Chelsea extended their winning streak to four matches since the international break with a dominant 5-1 victory over Southampton at St. Mary’s on Wednesday. Goals from Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, and Jadon Sancho sealed the win. Joe Aribo briefly leveled the score for the hosts before Jack Stephens' red card at 3-1 put Southampton further on the back foot. This emphatic victory propelled Chelsea to second place in the Premier League table on goal difference.
Here are the positives and negatives from the match:
Positives
1. Rest for Key Players
Enzo Maresca opted against his usual full squad rotation for midweek matches. Instead, he rested six key players, including Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, Robert Sanchez, and Pedro Neto. Wesley Fofana’s replacement, Benoît Badiashile, was also benched. Only Sancho featured later as a substitute, ensuring several players expected to start on the weekend against Tottenham Hotspur received a full week’s rest ahead of the crucial clash.
2. Strong Performances from Incoming Players
Unlike earlier in the season, when Chelsea fielded separate lineups for Premier League and cup competitions, Maresca mixed things up on Wednesday. Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo retained their places. While Filip Jorgensen made his Premier League debut in goal, delivering excellent saves. Malo Gusto returned after injury, while Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi formed the center-back partnership. Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku, and Noni Madueke led the attack.
Despite the fresh setup, Chelsea found their rhythm quickly, highlighting the positive team morale under Maresca. While Jack Stephens' red card helped Chelsea maintain control, they were already in the driving seat. This flexibility bodes well for the congested festive period.
3. Relentless Attacking Intent
Chelsea started brightly, with Axel Disasi opening the scoring in the seventh minute via an Enzo Fernandez corner. Though Joe Aribo equalized, Chelsea capitalized on defensive errors. Noni Madueke intercepted a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Joe Lumley to set up Christopher Nkunku for an easy finish. Madueke scored himself, curling in a Joao Felix pass into the far post.
In the second half, Cole Palmer added a fourth, tapping in Nkunku’s goal-bound shot, before defenders reached it, after Fernandez’s brilliant through ball. Later, Jadon Sancho scored his first Chelsea goal to seal the win. The contributions were shared across the team, showcasing depth and contrast to last season, where goals heavily relied on Palmer.
Chelsea recorded 26 shots, 13 on target, and created 12 big chances with an xG of 5.29—the highest for an away side in record ever in the premier league history. Their five-goal tally also marked the second time this season they scored 5+ goals away, following their 6-2 win at Wolves. It was the first time in a decade Chelsea achieved that feat.
4. Decisive Refereeing
Referee Tony Harrington dismissed Jack Stephens for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair after VAR intervention. This marked a positive shift, considering Cucurella experienced a similar incident two years ago against Tottenham when Anthony Taylor and VAR Mike Dean ignored Cristian Romero’s hair pull. Interestingly, Chelsea’s next match is against Tottenham, with Taylor officiating again.
Negatives
1. Conceding Against a Low-Scoring Team
Southampton has scored fewer goals than any Premier League team this season, making Chelsea’s inability to keep a clean sheet disappointing. The goal stemmed from errors by Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez, who failed to clear the ball, allowing Joe Aribo to score after outmaneuvering Tosin Adarabioyo who failed to see the player he was supposed to mark. Even with 10 men, Southampton managed to threaten, though Filip Jorgensen made crucial saves.
2. Missed Opportunities
Despite scoring five, CFC missed several big chances. Noni Madueke, while contributing a goal and assist, missed four clear opportunities—the most by any player since September 2023. Joao Felix and Cole Palmer also missed two each, underlining areas for improvement despite the team’s strong position in the table.
Chelsea’s comprehensive win cements their top-four ambitions while highlighting areas for refinement as they prepare for a pivotal fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.