Substitute Romelu Lukaku came off the bench make it seven goals in as many Premier League matches against Aston Villa as Chelsea came from behind to earn a 3-1 victory to keep their title hopes alive.
The Blues’ record signing showed exactly why his club splashed £97.5million in the summer to sign him as he headed what proved to be a superb winner for his first top-flight goal since September.
Lukaku delivered the goods for Chelsea when it matteredGETTY 
Jorginho fired in his fifth from the spot this seasonGETTY
His effort came after Jorginho cancelled out Reece James’ unfortunate own goal in the first-half and it ultimately settled the three points before a third was added from the spot in added time in what was a hard-fought victory for Thomas Tuchel’s men.
The hosts dominated the early proceedings, with Ollie Watkins proving a right handful for the Blues’ defence, who got off to a shaky start to say the least.
With nearly 20 minutes played, Watkins then found himself in acres of space before he rifled a shot straight at Trevoh Chalobah, who did well to redeem himself and block.
Mason Mount then came closest for the visitors with a curling effort shortly after with his long-range shot clipping the top of the bar.
Villa scored a fortuitous goal in the first-half
Villa struck first when James tried to glance Matt Targett’s into the stands, but it looped over the head of a hapless Edouard Mendy.
However, Chelsea were handed the chance to equalise straight away when Matty Cash clumsily brought down Callum Hudson-Odoi over in the area.
Jorginho made no mistake, slotting home his fifth goal of the season from the spot.
Despite having hardly any of the ball, Villa looked dangerous on the break and Danny Ings fluffed a few efforts into Chelsea defenders.
And the two sides deservedly went into the break all square.
Romelu Lukaku was introduced after the interval and he almost made an immediate impact, holding the ball up brilliantly before passing to Marcos Alonso, who laid off Hudson-Odoi before the Englishman fluffed his effort on goal.
Tuchel’s men are still in the hunt for the title
But the Belgian proved exactly why Chelsea spent their record-fee to sign him.
The £97.5million man glanced Callum Hudson-Odoi’s inch-perfect cross into the net to give Chelsea the lead.
Mason Mount spurned a gloruous chance to give the Blues a two-goal buffer.
With Emiliano Martinez in no-man’s land, the England playmaker simply had to fire home into an empty net or pass to Lukaku to score.
But he dragged his effort wide of the post, much to the frustration of Thomas Tuchel on the sidelines.
With minutes remaining, Hudson-Odoi spurred a glorious chance to seal the points after being played clean through by Matteo Kovacic.
Jorginho added another from the spot late on
The 21-year-old simply had to finish but rifled his low effort too close to Martinez in goal.
But the Blues got their third goal and the three points when Lukaku bulldozed his way into the box before being hauled over by a Villa defender.
Jorginho then, once again, made no mistake from the spot as he smashed home his sixth penalty of the season.
Steven Gerrard, who watched from home after a positive COVID-19 result, was ultimately powerless to prevent his side from defeat, with the Blues’ defence proving too resolute for the Villans.
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