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Chelsea moved to within a point of the Premier League summit with their impressive 2-0 win over Southampton on Super Sunday. Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were on target as Antonio Contes side clinched a fourth consecutive Premier League victory at St Marys Stadium.The Blues are emerging as serious title contenders. Here, we look at some of the reasons why they could go the distance... The system worksA change of formation has been the catalyst for Chelseas recent improvement. Since switching from 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-3 after their 3-0 defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, the Blues have won all four of their Premier League games without conceding a goal.Its the system Conte has used throughout his coaching career, and its taken no time for Chelseas players to adapt. Defensively, the back three of Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta are afforded plenty of protection by Nemanja Matic and NGolo Kante, and theres added support from wing-backs Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses. Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness discuss how Chelseas players have bought into Antonio Contes coaching methods Weve worked hard on the shape the managers brought and were getting the rewards, said Cahill after Sundays victory. Opponents are struggling to create openings against Chelseas packed defensive ranks. Southampton only mustered one shot on target at St Marys, and the run of four consecutive clean sheets highlights Chelseas new-found solidity.Contes got them well-drilled, said Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness. They sit in and defend their box. They have a lot of players who are good at defending in the air and on the ground.The new system has also unlocked Chelseas attacking potential. The Blues are lethal on the break and clinical in front of goal. They beat Manchester United 4-0 despite having just 43.9 per cent of possession, and they recorded a similar figure against Southampton. Souness described their first-half display at St Marys as a masterclass in counter-attacking football. Southampton wont be the last team who struggle to contain them. Conte lauds Chelsea work ethic Antonio Conte hailed his sides work ethic against Southampton. Hazard back to his bestHazard has been the biggest beneficiary of the change of formation. The Belgian grew disillusioned on the left flank last season, but he has been given licence to roam in the new system and doesnt have to worry about defensive responsibilities. According to Opta, his average position has been even more advanced than Costas in three of Chelseas last four games.Hazard is focusing on what he does best. His opener was brilliantly taken, and he has now scored more goals in 10 games (five) than he managed in 31 appearances last season. He was named man of the match for the second consecutive match after his starring role in last weeks thrashing of Manchester United, and this was arguably an even better performance. Eden Hazard shone at St Marys, scoring one and setting up another He combined brilliantly with Costa throughout, and his assist for the Spaniards goal was one of five chances he created across the 90 minutes. Hazard was a constant threat. Southamptons defenders were reduced to fouling him more often than any other player, and Gary Neville was impressed by some of the positions he took up in central areas.Its impossible for a right-back to go there, its impossible for a centre-back to come out, and its a nightmare for a midfield player to think about him, Neville said. Hes just free and released. Hes not stuck out on the left-hand side. Hes there and hes always got five yards of space.Hazard lost his way last season, but the 2014/15 Player of the Year is back to his old self under Conte, and Chelsea are feeling the benefits. When he plays like this, few players in the Premier League can match him. Conte has the smile and snarl Antonio Conte is striking the right balance with his players, says Jamie Redknapp. Clinical CostaCosta is another player who struggled to replicate his 2014/15 form last season, but, like Hazard, he is back with a vengeance under Conte. The 28-year-olds brilliant second-half strike was his eighth Premier League goal of the season, putting him top of the scoring charts ahead of Sergio Aguero and Romelu Lukaku.Hes a brilliant player to have in your team when hes playing like today, said Neville in the Sky Sports commentary box. Hes a handful up front, and he defended three or four balls out of his own six yard box as well.Its quite the transformation from last season. Costa is leading the line with tireless intensity again, and hes playing with confidence too. He has hit the target with 71 per cent of his shots compared to 53 per cent last season, and his conversion rate is up from 23 per cent to 33 per cent. He left the pitch to loud cries of Diego, Diego, Diego from the away end at St Marys. Costa is back and hes lifting Chelsea. Costa celebrates after scoring his sides second goal The Kante-Matic partnershipEvery title-winning side needs a strong central midfield pairing and NGolo Kante and Nemanja Matic are certainly providing it for Chelsea. Kante was a force of nature in front of Leicesters back four last season, and hes now producing a similar level of performance for his new team.He made more than twice as many interceptions (seven) as any other player on the pitch against Southampton, and he impressed with the ball, too, finding a team-mate with 92.2 per cent of his passes - a higher accuracy rate than any of his team-mates. It was a performance in keeping with his recent form. Southampton 0-2 Chelsea highlights Kante has injected energy and dynamism into Chelseas central midfield, and Matic has impressed alongside him. The Serb struggled last season, but he is playing with authority again now, taking it in turns with Kante to run from box-to-box. There was one particularly impressive moment in the first half when he robbed Steven Davis high up the pitch before sending Costa through on goal.Chelseas powerful pairing have dominated the midfield in each of Chelseas last four games. Its bad news for Cesc Fabregas, but Conte will be hoping it continues.No European commitmentsThere were few positives to take from Chelseas 10th-placed finish last year, but not having to juggle European commitments this season could help their cause. The Blues new playing style demands high-intensity (they have outrun their opponents in each of their last three games) so the lighter load is especially beneficial. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. It also gives Conte more time on the training ground with his players. If you ask me if I prefer this situation, I dont, because Chelsea must be in this competition, he said back in August. But because we are not, I will have a whole week to train with my players. That gives me a chance to work with them more compared to other managers in previous seasons.The previous weekend of Premier League football was a good example of what can happen. Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham all failed to win after their midweek exertions in the Champions League, while Chelsea and Liverpool beat Manchester United and West Brom respectively after an uninterrupted schedule. Chelsea stand to benefit from a clearer fixture schedule than their rivals Also See: Conte lauds Chelsea work ethic Conte has the snarl and smile Wholesale NFL Jerseys .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. Cheap MLB Jerseys . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. https://www.cheapnfljerseysjustwholesale.com/ .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Cheap Football Jerseys . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Max Verstappen says new rules about how drivers are allowed to defend position have removed the art of defending position from Formula One.Verstappen was criticised by fellow drivers for a series of robust defences this year in which he moved under braking while another car was trying to pass. At the U.S. Grand Prix, FIA race director Charlie Whiting introduced a new interpretation of an existing rule to outlaw moving under braking and Sebastian Vettel became the first driver to fall foul of the regulation at the Mexican Grand Prix a week later.That it is just a very complex rule, I think. It is just very difficult, he said. Before there was an art in defending and overtaking, but the defending bit has gone because you cant do anything. You cant defend, basically, thats my feeling.Ferrari is appealing the VVettels Mexico penalty, but Verstappen says the rule has to be obeyed as long as it is in the regulations.ddddddddddddSo of course they thought it was not right so they tried to appeal it but its clearly in the rules that you cant do it anymore so everybody of course has to follow the rules.The 19-year-olds driving has come under intense scrutiny this year, but Verstappen, who has not been involved in any major collisions with other drivers this season, remains unflustered.I think in general not only in Formula One but just in a lot of sports, when younger people come in and they do well theres always a bit of talk going on, I think thats pretty normal. So I dont see it as a big issue, to be honest. ' ' '