Given a second outing in a row in the ‘false-nine’ role in the centre of the attack, the overall result was the same as against Porto in the Champions League, a win. This time in the Premier League encounter however, Havertz was on the scoresheet, netting the game’s first goal with a great finish just eight minutes in. The Blues went on to complete a 4-1 victory.‘We can be very satisfied,’ Havertz said. ‘It was a strong performance from us.‘In the first 20 minutes of the second half we were a little bit sloppy but after we conceded the goal we were back at our best, and on Tuesday we have our next match so we have to stay focused and keep on going.

‘It is the plan before every match that you try to start at the beginning very good and it was good to be leading 2-0 after 10 minutes. Then it was easier for us to play the game. After the 5-2 defeat [against West Brom] it was a good game from us, we could have scored more goals but I think we can be happy.’As well as his goal, another highlight by Havertz was when he lifted the ball over the Palace defence, including our former captain Gary Cahill, and then shot when it dropped although on this occasion he could not beat the goalkeeper.‘That was the most difficult [chance] for me,’ he explained, ‘and in the second half I had one or two good chances to score more, but of course I am happy.

‘In my position, you always want to score. In the last few months it was not easy, I did not have so many chances. In this game I had some the chances. I could have scored one or two goals more but we are happy with the result.‘I like it, I think it is a good position for me,’ he added when considering his central striker role. ‘I have the freedom to go everywhere I want to go.‘As a striker it is always easy to play with players of those qualities. I know we train it very often in training but after one game when you win 4-1 it is easy to say we are a good attacking team. But we have to prove that on Tuesday again and on Saturday again and after the season we can speak about it.‘After such a game it is easy to say that I am at my best. I think I have to prove it in more games than only one but I will give my best, I will try to improve and I hope that I will continue like that.’

The win returned Chelsea to the Champions League qualification places ahead of Sunday’s games but Havertz emphasised we need to keep stacking up the three points to achieve our aims.‘Every time our plan is to win every game,’ he said. ‘We have some tough matches and now we have Champions League and FA Cup and they are also important matches for us. Tuesday is our next game and we have to be focused.’