Skillfully scored goals from Nicolas Jackson, captain Enzo Fernández and Cole Palmer gave Chelsea a 3-0 home win against Aston Villa on Sunday and catapulted themselves into second place in the Premier League.

The home side played casual football and took advantage of a tired-looking and error-plagued Aston Villa team, who have now failed to win eight games in all competitions.

Chelsea made a name for themselves early on when striker Jackson deftly side-footed Marc Cucurella’s cross from the left and fired it onto the post in the seventh minute.

Enzo Maresca’s side took advantage of questionable defending in the 36th minute when Fernandez was fed by Palmer before stabilizing between Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa and firing the ball into the goal.

However, Palmer outdid his two teammates by firing a superb left-footed shot into the top corner of substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen’s net in the 83rd minute.

“I think if I go out and enjoy football, the goals and assists will come,” Palmer told Sky Sports. “It all depends on the manager, the enthusiasm he brings to the training sessions and what the players give him.”

England striker Ollie Watkins had Villa’s best chance, but Chelsea keeper Robert Sánchez turned him away in a one-on-one in the 15th minute.

In the final minute of the first half, he failed to fully touch the ball, the goal was at his mercy and Sanchez made the save.

Villa, who drew 0-0 with Juventus in the Champions League in midweek, had to replace Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez with Robin Olsen at half-time after he injured himself diving to retrieve a ball that he mistakenly missed fit Jackson’s feet.

With the numbers up, Chelsea’s substitutes might have added to the result in the closing stages had Olsen not had a double save from João Félix and Noni Madueke, closely followed by an effort from Christopher Nkunku, who sent his shot wide.

Before the late kick-off, Chelsea were in second place between league leaders Liverpool and fifth-placed Manchester City, level with Arsenal and level on goal difference. Villa fell to 11th place.