Fernando Torres scored twice as Chelsea secures first win in 8 EPL matches

Fernando Torres scored twice as Chelsea secured a first Premier League win in eight games and ensured Sunderland dropped into the relegation zone.

The Blues dominated early on and should have been two or three ahead before a classy Torres volley made it 1-0. The Spaniard capped a powerful start for the Blues by firing them into an 11th-minute lead - scoring his first league goal since October 6 - and he made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time by converting a penalty awarded for Sebastian Larsson's trip on Ramires.

Only the woodwork prevented him from completing a hat-trick inside 49 minutes, but Juan Mata rifled in the loose ball to end the game as a contest. Sunderland responded and England international Adam Johnson beat Petr Cech with a 66th-minute shot, with Craig Gardner hitting the bar at the death.

Chelsea will turn their attention to Japan and the FIFA Club World Cup, while Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill will attempt to take the positives from a difficult afternoon on Wearside.