Chelsea moved again into the highest 4 regardless of a run of outcomes so troubling that their followers have been protesting earlier than this sport. It’s unlikely that their considerations will probably be quashed totally regardless of this comfy win over Southampton. If Spurs will be known as Dr Tottenham for his or her means to offer a treatment for ailing groups, then Ivan Juric’s facet are certainly Mr Southampton, pretty much as good on the job as essentially the most expert surgeons or consultants who drop the designation of lowly GPs.
It was an encouraging efficiency for Chelsea in some ways, the number of goalscorers, the shortage of any of their acquainted losses of focus or goalkeeping ricks. But in gentle of the meagre opponents it was laborious to not dwell on a few negatives. One other nameless efficiency from Jadon Sancho in a sport he ought to have prospered in, and the persevering with struggles of Cole Palmer. The England ahead is laudably eager to remain concerned in every part Chelsea do in assault however it’s now six weeks since his final objective and he has not registered an help since December 1.
Full report back to observe…
10:40 PM GMTEnzo Maresca’s response
All of us wanted that. We have been in a nasty run, a nasty second, which was irritating as a result of the efficiency was there in nearly each sport.
[On Christopher Nkunku] I’m pleased with him, however we all know that he may give extra. We’ve got to attempt to perceive him: he’s not a No9, he’s not a winger however he has performed many video games there. He’s an attacking midfielder. The issue is that we have already got Cole there.
We want extra risk in behind in order that’s why we’ve tried Pedro because the No9.
The method is there. It’s regular to undergo dangerous moments – the followers should belief the gamers, they’re unbelievable and they’re absolutely engaged.
[On the race for the Champions League] Will probably be up and down for the remainder of the season. We must be prepared.
[On Cole Palmer] Each participant goes via dangerous moments. It’s regular. He’s a human being, he’s lacking possibilities. You can not anticipate him to play on a regular basis like he did within the first half of the season. He’s comfortable, he’s okay. It’s the way you react. Hold calm, preserve working, be comfortable and luxuriate in your soccer.
10:30 PM GMTPedro Neto talks to TNT Sports activities
It was actually essential after solely two wins [in 10 games]. It’s all a part of the method, studying methods to take care of these conditions, so it was essential for us to maintain going.
[How much are you enjoying your new role?] To be sincere, quite a bit – I don’t should run again as a lot! I need to assist the staff, that’s crucial factor.
At Wolves we normally confronted a excessive block. After I got here right here groups have been in a low block so I’ve been creating my play in small areas.
I just like the problem of enjoying towards huge centre-halves. It’s one thing I get pleasure from and I need to enhance it.
This membership belongs within the Champions League.
10:25 PM GMTClean sheet
10:16 PM GMTLevi Colwill’s response
We would have liked a response and hopefully we are able to choose up our kind now.
Me and [Christopher Nkunku] are shut and I’m so comfortable for him. I understand how determined he’s to do effectively.
[On his goal] I’m so comfortable to attain. I’ve some good buddies who’re Southampton followers so I’ll give them a little bit of stick.
[On Tyrique George] He’s sharp. Very, very sharp. He did rather well as we speak and I’m happy with him for that help.
10:08 PM GMTFT: Chelsea 4 Southampton 0
It’s too early to say whether or not this can be a return to kind for Chelsea – nevertheless it’s positively a return to the highest 4, at the very least for the subsequent 24 hours, and that was crucial factor tonight.
Stamford Bridge was a nervous place for the primary quarter of the sport; then Christopher Nkunku scored the opening objective and the match became a stroll for Chelsea.
Pedro Neto thrashed within the second, Levi Colwill headed the third shortly earlier than half-time and the wonderful Marc Cucurella rounded off the second.
The one draw back for Chelsea was some unusually imprecise ending from Cole Palmer, who appeared determined to finish his mini-drought in entrance of objective. Along with his means, it shouldn’t take lengthy.
