A much-changed Chelsea moved seven factors behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after thrashing bottom-side Southampton 5-1, who had captain Jack Stephens despatched off for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair.
The Blues made seven adjustments for the journey to St Mary’s and nonetheless produced a high quality attacking show that can solely improve discuss of a possible title problem this season as they moved second.
Three gamers introduced in – Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke – all scored within the first half.
Disasi’s seventh-minute header was, nonetheless, rapidly cancelled out simply 4 minutes later as Joe Aribo swept house previous Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who made his Premier League debut.
However Southampton’s mistake-laden season continued as goalkeeper Joe Lumley’s sloppy cross was reduce out by Madueke who arrange Nkunku to roll into an empty internet within the seventeenth minute – a ninth Saints error resulting in a aim within the Premier League this season.
Madueke then curled in a 3rd within the thirty fourth minute earlier than Saints’ night time went from unhealthy to worse 5 minutes later as skipper Stephens pulled Cucurella’s hair at a Saints nook and was despatched off for violent conduct following a VAR assessment on the pitchside monitor.
Chelsea then utterly dominated proceedings and at last added a fourth by Cole Palmer’s 77th-minute tap-in.
Substitute Jadon Sancho added a late fifth for his first Chelsea aim as Enzo Maresca’s aspect made it seven video games unbeaten in all competitions and subsequent go to London rivals Tottenham on Sunday, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
Southampton, in the meantime, at the moment are seven factors adrift from security.
Sunday eighth December 4:00pm
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Free-scoring Chelsea proceed to impress
Cole Palmer (left) and Jadon Sancho each scored in Chelsea’s win at Southampton
In all competitions, Chelsea have scored 57 targets in 22 video games this season, which is already seven greater than they scored in 2022-23 (50 in 50 video games). Their present goals-per-game ratio of two.6 is their greatest in a single season of their whole historical past.
In the meantime, Chelsea have scored 5 or extra targets in two away Premier League video games this season (6-2 vs Wolves, 5-1 vs Southampton), the primary time they’ve carried out so twice in a season since 2014/15. Their xG complete within the win at Saints was the very best on document (2008-09 onwards) by a group in an away Premier League sport (5.29).
Are Chelsea title contenders?
Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring Chelsea’s second
“We’ve got our Chelsea back” sang the away finish late on as additionally they serenaded head coach Maresca, who in flip acknowledged their help by applauding again.
The temper round Chelsea is completely different lately and a few could properly imagine they’re totally within the title race.
This spectacular efficiency, albeit towards a 10-player backside aspect, will solely louden these whispers as Chelsea took benefit of Liverpool’s slip-up at Newcastle.
Chelsea definitely have the depth to go the space. Maresca has a humiliation of riches at his disposal, proven by his much-changed aspect as they strolled to a dominant victory that noticed them have 26 pictures at aim.
The Blues look extremely assured proper now and are a really entertaining watch.
Palmer scored his ninth Premier League aim of the season
More durable checks await them, nonetheless, with Sunday’s journey to London rivals Tottenham offering a a lot better yardstick of the place they’re at.
But when they cross that check then Maresca’s aspect have a really beneficial fixture run as they face only one top-half group – Brentford at house – till they go to Manchester Metropolis on January 25, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
Chelsea might properly be severe title contenders come that journey to the Etihad.
Maresca loving Chelsea chants
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca talking at his post-match convention in regards to the away-end songs:
“It was a very good feeling, especially because you can see that they are happy, that is our target.
“We work every single day to maintain them blissful and tonight was an excellent feeling, particularly the one which they will see that Chelsea’s again. This is a vital factor.
“I’m very happy with the five we scored. I’m not happy with the first 15, 20 minutes, where we struggled. The reason why we struggled is because we prepared the game to press them man to man and the first 15, 20 minutes we were not pressing them man to man.
“After 15, 20 minutes we modify that and the sport was a lot better. For certain we might rating extra however 5 targets they’re sufficient.”
Martin: Stephens red a moment of madness
Southampton head coach Russell Martin speaking at his post-match conference about Stephens’ red card:
“I do not assume anybody can be as upset as Jack. I have never received to sit down down and discuss with him about that in any respect. He can be harm greater than anybody and it is modified the sport for us, which is disappointing.
“I think they have to describe it as violent conduct; it’s not violent really but there’s no other explanation for that really. It’s a moment of madness that’s really cost us and Jack.”
On the full-time boos: “When they see such a big scoreline and a couple of the goals we concede, I understand it [the jeers].
“It is soccer, it is emotive, individuals really feel a lot about it, it is why it is such a particular sport on this nation and so massive. I perceive it however I really feel actually happy with the gamers, a few of the soccer we performed at 11 v 11 was wonderful.
“For an hour with 10 men we’ve dug in so deep, there were some big performances. I’m proud of them for that and I’m grateful for that because that’s not easy in that circumstance.”
