
Chelsea produced a scintillating performance to storm to a 5-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s, setting a new Premier League record for the highest xG (expected goals) by an away team ever recorded, with a remarkable 5.29, according to Opta. This emphatic win not only consolidated Chelsea’s second place in the Premier League standings but also hinted at a potential title challenge as the Blues closed the gap to league leaders Liverpool to seven points.
The atmosphere at St Mary’s was electric, with a pre-match light show setting the stage for an eventful clash. Enzo Maresca’s men, fielding a much-rotated side, wasted no time asserting dominance. Axel Disasi opened the scoring in the seventh minute, heading home Enzo Fernández’s corner. However, Southampton quickly equalized through Joe Aribo after Kyle Walker-Peters outpaced Fernández and delivered a perfect assist.
The setback was brief as Chelsea capitalized on defensive errors that have been Southampton’s Achilles’ heel this season. Joe Lumley’s poor clearance allowed Noni Madueke to set up Christopher Nkunku for a tap-in. Chelsea continued to pile on the pressure, with Cole Palmer hitting the post and Tosin Adarabioyo rattling the crossbar. Madueke eventually added a third, curling a beautiful effort into the far corner. Southampton’s misery deepened just before halftime when captain Jack Stephens was sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair, reducing the hosts to 10 men.
The second half saw Chelsea relentlessly push for more goals. João Félix missed a golden opportunity, while Tosin and Madueke came close again. Southampton had a fleeting moment of hope when Filip Jörgensen denied Mateus Fernandes, but Chelsea’s quality soon overwhelmed the hosts. Nkunku, showcasing his selflessness, bypassed a scoring opportunity to assist Cole Palmer for Chelsea’s fourth.
Jadon Sancho put the icing on the cake with his first Chelsea goal, smashing home after a well-timed run to complete the rout. The win extended Chelsea’s impressive away form (W5, D1, L1) and cemented our place as genuine title contenders, at least for now.
While Chelsea fans revel in the team’s dominance and growing confidence, Southampton face a grim reality. Sitting rock-bottom with just one win all season, their survival hopes look bleak.
Chelsea’s title charge is gaining momentum, and with performances like this, the Blues are sending a strong message to Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League. Could this be the season Chelsea returns to the summit of English football? Only time will tell, but for now, Blues fans have every reason to dream.