10:06 PM GMT90+2 min: Chelsea 4 Southampton 0
4 minutes of added time. Palmer is fouled 25 yards from objective and takes the free-kick himself. Ramsdale dives to his proper to push it away, a comparatively comfy save.
10:05 PM GMT90 min: Chelsea 4 Southampton 0
Mheuka’s first contact within the Premier League is a powerful far-post header from Palmer’s nook that’s comfortably saved by Ramsdale. That may have been some second.
10:04 PM GMT89 min: Chelsea 4 Southampton 0
A stinging shot from Fernandez is pushed away effectively by Rsmsdale, diving to his left.
Chelsea deliver on the 17-year-old Shim Mheuka instead of Enzo Fernandez.
Enzo Fernandez vs. Southampton:
88% cross accuracy7 possibilities created3 huge possibilities created4/5 lengthy balls completed5/5 duels won2 tackles gained
What a efficiency 👏
10:02 PM GMT88 min: Chelsea 4 Southampton 0
Chelsea are comfortable to play keepball, an comprehensible indulgence after such a tough run of kind.
09:59 PM GMTWatch: Cucurella makes it 4-009:58 PM GMT84 min: Chelsea 4 Southampton 0
Southampton substitution Cameron Archer comes on for Mateus Fernandes.
09:58 PM GMT83 min: Chelsea 4 Southampton 0
Double substitution for Chelsea Josh Acheampong and the debutant Mathis Amougou substitute Christopher Nkunku and Moises Caicedo.
09:57 PM GMT82 min: Chelsea 4 Southampton 0
Palmer, at a good angle, lashes a shot into the facet netting.
09:55 PM GMT79 min: Chelsea 4 Southampton 0
Manning has a shot effectively blocked, I feel by Colwill, after excellent play from Sulemana on the left. When Sulemana is nice, he’s very, excellent…
09:53 PM GMTGoal!
78 min: Chelsea 4 Southampton 0 (Cucurella) Marc Cucurella scores after positive work from the substitute Tyrique George. After a fast break following a Southampton nook, George bought to the byline on the appropriate and arrowed a cutback to Cucurella close to the penalty spot. He took a contact and whacked a shot again throughout Ramsdale along with his left foot.
09:48 PM GMT73 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Nkunku and Caicedo have photographs blocked within the area of 5 seconds. Whereas the sport is tapering off, the introduction of George has given Chelsea a bit extra attacking impetus.
09:46 PM GMT71 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Chelsea at the moment are enjoying with Cole Palmer as a false No9. We deal with his means with the ball, understandably sufficient, however he’s making some wonderful off-the-ball runs.
09:44 PM GMT69 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
George nearly scores right away, blasting huge of the close to publish from Fernandez’s angled cross.
09:42 PM GMT68 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Double substitution for Chelsea Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor and Tyrique George, one of many few vibrant spots within the current league defeat at Brighton, substitute Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto, who once more impressed in his new position at centre ahead.
09:42 PM GMT67 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
The ensuing free-kick, taken by Manning, is headed over the stretching Bella-Kotchap.
09:41 PM GMT66 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Caicedo is booked for a unnecessary late deal with on Fernandes.
09:38 PM GMT64 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Sancho performs a wonderful via ball to Neto, who will get his ft in a tangle and wastes an excellent likelihood to attain his second.
09:37 PM GMT62 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Southampton preserve the ball for the very best a part of a minute. Aribo strides ahead, performs a neat one two with Sulemana however then overhits his cross.
09:33 PM GMT59 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Double substitution for Southampton Ryan Manning and Tyler Dibling substitute Paul Onuachu and the injured Kyle Walker-Peters.
09:31 PM GMT57 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
One other likelihood for Palmer, who leans again and thumps Nkunku’s cross over the bar from 15 yards. It’s fascinating to see such a superb, assured participant undergo a spell like this. It gained’t final lengthy.
