Chelsea vs Southampton Report

Scorers: Nkunku 24’, Neto 36’, Colwill 44’, Cucurella 78’

Chelsea continued their dominance over bottom-of-the-table sides with a commanding 4-0 victory over Southampton at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues comfortably dispatched the struggling Saints, moving back into the Premier League top four—at least temporarily—while Southampton’s woes deepened as they remain rock-bottom, 13 points from safety.

Chelsea Dominate First Half

Southampton entered this match with a rare opportunity to secure back-to-back away league wins for the first time since June 2020. However, any hopes of a positive result were quickly extinguished as Chelsea took complete control from the outset.

Enzo Fernández was instrumental in the early stages, twice setting up Cole Palmer with perfectly weighted passes. Palmer, however, failed to capitalise—first miscuing his shot before striking straight at Aaron Ramsdale, extending his goalless run to seven PL matches.

Fortunately for the hosts, they didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough. From the resulting corner, Tosin Adarabioyo’s header fell into the path of Christopher Nkunku, who turned it in at the back post to give Chelsea a deserved lead.

Southampton’s response was limited, though Paul Onuachu forced a strong save from Filip Jörgensen with a header in what proved to be one of their few meaningful attacks.

Chelsea quickly doubled their advantage when Pedro Neto exploited a darting underlapping run to fire past Ramsdale.

As the Saints struggled to cope with Chelsea’s attacking movement, the hosts added a third before the break, with Neto once again at the heart of it—delivering a precise set-piece that allowed Levi Colwill to head home his first goal of the season.

Missed Chances Before Chelsea Seal the Win

Despite their commanding position, Chelsea were wasteful in the second half. Enzo Fernández continued to dictate play, setting up Nkunku for a header that missed the target.

Palmer, still searching for his scoring touch, sent a bouncing effort high over the bar before Jadon Sancho’s clever turn freed up Neto, who miscontrolled in a promising position.

Eventually, the Blues added a fourth goal 12 minutes from time. A well-worked counter-attack saw substitute Tyrique George square the ball for Marc Cucurella, who made no mistake in firing home.

Chelsea’s Youth Shines in Closing Stages

Enzo Maresca handed a late debut to 17-year-old Shim Mheuka, capping off a comfortable evening for Chelsea. The victory propels them back into the PL’s top four, showcasing a dominant display that will boost their confidence moving forward.

What This Means

• Chelsea: The Blues return to the Champions League spots, at least temporarily, with a strong statement win. With improved performances from Nkunku and Neto, Chelsea’s attack looks to be regaining momentum.
• Southampton: The Saints’ defensive frailties were once again on display, having now conceded nine goals to Chelsea across two meetings this season. They remain stuck on nine points, 13 away from safety, with relegation looking increasingly inevitable.

Final Thoughts

Chelsea’s attacking dominance and defensive solidity made this a one-sided affair, while Southampton’s lack of resistance only further emphasised their dire situation.

The Blues will look to build on this win, while Southampton must find a way to stop their freefall before it’s too late.

For more info on this game’s outcome, you may also visit:
Chelsea v Southampton, 2024/25 | Premier League