Chelsea continued their run of form with a clinical 5-1 flushing over 10-man Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday. This is the Blues’ third successive league win and moved them up to second in the table, closing the gap on leaders Liverpool. Under new Manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea has transformed into a winning team again.
The Blues have now won three successive league games, scoring 11 goals. Their dominant win over Southampton was a statement of intent that they’re serious about the League title.
Lineups
Chelsea: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix.
Southampton: Joe Lumley, Kyle Walker-Peters, Jack Stephens, Duje Caleta-Car, Romain Perraud, James Ward-Prowse, Romeo Lavia, Joe Aribo, Moussa Djenepo, Che Adams.
How the Match Unfolded
Chelsea took the lead in the seventh minute through Axel Disasi’s header from a corner. The Blues’ set-piece has helped them in their successes this season, and Disasi’s goal showed they’re able to capitalize on dead-ball situations.
However, Southampton equalized four minutes later through Joe Aribo’s strike. The Saints’ goal was a well-worked move, with Kyle Walker-Peters laying the ball back from the byline and Aribo knocking it home.
The Blues regained the lead in the 23rd minute through Christopher Nkunku’s goal, following a poor pass from Southampton goalkeeper Joe Lumley. Nkunku’s goal was a well-taken strike, as he slotted the ball into the empty net.
Noni Madueke extended Chelsea’s lead in the 34th minute with a fine strike. Madueke, a vital part of the Chelsea’s attack, continued to impress with his pace and quickness.
Southampton’s struggles were compounded when Jack Stephens was sent off in the 39th minute for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair. The red card was a turning point in the game, as Chelsea took advantage of the numerical advantage to score two more goals.
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— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 5, 2024
In the second half, Chelsea continued to dominate, creating several chances. They finally found a fourth goal in the 76th minute through Cole Palmer’s tap-in, following Christopher Nkunku’s effort. Jadon Sancho sealed the win with a strike in the 87th minute.
Post-Match Analysis
As we said, Chelsea has been improving under Enzo Maresca winning all three successive league games with 11 goals. Southampton, on the other hand, are struggling at the bottom of the table. The Saints sloppy defence have conceded 11 goals in their last three games.
Chelsea’s win puts the Blues within striking distance of the EPL Cup, which Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City contest.
What the Coaches Said
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised his team’s performance, saying, “The results, for sure, help us a lot to calm down the noise around the club. It’s a good feeling to see the fans happy.“
Southampton manager Russell Martin rued his team’s mistakes, saying, “I understand that people want their team to win, and when they see such a big scoreline and a couple of goals we concede, I understand it.”
Player of the Match
Noni Madueke was instrumental in Chelsea’s win. He scored a fine goal and caused many problems for Southampton’s defense throughout the game. He was voted the POTM.
What Next
Chelsea will look to continue winning when they face Newcastle United on Saturday. Southampton, meanwhile, is heading for relegation unless it begins to reverse its trend this Sunday with Aston Villa.
EPL Top Six Table
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