09:30 PM GMT56 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Bournemouth have misplaced 2-1 at Brighton, which implies this end result will transfer Chelsea again as much as fourth for at the very least 24 hours. Manchester Metropolis and Newcastle play tomorrow evening away to Spurs and Liverpool respectively.
09:30 PM GMT55 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Palmer, on the sting of the realm, makes simply sufficient area for a shot that takes a slight deflection and is comfortably saved by Ramsdale. Palmer is often so relaxed however tonight he seems impatient to attain.
09:28 PM GMT53 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Chelsea’s gamers are having fun with the chance to get on the ball and play with out strain. After a protracted spell of possession, Nkunku blasts over from distance.
09:25 PM GMT51 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Nkunku’s header is turned over by Ramsdale, a cushty save. It’s a matter of what number of Chelsea rating.
09:23 PM GMT49 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Sulemana zips previous Gusto, who recovers to make an excellently judged problem. It was within the space so he needed to get that proper.
09:20 PM GMT46 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Southampton have made a half-time substitution in defence: Taylor Harwood-Bellis for James Bree.
09:06 PM GMTHT: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Chelsea are having fun with a pleasant, restorative night. They began nervously however Christopher Nkunku’s opening objective modified the temper they usually’ve been in complete management since then. Pedro Neto and Levi Colwill additionally scored, whereas Cole Palmer missed two or three possibilities he would normally take. Getting him on the scoresheet is Chelsea’s mission within the second half.
09:03 PM GMT45+2 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0
Onuachu is booked for a lunge at Fernandez.
09:01 PM GMTGoal!
44 min: Chelsea 3 Southampton 0 (Colwill) Recreation over. Neto’s harmful free-kick is headed emphatically into the online by Colwill on the far publish. He timed his run completely to get between Onuachy and Aribo and thump a header previous Ramsdale.
08:59 PM GMT40 min: Chelsea 2 Southampton 0
Chelsea not particularly good worth for his or her lead, Palmer’s three spurned possibilities left extra of an impression than both of their objectives, however Southampton so pathetically weak via the center of their defence that this rating may very well be no matter Chelsea fancy. There’s nonetheless the lingering worry that their innate flakiness will rear its head, and though he has additionally missed a few first rate alternatives Onuachu is an agent of chaos and carries a dim risk up entrance for Saints.
08:55 PM GMTGoal!
36 min: Chelsea 2 Southampton 0 (Neto) It’s a well-known story for Southampton, who began effectively however at the moment are going through one other heavy defeat. A poor cross from Downes was reduce out by Cucurella, who discovered Nkunku 25 yards from objective. He waited for Neto’s run and performed a pleasant reverse cross that Neto rapped previous Ramsdale on the close to publish. That’s a terrific end from a participant who seems a pure at centre-forward.
08:51 PM GMT34 min: Chelsea 1 Southampton 0
Probability for Chelsea! Sancho strikes inside from the appropriate and stabs a neat cross to Palmer within the space. He controls it superbly on the transfer however sidefoots simply huge of the far publish. It nearly became an amazing cross for Fernandez, who couldn’t fairly attain the ball on the stretch.
08:49 PM GMT32 min: Chelsea 1 Southampton 0
High-quality save by Jorgensen! Sulemana beats Gusto simply on the left and stands up an inviting cross in the direction of Onuachu on the far publish. His highly effective header is clawed away dramatically by Jorgensen, leaping to his left. That’s a wonderful save.
08:47 PM GMT30 min: Chelsea 1 Southampton 0
Bella-Kotchap blocks an off-the-ball run from Neto, who goes down holding his jaw. A risible dive that doesn’t curiosity Stockley Park’s best.
08:46 PM GMT29 min: Chelsea 1 Southampton 0
That objective has calmed the nerves among the many crowd, which have been rising with each Southampton assault.
08:45 PM GMTWatch: Nkunku places Chelsea in front08:41 PM GMTGoal!
