Alvaro Morata returned from suspension to ignite Chelsea's 2-0 Premier League victory over Brighton at Stamford Bridge.
Morata was unavailable for the goalless draw at Everton three days previously but his firepower inspired the champions following a lifeless first half that saw a number of fine chances wasted.
It was a familiar sight that broke the deadlock as the Spain striker combined with international team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta, nodding home the full-back's pinpoint cross a mere 40 seconds after the interval.
The Spanish theme to the victory continued when Marcos Alonso headed in Cesc Fabregas' corner for the second, sweeping the match beyond the reach of the outclassed visitors.
Brighton had not won in the fixture since an FA Cup triumph in 1933 and that record was never under threat as Eden Hazard expertly pulled the strings to cement third place for Antonio Conte's men.
It took 18 minutes for Chelsea to create their first chance when Fabregas, recalled following the 0-0 draw at Goodison Park, whipped the ball to beyond the far post where Antonio Rudiger jumped high to nod the cross down to Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Bakayoko was stood four yards out from goal yet managed to shoot wide from a great position, his only mitigation being the speed of Rudiger's header.
The pressure on the Brighton goal was increasing steadily and Victor Moses was the next to fluff his lines by directing the ball straight at goalkeeper Mat Ryan from point blank range.
Moses was drifting into dangerous positions around the right post but if the final pass was accurate then his first touch or finishing was found wanting.
Fabregas and Rudiger each pulled the trigger just outside of the area but neither shot troubled Ryan, who then positioned his body behind a strong attempt by Hazard despite the acute angle.
The second half had barely begun when Chelsea broke the deadlock, Azpilicueta and Morata linking up for the striker to nod home his 12th goal of the season.
Azpilicueta forced a brilliant save from Ryan as his free-kick powered towards the top right corner, but there was nothing the keeper could do to stop the champions' second in the 61st minute.
Fabregas curled in a corner that was met by Alonso with a glancing header and with no one defending the far post, the ball careered into the net.
Having weaved Brighton's defence into a knot, Hazard saw a shot cleared off the line by Lewis Dunk before the Belgian playmaker teed-up Bakayoko, whose accuracy was poor once more.
Chelsea stepped off the gas for the remainder knowing the job was done.
See how the game unfolded live, below.
Conte on collision course over transfers
Antonio Conte is on collision course with Chelsea’s money men over the club’s January transfer targets, reports David Maddock.
And the Blues boss will bluntly tell his top brass: Splash out when the window opens, or risk ending the season potless.
The Italian coach has made clear he needs reinforcements in the New Year to come to the rescue of a threadbare squad he suggests has just 17-18 senior pros.
In particular, Conte is desperate for a striker, with Chelsea’s lack of options painfully exposed at Everton, where his side dominated the game, but without suspended Alvaro Morata, embarrassingly failed to find the net.
The former Juve manager has already given up on the title, with Manchester City out of sight at the top of the Premier League, and with a daunting showdown with Barcelona waiting in the Champions’ League, he knows he needs quality additions in January.
And the Stamford Bridge boss explained he will spend the next fortnight urging his paymasters to deliver the signings he needs to give them silverware back in return.
“It is not the right time now to talk about who we will sign and I don’t want to have this conversation in public.
“I am very happy to work with my players, and then if the squad is big enough to play all these games in all competitions, only time will tell.
“I think this consideration must be done with the club. I must say it to them in the right moment, in the right place.
“I will give my opinion when I speak with the club, I will tell them. But in the end the club has always the last word – like in the summer, like last season, and it will be the same in January.
“Then we will divide the responsibility with me and with the club…we will do it together. We are fighting for the best position in the league, for the Champions’ League and the Carabao Cup. We will see.”
Conte spent a frustrating summer desperately attempting to persuade owner Roman Abramovich and the club’s board to deliver the players he needed, but missed out on Romelu Lukaku before signing second choice Morata instead.
That even raised doubts about his own future, with the Italian making it patently clear he needs backing in the transfer market to continue to deliver the success he started with a title triumph last season.
That already looks a distant dream, but Conte will urge the club to look at targets such as Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, England star Ross Barkley and Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey.