There were no Christmas lights at the home of Chelsea, but Eden Hazard still illuminated SW6 again.

With half the season up, it seemed the verdict had already been reached on who will be Player of the Year, with Liverpool's Luis Suarez a red-hot favourite after scoring 19 league goals in 13 appearances.

But Belgium star Hazard, 22, could mount a late run if he continues on the upward curve he is on at the Blues.

On Boxing Day, Hazard scored the only goal of the match as Chelsea struggled to overcome Swansea.

Yesterday, the intensity was far higher in this thrilling showdown between two teams in the title race.

Hazard delivered again with another manof-the-match performance and the first Blues strike in the 18th minute.

Suarez, just like he did at Arsenal and Manchester City, drew a blank.

In contrast there was a Hazard warning every time the Chelsea No.17 was on the ball, whether it was wide right or left.

He was always ready, willing and able to take on Liverpool defenders, and more often than not beat them, To be fair to Suarez, he did produce the knock-on for Martin Skrtel to bundle home in the fourth minute.

But, overall it was a rather toothless display from the controversial Uruguayan, typified by his tame volley straight at Petr Cech in the 57th minute.

John Terry, making his 600th appearance in a Chelsea shirt, and Gary Cahill marshalled him superbly through fair or foul means, the latter including a Cahill slide tackle in the 79th minute which was so late it almost had a 2014 date on it!

Samuel Eto'o also barged him over in the box off the ball in stoppage-time and was lucky not to be punished with a penalty.

Liverpool fans sang the name of Rafa Benitez, who managed both clubs. And Jose Mourinho took a leaf out of the Spaniard's book by playing David Luiz in central mid-field, despite the Portuguese coach stating previously he would never pick him there.

It worked though, with the Brazilian's flair, added to his defensive qualities, making them a far more threatening proposition.

For Brendan Rodgers and his team it must be very tough going into the two Christmas fixtures top of the table, and coming out of them in fifth.

Like he has been saying, they seem to be a work in progress.

Mourinho's been making similar utterances about Chelsea.

But they have now beaten Manchester City and Liverpool at home, by the same scoreline.

Even a striker scored yesterday, with Eto'o bagging the 34th-minute winner.

While Rodgers remained remarkably calm on the touchline, his managerial mentor Mourinho was hyper-active.

In the first half he constantly made notes, gesticulated and showed his emotion.

The anger on his face when Luiz blasted wide in the 25th minute was almost comical.

And there was finger-pointing galore after Chelsea allowed Mamado Sakho to head against the bar in the 52nd minute.

Football coach or orchestra leader, it was hard to tell at times, particularly in stoppage time when he spent 20 seconds waving both arms in the air to get the crowd going.

But this Chelsea team are playing to his tune and in Hazard have they have a maestro.

As for Liverpool, you can expect Suarez to make life hell for Hull at Anfield on New Year's Day.

But Rodgers would surely like to see the striker's goals coming against their rivals at the top.