Cahill joy as Chelsea pass 'huge' title test

Gary Cahill doubles Chelsea’s lead. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Gary Cahill says Chelsea have cleared a major hurdle in the Premier League title race after the leaders romped to a 3-0 win at Everton on Sunday.

Antonio Conte's side clinched a fourth win in their last five league games thanks to a brilliant second-half strike from Pedro and late goals from Cahill and Willian.

The Blues need nine points from their last four games to ensure they hold off Tottenham and are crowned English champions, although less will do it if Tottenham stumble.

With those fixtures coming against Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, Watford and already relegated Sunderland, Cahill admitted his team had circled their trip to Goodison Park as one of the last significant tests in the title fight.

"You can see from the celebrations, this was like a cup final for us. It was one of our hardest games with the form Everton have been in at home. To win 3-0 is fantastic," Cahill said.

"It was convincing but we had to work hard for it. Pedro's goal was special, at times you need a bit of class to open up a team, that's what he did today.

"I'm buzzing with that, it's a huge result for us."

After recent defeats against Manchester United and Crystal Palace had critics questioning whether Chelsea might crack in the closing weeks, England defender Cahill insisted all the pressure is on Tottenham now.

"We have been saying we expect Spurs to win every game and it's down to us because winning the title is in our hands," he said.

"It's got be disheartening for them to have won eight or nine games on the spin, and to keep having to do it.

"They are pushing us to the end but we can put our feet up now."