24 min: Chelsea 1 Southampton 0 (Nkunku) It was a short lived reprieve for Southampton. Fernandez’s outswinging nook was headed throughout objective by Tosin and headed in on the far publish, who did effectively to struggle his approach in entrance of Smallbone.
He celebrates by blowing a balloon, as he did when he scored the winner at Bournemouth earlier within the season.
08:40 PM GMT23 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
High-quality save by Ramsdale! Southampton lose the ball in a harmful space. Fernandez performs one other wonderful cross via to Palmer, whose shot is beautifully saved by the outrushing Ramsdale.
Palmer may have given Nkunku an open objective however determined to shoot himself. If you do this, you’d higher rating.
08:39 PM GMT22 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
Palmer, within the D, shoots effectively huge after a stunning flip and cross from Fernandez. It wasn’t an amazing end by his requirements however Palmer’s motion has been sharp up to now.
08:37 PM GMT20 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
Palmer strikes dangerously previous a Southampton defender within the space, just for Bella-Kotchap to make a wonderfully timed problem.
08:35 PM GMT19 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
The ambiance is beginning to flip, notably when Jorgensen has time on the ball. He and the defenders are clearly following Enzo Maresca’s instruction however a few of the house followers aren’t having it.
08:33 PM GMT17 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
Onuachu’s long-range shot is well saved by Jorgensen, however there are groans moments later when Jorgensen performs a brief cross to Fernandez. That’s not going to assist his confidence.
08:30 PM GMT14 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
Onuachu runs onto a superb cross from Smallbone and wallops huge of the close to publish from a good angle. Southampton look far too good to have solely 9 factors.
08:28 PM GMT12 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
Downes makes a terrific deal with on Cucurella within the space after positive play from first Palmer after which Enzo Fernandez. Chelsea are beginning to look harmful.
08:26 PM GMT10 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
Sancho runs at Walker-Peters and flashes a depraved ball proper throughout the face of objective. “The place’s the No9?” pleads Rio Ferdinand on TNT Sports activities.
08:25 PM GMT9 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
Southampton have began the sport fairly effectively. For a staff with solely 9 factors they give the impression of being surprisingly assured, as they did of their unlucky defeat at Outdated Trafford final month.
08:23 PM GMT6 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
Bree’s harmful cross is taken off the top of Onuachu by Tosin, an essential intervention on the far publish.
08:22 PM GMT5 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
Sulemana, who performed so effectively at Outdated Trafford final month, has his first run at Tosin on the Southampton left. Tosin leans on him and Sulemana goes over proper on the sting of the realm; not sufficient for a foul.
08:21 PM GMT4 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
A sluggish begin, nothing to report. Southampton haven’t come to park the bus although; they’re making an attempt to press Chelsea excessive up the sector the place potential.
08:18 PM GMT1 min: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0
They’re underway at Stamford Bridge. Pedro Neto, so spectacular at centre-forward towards Aston Villa, has began up entrance once more. Christopher Nkunku is on the left with Jadon Sancho on the appropriate.
08:08 PM GMTA reminder of the groups
Chelsea (potential 4-2-3-1) Jorgensen; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku.
Subs: Sanchez, Dewsbury-Corridor, James, Wesley Fofana, George, Acheampong, Amougou, Samuels-Smith, Mheuka.
Southampton (potential 3-4-2-1) Ramsdale; Bree, Bella-Kotchap, Aribo,;Sugawara, Smallbone, Downes, Walker-Peters; Fernandes, Sulemana; Onuachu.
Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Stephens, Harwood-Bellis, Wooden-Gordon, Archer, Gronbaek, Dibling, Welington.
Referee Thomas Bramall (Sheffield)
08:03 PM GMTSprint star Tebogo joins stars at Stamford Bridge
The standard dizzying array of stars milling round Stamford Bridge this night. Peter Crouch out on the pitch with Joe Cole for TNT, Rio Ferdinand milling round too, Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo, who gained gold within the males’s 200m on the Paris Olympics, is by the dugouts posing with a personalised Chelsea shirt, noticed Mark Schwarzer grant a selfie request to an undercover Fulham fan within the press room and Martin Keown elbowed me within the queue to get in. It was a really delicate brush towards my arm and he apologised, in equity. I stayed on my ft as a result of nobody desires to see a sport determined by an early pink card.
