Hours later, West Ham United maintained their hunt for a top-four place by beating Leeds United 2-0 courtesy of goals from Jesse Lingard and Craig Dawson.

Kai Havertz starred in a false nine role at Stamford Bridge, with the Germany playmaker twice denied a goal before winning Chelsea's penalty.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel's stunning start to life in west London extended to an 11th match without defeat and a ninth clean sheet.

Chelsea have conceded just two goals on Tuchel's watch and their second win over a Merseyside opponent in five days keeps them fourth for now, two points clear of West Ham who have a game in hand.

After Thursday's 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield, Chelsea produced another assured victory over a north-west rival.

Tuchel was a happy man as his positive start at Chelsea continues.

"We deserved to win," he told BT Sport.

"You see the quality of the players and the club... Everybody in the club is doing everything to compete at this level."

Sixth-place Everton still boast a game in hand on Chelsea, but the Toffees now trail Tuchel's men by four points.

Havertz was desperately unlucky to have the opening goal taken away from him but instead of his first Premier League strike in 15 top-flight appearances, Godfrey was credit with an own goal.

Havertz's cute diversion of Marcos Alonso's cross had certainly outfoxed Jordan Pickford and looked to be heading for the corner of the goal, before Godfrey's intervention sent the ball crashing into the other side of the net.

Chelsea doubled their lead on the 65th minute and Havertz was involved once more.

The former Bayer Leverkusen star latched onto Kovacic's raking through-ball in the Everton penalty area, and was felled by Pickford.

Jorginho stepped up to the penalty spot and delivered his trademark skip-step finish, sending the frustrated Pickford the wrong way.

The Hammers are back up to fifth with the win over mid-table visitors Leeds, after Lingard converted the rebound from his own missed penalty in the 21st minutes and fellow January signing Dawson crashed in a fine header seven minutes later.

"We didn't play the best, but we're grinding out those results, we've got a real solidity about us and long may that continue," West Ham captain Declan Rice said.

Australian Associated Press