a shot between the legs of goalkeeper Fraser Foster. The Saints rarely threatened but Diego Costa added some insurance 10 minutes into the second half with an elegant curler from the edge of the box.

Everton, Stamford Bridge, 5 November

Chelsea’s biggest win of the season came in a ruthless 5-0 demolition of Everton at the Bridge at the start of November. Hazard scored twice, breaking the deadlock after 19 minutes with a low right-footed curler from the left of the box before adding the fourth 11 minutes after the interval with a clinical finish after a mesmerising run from the right flank. Diego Costa also chipped in by lashing in Matic’s flick-on from a corner to put the Blues three goals up just before half-time.

Manchester City, Ettihad Stadium, 3 December 

After coming from a goal down to see off Tottenham Hotspur at home a week earlier, the Blues claimed an eighth consecutive league win with a memorable 3-1 victory in Manchester. Having fallen behind to a Gary Cahill own goal, the Blues rallied in the second half with Diego Costa getting us back on level terms on the hour mark after being picked out by a superb long pass by Cesc Fabregas. Willian made it 2-1 before Hazard settled the matter in the final minute, running on to Marcos Alonso’s through-ball and out-pacing a defender before firing past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.