07:57 PM GMTEnzo Maresca’s pre-match ideas
Jadon [Sancho] has been working effectively so we need to give him some minutes.
I don’t belief [that this is a home banker]. Each sport is harmful. They’re very aggressive, they play man-to-man and it is going to be a tricky sport.
07:52 PM GMTNkunku or Neto up entrance for Chelsea?
A slight sense of panic within the staff alternatives of Ivan Juric currently. The entrance three has been rotated repeatedly and tonight the tombola has spat out Onuachu, Sulemana and Fernandes in some association, a grouping final seen towards Newcastle in a 3-1 defeat 10 days in the past. Within the different three of their final 4 video games, three totally totally different combos have been known as upon. Two of which didn’t handle a objective. Armel Bella-Kotchap begins his first league sport of the season with Jan Bednarek injured.
Chelsea drop Reece James for Jadon Sancho and draft in Tosin for the injured Trevoh Chalobah, who deputised moderately at Villa after Chalobah’s harm on Saturday. All eyes on who begins up prime. Appears like it is going to be Nkunku, given Sancho’s presence, which is a shock given how effectively Neto moonlighted because the centre ahead in Birmingham. No room on the goalkeeping naughty step in Cobham, so Jorgensen retains his place in objective.
07:36 PM GMTEarly objective at Molineux
There are three 7.30pm kick-offs within the Premier League, and Fulham are already 1-0 up away to Wolves.
Get all the most recent information with .
07:12 PM GMTSouthampton staff information
Ivan Juric makes 5 modifications from the 4-0 defeat at house to Brighton.
In Yukinari Sugawara, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Flynn Downes, Will Smallbone and Onuachu
Out Jan Bednarek, Wellington, Tyler Dibling, Lesley Ugochukwu and Cameron Archer
07:05 PM GMTChelsea staff information
Filip Jorgensen retains his place within the Chelsea staff. There are two modifications from the facet that began at Villa Park: Jadon Sancho replaces Reece James, which implies a rejig in midfield and assault, and Tosin Adarabioyo replaces the injured Trevor Chalobah in defence.
07:02 PM GMTChelsea in a nine-horse Champions League race
By Sam Dean
The Premier League is anticipated to obtain 5 Champions League locations subsequent season, and it may very well be argued that greater than half the division may legitimately be concentrating on these spots. In spite of everything, solely seven factors separate fifth-placed Newcastle United from Eleventh-placed Brentford.
Assuming that Liverpool and Arsenal end first and second, there are subsequently three Champions League locations up for grabs for 9 groups – and presumably even 10 groups, if Tottenham Hotspur can produce a late cost.
Right here, Telegraph Sport assesses which sides are greatest positioned to compete for a spot in Europe’s premier competitors.
06:57 PM GMTMaresca unworried by Palmer’s kind
By Ian McCullough
Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea are over-reliant on Cole Palmer however is unconcerned by the England playmaker’s dip in kind.
Maresca’s facet have slipped to seventh following successive defeats to Brighton and Aston Villa and have taken simply 9 factors from their least 10 Premier League video games.
Palmer broke a 23-year-old membership report for essentially the most Premier League objectives in a calendar 12 months when he scored his twenty sixth objective of 2024 towards Fulham on Boxing Day – a strike that marked his 51st objective involvement in his 51st sport for the Blues.
However since discovering the online in that 2-1 defeat by Marco Silva’s facet, the previous Manchester Metropolis participant has scored simply twice and never registered an help in 13 video games or a objective in six.
It’s the first time since his £40m transfer from Metropolis 18 months in the past that Palmer has struggled for kind however Maresca stated it’s unfair to pin all of Chelsea’s current struggles on the 22-year-old’s shoulders.
