So what I want to prove is $$ |xy+xz+yz- 2(x+y+z) + 3| \leq |x^2+y^2+z^2-2(x+y+z)+3| $$ for $x,y,z\in \mathbb{R}$, and I'm aware that the RHS is just $|(x-1)^2+(y-1)^2+(z-1)^2|$.
Now I'm able to prove that $ x^2+y^2+z^2 \geq xy+xz+yz $ as this just follows from the AM-GM inequality. So I know that the statement without the absolute values must be true, i.e. $$ xy+xz+yz- 2(x+y+z) + 3 \leq x^2+y^2+z^2-2(x+y+z)+3 $$ But I can't see why I'm safe to just put absolute values on both sides here. Because I'm not sure why the LHS is guaranteed to be smaller in magnitude than the RHS?
(I thought about Cauchy-Schwarz being hidden here but then I realised that I could not see how.)
Edit: Alternatively I also understand that $$ |xy+xz+yz| \leq |xy|+|xz|+|yz| \leq |x|^2+|y|^2+|z|^2 = x^2+y^2+z^2 = |x^2+y^2+z^2| $$ but then if I try to adapt this path, the $-2(x+y+z) $ bit throws me off
Hint: You have shown $|xy+yz+zx|\leqslant |x^2+y^2+z^2|$. Now replace $(x,y,z)$ with $(x-1,y-1,z-1)$…