Chelsea shrugged off the absence of top scorer Diego Costa to open the scoring with a 25-yard free-kick from Oscar. Cesar Azpilicueta and Palace defender Damien Delaney were dismissed before Fabregas finished a fine passing move. Fraizer Campbell’s late goal provided a scare but Jose Mourinho’s men held on.
Arsenal narrowly avoided an embarrassing home defeat to Hull City after Danny Welbeck struck to secure a 2-2 draw for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium. The hosts went ahead through Alexis Sanchez’s well-taken finish early on but Hull equalised through a controversial Mohamed Diame goal. Abel Hernandez put Steve Bruce’s side in front at the start of the second half, but with time running out Welbeck combined with Alexis to beat second half substitute Edin Jakupovic in the Hull goal.
Southampton demolished Sunderland at St Mary’s in a game which saw Santiago Vergini score one of the most bizarre own goals in Premier League history.
The Argentine, 26, volleyed in from 18 yards, before Graziano Pelle and Jack Cork each scored from six yards.
Pelle’s well-taken second came after Liam Bridcutt had scored another own goal and Sunderland keeper Vito Mannone passed to Dusan Tadic to make it six.
Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane completed the rout as the Saints stayed third.