Cesc Fabregas: 'Chelsea hoping Manchester City slip up'

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has said that his side must "keep winning" and hope that Premier League leaders Manchester City slip up if the Blues are to retain the title this season.

A 3-1 home victory over Newcastle United this afternoon saw Chelsea cut the gap on City to eight points ahead of the Citizens' encounter with rock-bottom West Ham United in Manchester tomorrow.

Pep Guardiola's side are unbeaten in all competitions so far this term and have dropped just two points in the league, but Chelsea have now won six of their last seven in the league, giving Fabregas hope that they can catch up.

"The gap is eight points now, and there's still a long way to go so that's why we have to keep getting closer and closer and hope they slip up," he told Sky Sports News.

"They are there because they deserve it. Our job is to keep winning.

"We managed to come back well [today] and at the end it was a good win. We've slightly changed formation and playing with three midfielders allows me [to be] a little bit higher up the pitch, I can be closer to Eden [Hazard]."

Next up for Chelsea is a trip to the Hammers next Saturday.