Palmer stars again as three-goal Chelsea punish out-of-sorts Villa 

Chelsea's Cole Palmer (centre) celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game

Chelsea bolstered their Premier League title credentials with a stirring victory over a faltering Aston Villa side at Stamford Bridge.

First-half goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez and a wonderful curling effort from Cole Palmer six minutes from time extended Villa's woeful run of form to eight games in all competitions without a win.

Chelsea got off to the perfect start after seven minutes when Nicolas Jackson side-footed home from close range after Marc Cucerella robbed the ball from Jaden Philogene, exchanged passes with Jadon Sancho then crossed the Senegal striker to score off the post.

Ollie Watkins, who'd scored on his previous two visits to Stamford Bridge that Villa had won, had a great opportunity to score when he beat Wesely Fofana but shot straight at the advancing Sanchez Midway through the first half there was the remarkable sight of the entire Villa team camped inside their own six-yard box after referee Stuart Attwell penalised Emi Martinez for picking up a back-pass from Pau Torres.

However, Palmer's venomous close-range was kept out by the Villa keeper who then almost gifted Jackson a second goal when he passed straight to the Chelsea striker who, seemingly surprised to have the ball at his feet, failed to react quick enough and the chance went begging.

Fernandez, restored to the team after being axed last month, continued his rejuvenation with his second goal in as many games when he struck a sweet half-volley from the edge of the box after exchanging passes with Palmer.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Chelsea dominating and Villa struggling to create any clear-cut chances.

Palmer, who was lively throughout, iced the victory in style with world-class curling finish from the edge of the box six minutes from time as Chelsea moved level on points with Arsenal and very much in the title conversation.

Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku went close to adding a fourth for Chelsea before the sound of Attwell's final whistle put Villa out of the misery.

Villa host free-scoring Brentford on Wednesday with Chelsea making the trip down to face bottom club Southampton.

CHELSEA: Sanchez 6, Caicedo 7, Fofana 6 (Badiashile 58), Colwill 6, Cucerella 7; Fernandez 8, Lavia 7 (Gusto 87); Palmer 8 (Felix 87), Sancho 6 (Manueke 65), Neto 6; Jackson 7 (Nkunku 70).

VILLA: Martinez 6 (Olsen 45 5); Cash 5, Konsa 6, Pau Torres 5, Digne 5; Tielemans 5, Kamara 6 (Barkley 62); McGinn 6, Rogers 5 (Duran 65), Philagene 5 (Bailey 65); Watkins 6 (Buendia 87).