Chelsea analysis: January blues are over for electrifying Eden Hazard as Michy Batshuayi impresses Antonio Conte

Eden Hazard inspired Chelsea to a 4-0 victory at Brighton to give the champions their first Premier League win of 2018.

Lightning strikes from Hazard and Willian fired Antonio Conte's side, stuttering in the top four on the back of three straight draws, into a two-goal lead in the opening six minutes.

Belgian playmaker Hazard then took his tally for the season to 11 with a fine solo goal before Victor Moses added a late fourth.

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The Chelsea coach has been loathe to pick the Belgium international since he joined from Marseille for £33.1m.

Despite Conte's denials to the contrary, this afternoon marked just his fourth League start for the club in over a year-and-a-half.

Even though Batshuayi hasn't tasted much action, he went into the match with a record of eight goals in 22 appearances this term, of which over half were from the bench.

There are no shortage of takers in terms of taking him on loan this month. Sevilla were the favourites but now Roma are asking to include the Belgian as part of Chelsea's negotiations for Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri.

But in contrast to Alvaro Morata, who was suspended today, Batshuayi linked up with great effect with Eden Hazard and Willian.

His display was worthy of a goal for himself, yet he either found Brighton keeper Matthew Ryan in his way or didn't make the most of some counter attacks, with the final touch just letting him down.

Caballero was gifted his first League start since joining Chelsea from Manchester City due to an ankle injury to No.1 Thibaut Courtois.

The Argentine came into the contest full of confidence after being the penalty shoot-out hero in their midweek FA Cup victory over Norwich City.

Caballero has plenty of Premier League experience, which is why he was such an astute signing on a free transfer to replace Asmir Begovic.

That is why his hesitancy and uncertainty whenever the ball was crossed into the area was such a surprise.

It bred panic into the Chelsea's backline and he was also fortunate not to give away a penalty in the first half for a clumsy lunge on Ezequiel Scheletto.

Caballero still earned his wages by making fine stops from Tomer Hemed and Scheletto, however Chelsea will hope Courtois returns for the match at Arsenal in midweek.

It sums up Hazard's quality that a couple of below par performances are so conspicuous.

Since an electrifying display at Arsenal in the League on January 3, he has looked sluggish and flat.

Indeed, he had completed 90 minutes just once in the previous nine appearances for Conte's side.

Yet Hazard was on top of his game from the outset against Brighton, no doubt helped by being gifted an easy chance to score in the third minute.

It was his 100th League goal of his career, quite a landmark and ensured the visitors got off to the perfect start.

The 27-year-old was full of menace for the rest of the game and it was no surprise when he added the third with a fine individual effort. And Conte notably let him him complete the match on this occasion.

When everyone is fit and available, Willian will not be in Conte's starting XI most weeks.

It was something he had to get used to last season, even though Chelsea were playing the 3-4-3 formation on a weekly basis.

That is not the case this term, with Conte favouring the 3-5-2 - a system that leaves little room for wide men.

Still, Willian has had more opportunities lately and the Brazilian has certainly made the lost of it.

In his last five League starts he has been involved in eight goals (three scored and five assists). But for a great save from his free kick in the second half, he would have made it four apiece in his statistics.

Given Pedro, who was suspended this afternoon, has struggled for consistency of late, Willian is ahead of the Spaniard in the pecking order.

There days ago, Chelsea were left cursing the match official as decisions didn't go their way.

Ref Graham Scott not only ignored three penalty appeals, he sent Pedro and Morata off and booked Willian for diving, even though the latter was tripped in the area.

The cliche often heard in such circumstances is 'things even themselves out over the course of a season'. In this case, the Blues didn't have long to wait for things to go their way.

Granted the exaggerated manner in which Scheletto went down over challenges from Caballero and Bakayoko in Chelsea's area during the first half didn't help Brighton's claims to Jonathan Moss for a spot kick.

However, if the incidents had taken place at the other end, you can be assured Conte would have been screaming blue murder.