Chelsea cruise past 10-man Southampton to go SECOND

Chelsea continued their wonderful current kind with a 5-1 victory away to struggling Southampton to go second on objective distinction.

They went in entrance early on by way of Axel Disasi’s header however have been rapidly pegged again as Joe Aribo fired house an equaliser for the house aspect.

Chelsea reclaimed the lead by way of objectives from Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke, earlier than Cole Palmer and substitute Jadon Sancho added additional gloss within the second half.

A depressing evening for Southampton was made tougher when Jack Stephens was proven a purple card by the referee within the first half following a VAR overview, after an entanglement with Marc Cucurella.

The end result strikes Chelsea as much as second place behind Liverpool, whereas Southampton stay on the foot of the desk.

How the match unfolded

The house aspect had an excellent likelihood inside the first two minutes of the match, however Filip Jorgensen made a unbelievable save to disclaim Aribo from shut vary. Simply minutes later, they have been left to rue that missed alternative as Disasi obtained in forward of keeper Joe Lumley and headed in from a nook to place Chelsea in entrance.

However Saints weren’t behind for lengthy, as Aribo made up for his earlier miss with a simple end after Kyle Walker-Peters provided a neat reduce from the left.

Regardless of the league’s backside aspect performing competitively, their lapses in focus on the again have been their undoing. Lumley’s ill-judged cross to Walker-Peters enabled Madueke to nick the ball off him earlier than discovering Nkunku to fit into an empty web.

Madueke was a relentless menace down the proper and later curled a assured end into the far nook. It obtained even worse for the hosts earlier than half-time, with the referee giving Stephens a purple card for violent conduct following a VAR overview after the Saints captain had pulled Cucurella’s hair.

The second half continued in the identical vein, with Tosin Adarabioyo thrashing a shot towards the submit and Madueke having two additional efforts saved.

With quarter-hour to go, Palmer prolonged Chelsea’s lead with a simple end earlier than Sancho capped a powerful evening for the guests.

Sorry Saints proceed poor run at foot of the desk

Regardless of his workforce’s place within the desk, Russell Martin would have been inspired by Southampton’s current performances towards Liverpool and Brighton, through which that they had been aggressive and maybe deserved greater than their solitary level.

However, aside from a frenetic opening through which Aribo scored and missed a beautiful alternative, they have been actually second-best towards Chelsea.

Defensive errors, regrettably a trademark of Martin’s aspect this season, have been on full show once more. Lumley’s taking part in out from the again led to Nkunku placing Chelsea again in entrance and in addition created different openings for his or her opponents.

Saints have been minimize open on far too many events, predominantly within the first half, and they’re now already in severe hazard of being minimize adrift within the battle to stave off relegation, seven factors from security with 14 matches performed.

Their subsequent league match is an away journey to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

Maresca rotates however Blues nonetheless shine

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made seven modifications from the aspect that beat Villa on Sunday, however that did nothing to disrupt his aspect’s fluency and attacking aptitude.

The returning Madueke was a menace for Saints’ defence, getting on the scoresheet but additionally having different possibilities within the second half. Joao Felix additionally dovetailed with Palmer in central attacking areas.

A brand new-look again 4 was not often troubled however Jorgensen, making his league debut, was nonetheless known as upon to make an important early save to disclaim the house aspect. Adarabioyo and Disasi had little to do on the again and have been a menace from attacking set items.

Their power in depth within the attacking areas was highlighted with Nicolas Jackson being rested for your entire match, whereas Sancho got here off the bench to seize his first objective for the membership.

This emphatic away win will probably be one other increase for Maresca’s aspect earlier than a visit to rivals Tottenham Hotspur on the weekend.

Membership studies

Southampton report | Chelsea report

What the managers stated:

Russell Martin: “We conceded such poor objectives, a set play and a mistake, however the response was sensible, we’re so within the sport, have good moments and damage them with the ball. They damage us as nicely as a result of they’ve high expertise however I noticed a workforce that seemed assured and took the ball so much within the press early on within the sport.”

Enzo Maresca: “It was an excellent feeling. You’ll be able to see they [the fans] are completely satisfied, that’s our goal, we work every single day to maintain them completely satisfied. Tonight was an excellent feeling. They will see Chelsea is again and this is a vital factor.”

Subsequent Premier League fixtures

Key information

Chelsea have scored 5+ objectives in two away Premier League video games this season (6-2 v Wolves, 5-1 v Southampton), the primary time they’ve finished so twice in a season since 2014/15. Their xG whole tonight was the best on report (2008/09 onwards) by a workforce in an away Premier League sport (5.29).

Southampton have made 9 errors resulting in opposition objectives within the Premier League this season, 4 greater than some other aspect. Within the entirety of final season, the one aspect who made extra errors resulting in objectives have been Brentford (10).

Enzo Fernandez has seven assists in all competitions for Chelsea this season, essentially the most of any Blues participant – certainly, Fernandez has six assists in his final 5 video games.

Jack Stephens has been despatched off twice in his final 4 Premier League house appearances for Southampton – he’s the primary Saints participant to be proven two purple playing cards in a season since Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in 2018/19, whereas solely Francis Benali has been despatched off extra for Saints (5) than Stephens (4).