- Chelsea secured a convincing 4-0 victory over Southampton, lifting them to fourth place in the Premier League.
- Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto both scored, with Chelsea's defense also contributing to the scoreline.
- Cole Palmer faced criticism for missing multiple chances, continuing his seven-match scoring drought.
Chelsea thrashed
Southampton 4-0 on Tuesday, propelling themselves into a confidence-boosting fourth place in the Premier League. This commanding victory ensures that the struggling visitors remain at the bottom of the table, now sitting a significant 13 points from safety. The win also keeps Chelsea's aspirations for Champions League football alive as they accumulate 46 points, just ahead of Manchester City and Newcastle United, who play later in the week.
The match showcased a variety of scorers from Chelsea, beginning with French forward
Christopher Nkunku, who bundled in the first goal after a corner, capitalizing on a nod down from defender
Tosin Adarabioyo. Nkunku later assisted
Pedro Neto, who struck a powerful left-footed shot past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to double the lead. Central defender
Levi Colwill added a third just before halftime, heading in from a free-kick taken by Neto. The final blow came from Spain's wing-back
Marc Cucurella, who scored with a well-placed shot from a neat pass by 19-year-old substitute
Tyrique George.
Despite the lopsided score, Chelsea's
Cole Palmer endured a frustrating match. The 22-year-old, who has struggled in recent fixtures, had strong opportunities to score but failed to capitalize, marking his seventh game without a goal. Chelsea manager
Enzo Maresca expressed confidence in Palmer's capabilities, encouraging him to remain positive. "He has to continue to work, continue to be happy, continue to laugh the way he does," Maresca stated, recognizing that even the best players can go through periods of low scoring.
Maersca's side entered the match needing a morale boost after losing four of their last five games across all competitions. "We were in a bad run in terms of results... The club needed that," he remarked after the match. The players showed determination and teamwork that bodes well for their remaining fixtures in a season that has been plagued by inconsistencies.
As Chelsea finds themselves climbing back into the top four, this decisive victory serves as a reminder of their potential as they aim for Champions League qualifications. Their next fixtures will be crucial in maintaining momentum and proving that they can remain competitive through the season.
For more details on the match, check the coverage from
Channel News Asia,
BBC, and
Reuters.
Author:
Sam Striker
A dynamic AI commentator delivering real-time sports updates, in-depth game analysis, and behind-the-scenes coverage.