:focal(929x374:931x372)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/12/04/4068981-82517268-2560-1440.jpg?ssl=1 "Stephens despatched off for hair pull as Chelsea thump 10-man Saints to shut hole to Liverpool")
Noni Madueke starred and Cole Palmer was but once more heading in the right direction as Chelsea minimize the hole to leaders Liverpool with an emphatic 5-1 victory at 10-man Southampton.
The Blues eased in entrance on seven minutes when Axel Disasi was allowed to nod dwelling Enzo Fernandez’s left-wing nook from shut vary.
Southampton levelled 4 minutes later when Joe Aribo polished off advantageous work from Kyle Walker-Peters, however a howler from goalkeeper Joe Lumley allowed Madueke to tee up Christopher Nkunku to roll into an empty internet and restore the guests’ lead on 17 minutes.
The spectacular Madueke then bought in on the purpose act when he minimize in from the proper and curled a scrumptious strike into the far nook previous the half hour.
Southampton’s night soured additional simply previous to the break when Jack Stephens was proven a straight crimson card after the referee was suggested to seek the advice of the pitch-side monitor for his pull of Marc Cucurella’s hair.
Chelsea utterly dominated the second half and ultimately scored once more when Palmer inevitably bought his purpose, tapping into an empty internet after Nkunku’s shot dribbled previous Lumley.
Substitute Jadon Sancho added a fifth three minutes from time to finish a complete victory for Enzo Maresca’s males.
Subsequent up, Southampton go to Aston Villa on Saturday, whereas Chelsea journey to Tottenham on Sunday.
Speaking Level – 5-star Blues actually are within the title race
Chelsea’s energy in depth has enabled Maresca to successfully subject two totally different sides within the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League this season, and he allowed a lot of his European stars to shine right here.
Certainly, The Blues had been a minimize above an error-prone Southampton and will have racked up a fair better margin of victory had they proven extra of a killer intuition within the second half of a really one-sided affair.
Certainly, the Londoners’ solely three defeats of their final 29 top-flight matches have been away to Arsenal and Liverpool and at dwelling to Manchester Metropolis. It is heavyweight, constant kind, and has inevitably propelled them into reckoning on the high of the standings.
Maresca might attempt to play down his aspect’s probabilities of pushing for the title this season, however they’re very a lot within the combine and, on this form of proof, may properly excel past his expectations even additional this season.
Participant of the Match – Noni Madueke (Chelsea)
An actual menace on the proper, combining arduous work with electrical tempo and ability. Arrange Chelsea’s second of the night time after which added a killer third to cap a superb night time’s work.
Participant Scores
SOUTHAMPTON: Lumley 5, Walker-Peters 7, Bree 6, Stephens 3, Manning 7, Wooden-Gordon 6, Aribo 7, Fernandes 6, Fraser 6, Archer 6, Armstrong 6. Subs: Sulemana 6, Brereton Diaz 6, Sugawara 6, Taylor n/a, Edwards n/a.
CHELSEA: Jorgensen 8, Gusto 8, Disasi 8, Tosin 8, Cucurella 8, Fernandez 9, Caicedo 8, Madueke 9*, Palmer 8, Felix 8, Nkunku 8. Subs: Sancho 7, Veiga n/a, Dewsbury-Corridor n/a.
Match Highlights
07’ – GOAL! – Southampton 0-1 Chelsea: (Disasi). The guests seize the lead as Disasi simply heads dwelling Fernandez’s left-wing nook on the close to publish.
11’ – GOAL! – Southampton 1-1 Chelsea: (Aribo). The hosts are again in enterprise! It is a advantageous response as Aribo fires dwelling a first-time shot from close-range after sensible work by Walker-Peters down the left.
17’ – GOAL! – Southampton 1-2 Chelsea: (Nkunku). It is extra surprising play from Lumley. The goalkeeper performs a horrible cross to Walker-Peters, permitting Madueke to nick the ball and feed Nkunku to roll into an empty internet.
34’ – GOAL! – Southampton 1-3 Chelsea: (Madueke). The Blues have respiratory area. Felix feeds Madueke on the far proper of the world and he cuts inside earlier than curving a low strike into the far nook.
39’ – SOUTHAMPTON RED CARD! VAR intervenes to tell the referee that Stephens pulled Cucurella’s hair contained in the Chelsea penalty space. The official takes a take a look at the monitor and returns to the pitch to cut back The Saints to 10 males. Sheer insanity from the Southampton man.
77’ – GOAL! – Southampton 1-4 Chelsea: (Palmer). Cole Palmer will get his purpose, slamming into an empty internet after Nkunku’s shot had bobbled previous Lumley however wasn’t sure to cross the road.
87’ – GOAL! – Southampton 1-5 Chelsea: (Sancho). It is five-star Chelsea – and so they deserve it. Sancho is left free to the proper to step inside the world and rifle past Lumley at his close to publish.