Chelsea delivered a statement win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, crushing Southampton 4-0 to snap their recent slump and strengthen their grip on a top-four finish.
The Blues initially looked shaky, but once Christopher Nkunku’s early goal settled the nerves, it was one-way traffic.
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Pedro Neto and Levi Colwill struck before halftime, while Marc Cucurella wrapped things up with a fourth in the second half.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Cole Palmer’s struggles in front of goal continued as he wasted several clear-cut chances.
Still, it was a dominant performance from Enzo Maresca’s side, and exactly what they needed to reignite their momentum.
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Goalkeeper & Defence
Filip Jorgensen (5/10): Shaky start, hesitant with the ball at his feet, and looked uncertain under pressure. Grew into the game as Chelsea took control.
Malo Gusto (6/10): A constant threat down the right but not as assured defensively. Benefitted from Southampton’s struggles after the break.
Tosin Adarabioyo (6/10): Not overly tested but didn’t inspire confidence early on. Solid enough once Chelsea asserted dominance.
Levi Colwill (7/10): Found it tough at first but settled in well. Scored a crucial third goal with a strong header just before halftime.
Marc Cucurella (8/10): Thrived in his advanced left-back role, getting into great positions. Rewarded with a well-taken goal and oozing confidence right now.
Midfield
Enzo Fernandez (7/10): Played a brilliant pass to put Palmer through on goal and generally dictated play with composure and quality.
Moises Caicedo (6/10): Kept things ticking in midfield without doing anything spectacular. Picked up a needless yellow card in the second half.
Cole Palmer (5/10): Just can’t seem to buy a goal at the moment. Involved in the build-up but fluffed three big chances he would’ve buried earlier in the season.
Attack
Jadon Sancho (7/10): A few silky touches to open up space and help Chelsea settle. Looked comfortable operating from the right flank.
Pedro Neto (8/10): A real livewire up front. Used his pace smartly, dropped deep to link play, and finished his goal superbly. Proving to be a solid stand-in for the injured Nicolas Jackson.
Christopher Nkunku (8/10): Right place, right time to head home the opener and get Chelsea rolling. Growing in confidence now that he’s getting a consistent run of games.
Chelsea needed a big response, and they delivered in style. With Southampton brushed aside, the Blues now have their sights set firmly on cementing their place in the top four.
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