Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick as Chelsea boosted their Champions League qualification hopes with a 4-1 victory at Aston Villa. The Brazilian's first Premier League treble, along with a goal from Cole Palmer, lifted Liam Rosenior's side into the top five, just three points behind Villa in fourth.
Villa took an early lead when Douglas Luiz scored after just three minutes, but Chelsea responded well. Emiliano Martinez made saves to deny Pedro and Palmer before Villa missed chances to double their lead, with Ollie Watkins shooting straight at goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and Morgan Rogers also being kept out.
Chelsea equalised in the 44th minute when Pedro tapped in from close range after Malo Gusto's cross. Villa thought they had regained the lead through Watkins, but VAR ruled him offside. Pedro then struck again in first-half stoppage time, chipping home from Enzo Fernandez's pass to put Chelsea 2-1 up at the break.
Cole Palmer made it 3-1 ten minutes after the restart, capitalising on Martinez's poor clearance to fire home. Pedro completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute, turning in Alejandro Garnacho's cross from close range. Garnacho could have added a fifth but shot straight at Martinez.
The result leaves Villa with just one win in six matches, putting their Champions League place under threat. Chelsea, meanwhile, will approach the remainder of the season with renewed confidence after their best performance under Rosenior.
