Chelsea End Losing Streak with Dominant Win Over Southampton

Chelsea returned to winning ways and climbed back into the Premier League’s top four with a resounding 4-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Southampton at Stamford Bridge. The win ended a three-match losing run for the Blues and provided a much-needed boost for manager Enzo Maresca.

Christopher Nkunku was the standout performer, opening the scoring in the 24th minute with a header from Tosin Adarabioyo’s flick-on following a corner. Nkunku then turned provider, setting up Pedro Neto for Chelsea’s second goal 12 minutes later. Neto finished clinically with a low shot past Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Levi Colwill added a third just before halftime, heading home a Neto free-kick. Substitute Tyrique George assisted fellow substitute Marc Cucurella for Chelsea’s fourth. George found Cucurella through a counter attack.

The victory lifts Chelsea to fourth in the table, two points ahead of Manchester City and Newcastle, who both play on Wednesday.

Nkunku Stars, Palmer Struggles Continue

The match was preceded by protests from around 100 Chelsea fans against the club’s ownership. However, the team’s performance on the pitch provided a welcome distraction. Chelsea were dominant throughout, creating numerous chances against a struggling Southampton side.

While Nkunku impressed, Cole Palmer’s goal drought continued. The Chelsea top scorer, now without a goal in seven matches, missed several clear opportunities, including two one-on-ones with Ramsdale in the first half.

Despite Palmer’s struggles, Chelsea’s overall attacking display was encouraging. Manager Enzo Maresca also opted to start goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, despite his error in the previous match against Aston Villa. Jorgensen justified his selection with a solid performance, including a fine save to deny Paul Onuachu in the first half. Late in the game, Chelsea handed Premier League debuts to teenagers Mathis Amougou and Shumaira Mheuka.

Southampton’s Woes Deepen

Southampton’s dismal season continued with another heavy defeat. The Saints have now accumulated just nine points, the lowest total at this stage of a Premier League season in history. They remain statistically capable of surpassing Derby County’s record-low points total of 11 (set in 2007-08), but their performance offered little hope of a turnaround.

Southampton created few chances, with Onuachu’s header their only significant opportunity. The team has now lost nine of their 10 Premier League matches since Croatian manager Ivan Juric replaced Russell Martin, with their only victory coming against fellow strugglers Ipswich Town. Some Southampton supporters booed their team at half-time.