Chelsea delivered a dominant 5-1 victory over Southampton, moving up to second place in the Premier League, just behind Liverpool. The match was a frustrating one for Southampton, who remain at the foot of the table after suffering yet another heavy defeat. Chelsea took an early lead through Axel Disasi’s header, but Southampton quickly equalized with a well-taken goal from Joe Aribo. Despite the equalizer, Southampton struggled to contain Chelsea’s attacking force, and the Blues regained the lead through goals from Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke. Further goals from Cole Palmer and substitute Jadon Sancho sealed a resounding win for Chelsea.
Southampton’s night went from bad to worse when Jack Stephens was shown a red card for violent conduct following a VAR review in the first half after he pulled Marc Cucurella’s hair. The red card left the hosts down to 10 men for the remainder of the match, which they could not recover from. The result saw Chelsea extend their good form, moving up to second place in the standings, while Southampton remained bottom of the league, still struggling to find their form.
The match saw a strong performance from Chelsea, despite manager Enzo Maresca making seven changes from the team that won against Aston Villa. Madueke, in particular, was a constant threat to Southampton’s defense, scoring once and creating several other opportunities. Joao Felix also contributed to the attacking play, and the defense was rarely troubled. Southampton, however, continued to display defensive frailties, with goalkeeper Joe Lumley making a mistake leading to Chelsea’s second goal. Chelsea also exploited Southampton’s errors in possession, with the hosts making nine mistakes that led to goals this season, the most in the league.
Despite a promising opening where Aribo missed a great chance and then scored, Southampton’s defensive mistakes and lack of discipline made it difficult to compete with Chelsea. Southampton’s manager, Russell Martin, acknowledged the poor goals conceded but highlighted the team’s positive moments. On the other hand, Maresca was pleased with his team’s performance, stating that the win showed Chelsea’s strength and unity, with their attacking power on full display.
