28 December,2021 08:30 AM IST | Birmingham | AFP
Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring against Aston Villa in an EPL tie on Sunday. Pic/Getty Images
Romelu Lukaku said Chelsea are "the hunters" of Manchester City in the title race after coming off the bench to score his first Premier League goal since September to help beat Aston Villa 3-1. Reece James' own goal put Villa ahead, but Jorginho quickly levelled from the penalty spot in a clash between two of the many English sides hit by cases of COVID-19.
Lukaku was one of Chelsea's absentees due to a positive test for draws against Everton and Wolves last week that saw them lose ground in the title race.
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But he made his return as a second half substitute and made an almost instant impact to head home Callum Hudson Odoi's cross. The Belgian's blistering run then won a second Chelsea penalty in stoppage time that Jorginho slotted home.
"I needed a performance like this today," said Lukaku. "We are the hunters now. The last results were not the best and now we have to chase. We have to treat every game like a final. Today we won and now we have to push on."
Thomas Tuchel's men move level on points with Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and back to within six of Manchester City, who were 6-3 winners over Leicester earlier on Boxing Day.
But Tuchel reiterated his criticism of being forced to play through a hectic festive period with the extra complication of COVID-19 and without the use of five substitutions.
"They make us play all the time even if we have COVID-19. We have new injuries and it won't stop," said Tuchel. "People in offices make these decisions." Villa's own COVID-19 outbreak saw manager Steven Gerrard forced into isolation after he tested positive on Christmas Day.
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