Chelsea lead the Premier League table by nine points after beating Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Saturday, thanks to a first-half Diego Costa header.
Chelsea have now recorded 11th consecutive victories and are clear title favourite.
Arsenal and Liverpool are not playing until Sunday and Monday respectively. Chelsea lead Arsenal and Liverpool by nine points.
Costa picks up fifth booking of the season and will miss Boxing Day clash with Bournemouth.
N'Golo Kante will also be suspended against Cherries.
Palace were organised defensively, not allowing Chelsea the time and space to move forward with pace, thereby frustrating Hazard, Diego Costa and Willian in the final third.
To add to the Blues’ frustration, Costa picked up his fifth booking of the campaign, little over 20 minutes into the top flight contest, for a challenge on Joe Ledley. It means Antonio Conte’s leading goal-scorer will miss the meeting with Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
But, two minutes from half-time, Chelsea’s quality eventually got the better of the hosts.
Cesar Azpilicueta spotted the run of Costa behind the Eagles’ defence from deep and sent a simple ball over their back line, onto the head of the former Atletico Madridman. His leap was timed to perfection, leaving Hennessey with no hope of keeping the score line level.
It was a bitter blow for the home side, who had kept their title-leading opponents quiet for much of the opening 45 minutes.
The Eagles had the better of the possession for the opening 15 minutes of the second period, with Chelsea seemingly content to sit back. Thibaut Courtois, though, was still yet to be tested, thanks to the resolute defence in front of him and a lack of movement from Palace’s forwards.
N’Golo Kante, frustratingly, picked up a booking with an hour on the clock, joining Costa in being ruled out of their clash with Bournemouth.
Conte won’t have been satisfied by the lack of threat from his troops and 65 minutes in decided to throw Cesc Fabregas into action, calling time on Willian’s afternoon.
And only seconds after Fabregas had stepped onto the pitch, he created an opening on goal for Marcos Alonso. His cross, though, was delivered with too much power and the left back failed to get control ball, and Palace were able to clear their lines.
Palace simply didn’t look like scoring, and were fortunate not to have gone two goals down with little under 10 minutes to go when Marcos Alonso rattled the underside of the crossbar from a free kick.
It’s their 11th consecutive wins in the Premier League, equalling a club record run of straight wins in the top flight, and the third game in a row that they’ve sealed a 1-0 win… the mark of champions?
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