“I’m not involved about Cole as a result of Cole is a human being and throughout the season he can have some moments the place he struggles a little bit bit extra,” Maresca stated.
“The issue might be that we depend on Cole for every part and I’ve stated since we began the season we have to depend on the staff. For certain we want huge gamers, prime gamers like Cole, however we aren’t fearful about Cole in any respect.”
Palmer missed two gilt-edged possibilities within the current defeats to Villa and Brighton however Maresca has no intention of resting him after he stormed a current take a look at on the membership’s Cobham coaching floor to find out the health of his squad.
“Each six or seven months we do a bodily take a look at,” Maresca stated. “We did it within the pre-season. We did it final week. And he was, out of all of the squad, the strongest one, the one which ‘gained’ the take a look at.
“That reveals his need not solely on the ball. He’s working laborious. He’s doing unbelievable. However as a result of everyone seems to be counting on Cole, individuals see Cole as all the time the answer. However the resolution must be the staff.
“The opposite day (at Villa) he had an amazing likelihood, however in each sport we anticipate from him a objective or an help. On this second in all probability his efficiency additionally displays a little bit bit the staff’s performances that we battle to attain objectives. We must be a little bit bit extra scientific.”
Chelsea will nonetheless be with out Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana and Marc Guiu for the go to of backside membership Southampton tonight and are additionally unable to name on Trevoh Chalobah who was pressured off with a leg harm at Villa Park on Saturday.
The absence of Jackson means one other begin up entrance for Christopher Nkunku, who has not scored since that win over the Saints earlier than Christmas, and Maresca is hopeful the go to of the leakiest defence within the league will assist kick-start his season.
“Christo didn’t play quite a bit the primary six months,” stated Maresca. “Now within the final three official video games he’s began all of the video games and hopefully any further he may help us by way of numbers.”
06:47 PM GMT‘Get out Clearlake!’
At what level does a disgruntled part of the fanbase change into consultant of them as a complete? I’d counsel we’re a way from that threshold at Stamford Bridge this night, the place round 200 Chelsea followers are brandishing banners criticising their house owners forward of the sport towards Southampton.
The temper is unequivocal: Clearlake and co. are being ordered to “get out” of the membership. The messaging and reasoning is a bit more difficult. “Sufficient is sufficient” was printed on one banner, which is the type of rhetoric you would possibly affiliate with a membership who had been relegated twice in a row or positioned into administration, not one struggling to carry onto leads within the Premier League which remains to be in with an inexpensive likelihood of clinching the fifth Champions League spot.
“We wish our Chelsea again” is likely one of the songs being sung, however which Chelsea is that? The patchy Chelsea of the ‘80s and ‘90s that many protesting will bear in mind or, maybe, the ‘00s and ‘10s incarnations which gained every part in sight?
Issues clouded additional by the chants in help of Roman Abramovich which is comprehensible given what he did for the membership however could be seen as a bit tin-eared by the many individuals all over the world who think about his nation a pariah state.
However there have been as many constructive pro-Chelsea songs as offended ones and total the vibe was good-natured. One to look at if one way or the other Chelsea lose tonight towards one of many worst Premier League groups in dwelling reminiscence.
06:44 PM GMTRoman(cing) Abramovich
Right here’s some chanting of the membership’s much-missed-it-seems former proprietor.
06:38 PM GMTOur man on the scene
Right here’s our man Thom Gibbs from Stamford Bridge.
Possibly 200 on the anti-ownership protest exterior Stamford Bridge, a number of dozen extra filming, and suspect I’m a part of the issue. Lots of professional Chelsea and Roman Abramovich songs, additionally a number of calling Todd Boehly a impolite phrase.
06:35 PM GMTProtests on the Bridge
Welcome to this night’s dwell weblog protecting Chelsea v Southampton, the place it’s truthful to say issues are getting a bit vigorous.
Followers are protesting towards the route the membership is taking beneath their house owners.
