The Ivory Coast striker earned Chelsea a comfortable, though controversial, 2-0 home win over Manchester City in the Premier League.
Chelsea moved 12 points clear of Arsenal, who suffered their fourth defeat in nine league matches, while fourth-placed Liverpool fell 13 point adrift after their wretched 2017 continued with a shock 2-0 defeat at resurgent Hull City.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
Michael Ballack's agent said the Bayern Munich playmaker was also interested in moving to Chelsea
Champions Chelsea and rivals Arsenal will be at full strength for Sunday's Premier League showcase game at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea beat Valencia 3-2 on aggregate to enter the Champions League semi-finals for the third time in four seasons.
Chelsea captain John Terry went from zero to hero, first netting an own goal but eventually coming up with a 98th minute equaliser in an extraordinary 3-3 draw with Everton in the Premier League on Saturday. Manager Guus Hiddink's unbeaten record survived after an amazing match that saw his side fall two goals behind soon after halftime, fight back to 2-2 and then seemingly throw away the points with poor defending which saw Everton sub Ramiro Funes Mori score in the 90th minute.
The Spaniard missed the 2-1 defeat after injuring his hamstring against Manchester City before the international break.
Sixth-placed Arsenal slumped to a 3-2 home defeat by West Ham United.\n
Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech has extended his contract with Champions League winners Chelsea until 2016. Cech, who is in Prague preparing for Euro 2012 next month, has featured in more games (369) for the Londoners than any other overseas player.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte hates not being in the Champions League and has made it his mission to ensure the Premier League leaders consistently qualify for Europe's elite competition.
The capture of the 29-year-old Ukraine captain is Chelsea's second big coup after the arrival of Michael Ballack
Liverpool's dream run was demolished in the most unlikely fashion by strugglers Watford on Saturday in what must be considered the most extraordinary reverse of the entire Premier League season. On the evening when the European champions were expected to complete the best sequence in the history of English football's top-flight with a 19th straight league victory, they were instead hammered 3-0 by the team lying one from bottom. Images from the EPL matches played on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Portugal midfielder joined the English Champions until the end of the season.
Chelsea registered a stirring 3-1 win to take a 14-point lead over nearest rivals Manchester United.
Out-of-sorts Chelsea have a golden opportunity to restore battered self-confidence when they face Maccabi Tel Aviv in their opening Champions League Group G match.
Premier League leaders Manchester City turned on the style with a 3-1 win over Manchester United in their derby clash, on Sunday, leaving Pep Guardiola's unbeaten side two points clear of Liverpool.
Chelsea beat Portsmouth 2-0 while Arsenal easily got the better of Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in Saturday's EPL matches.
A 4-0 win in their FA Cup third round replay set up a classic fourth-round tie against minor league team Scarborough.
The French defender said he wants to leave Chelsea for AC Milan but the English champions are refusing to let him go.
Jose Mourinho has been offered a three-year extension worth 5.2 million pounds a year
Stamford Bridge erupted in celebration on Sunday as departing Chelsea captain John Terry lifted the Premier League trophy in Antonio Conte's record-breaking first season in charge, but the carnival atmosphere had a bitter-sweet edge.
Up to 50 of Chelsea fans possessing tickets were stopped from entering the ground for Tuesday's Champions League game at CSKA Moscow.
Chelsea reached the League Cup quarter-finals thanks to two own goals in a 3-2 win over second-tier Derby County on Wednesday as Frank Lampard's return to his former club ended in disappointment.
Chelsea, looking for a league and Cup double, reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
Two bad results do not make a crisis but Chelsea must break with the past and change their style of play to get back on top in the Premier League and Europe, manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday.
Defending champions Chelsea were lucky to win 1-0 against Wigan Athletic after turning in an uninspiring show
The Portugal midfielder said he is almost certain to join Chelsea after Euro 2004.
The 23-year-old has been mainstay of the Valencia side since 2008 with his speed and goals marking him out as one of Europe's most exciting widemen.
Eden Hazard's first-half penalty proved decisive as Chelsea salvaged their season by beating Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final in what is widely-expected to be manager Antonio Conte's swansong.
Wenger said Arsenal's London rivals, beaten only once this season, clearly had the upper hand with 16 games remaining.
