Chelsea are on course to move back to the top of the Premier League table after taking a 1-0 lead over Stoke City at Stamford Bridge this evening.
Fernando Torres had the first opening of the match for the hosts, when he picked the ball up just outside the box, before drilling a strike just wide.
They came close again moments later as Branislav Ivanovic met Frank Lampard's corner, but he could only put his header wide of the post.
Chelsea continued to threaten and Willian saw his curling effort turned wide by Asmir Begovic, before Lampard saw a low drive held by the keeper.
Torres almost took advantage of Erik Pieters's under-hit pass back to Begovic, but the keeper was out quickly to block his effort from point-blank range.
In the 32nd minute the Blues took the lead, as Nemanja Matic worked his way to the byline and pulled the ball back for Mohamed Salah to fire a low strike past Begovic.
Chelsea thought that they had scored a second with four minutes of the first half reminding, but Ivanovic's header from Lampard's cross was ruled out for an offside offence.
Alex Meyers
