Premier League
Southampton0Chelsea3

Southampton 0-3 Chelsea: Eden Hazard scores as Blues ease past Saints

Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard has had a hand in 12 goals in his last 11 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions

Chelsea extended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season by comfortably beating Southampton at St Mary's.

Eden Hazard opened the scoring for the Blues, who temporarily go top of the table, with Liverpool and Manchester City set to kick-off at 16:30 BST.

Ross Barkley added their second, tapping in Olivier Giroud's acrobatic cross, before substitute Alvaro Morata netted a third, chipping over oncoming home goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

Defeat for Mark Hughes' side means they remain in 16th, and their run without a win against the Premier League's 'big six' is extended to 26 games.

Chelsea started strongly, and almost took the lead after seven minutes when Willian's low shot hit the bar via a deflection off Wesley Hoedt.

But the in-form Hazard was on hand to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark when he slotted past McCarthy from Barkley's pass.

And while Danny Ings and Ryan Bertrand spurned fine chances for the hosts, Hughes' side could not put Chelsea under any sustained pressure.

The Blues have now won nine of their 11 games across all competitions this season, with league draws against West Ham and Liverpool the only blights on their record.

Hazard and Barkley shine for Blues

Few believed the Chelsea squad would be able to alter their style of play to match Sarri's expectations when the Italian was appointed in July.

But in simple terms, they have flourished. And 'Sarriball' was on show for all to see in the first 15 minutes at St Mary's, as the Blues held 86% of possession.

And although Southampton did grow into the game after that opening spell, they could not keep Chelsea quiet for long.

Hazard's finish was typically clinical, but Barkley should also take plaudits for the opener, as it was the former Everton man who dispossessed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in midfield before playing a perfectly weighted pass to the Belgian.

That assist was Barkley's first in the league since April 2017, and 12 minutes into the second half, he notched his first league goal since May 2017 by tapping in Giroud's cross.

Barkley, who was named in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad on Thursday, was substituted on 81 minutes after a fine afternoon's work, but Chelsea didn't let up and they added a third deep into injury time.

Hazard again was at the heart of it as he slid in Morata, who dinked over McCarthy to score his second in as many games, after netting the winner in Thursday's Europa League clash with Vidi.

The international break has perhaps come at a bad time for Sarri and his team, given their form, but nonetheless they will carry plenty of confidence into their next Premier League match against Manchester United on Saturday, 20 October.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Southampton

  • 1McCarthy
  • 35BednarekSubstituted forRomeuat 45'minutesBooked at 61mins
  • 3Yoshida
  • 6Hoedt
  • 2Cédric SoaresBooked at 59mins
  • 18LeminaBooked at 54mins
  • 23HøjbjergBooked at 66mins
  • 21BertrandBooked at 45mins
  • 20GabbiadiniSubstituted forLongat 78'minutes
  • 22Redmond
  • 9IngsBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

  • 4Vestergaard
  • 7Long
  • 8Davis
  • 10Austin
  • 14Romeu
  • 28Gunn
  • 33Targett

Chelsea

  • 1Arrizabalaga
  • 28Azpilicueta
  • 2Rüdiger
  • 30David Luiz
  • 3Alonso
  • 7Kanté
  • 5Jorginho
  • 8BarkleySubstituted forKovacicat 81'minutes
  • 22WillianSubstituted forPedroat 75'minutes
  • 18GiroudSubstituted forMorataat 68'minutes
  • 10E Hazard

Substitutes

  • 4Fàbregas
  • 11Pedro
  • 13Caballero
  • 17Kovacic
  • 21Zappacosta
  • 24Cahill
  • 29Morata
Referee:
Craig Pawson

Match Stats

Home TeamSouthamptonAway TeamChelsea
Possession
Home35%
Away65%
Shots
Home15
Away21
Shots on Target
Home6
Away6
Corners
Home4
Away12
Fouls
Home13
Away11

Live Text

Match ends, Southampton 0, Chelsea 3.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Southampton 0, Chelsea 3.

Goal!

Goal! Southampton 0, Chelsea 3. Álvaro Morata (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard with a through ball.

Attempt blocked. Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eden Hazard.

Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mario Lemina with a cross.

Booking

Danny Ings (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Danny Ings (Southampton).

Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Mario Lemina (Southampton).

Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).

Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea).

Danny Ings (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt saved. Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) with an attempt from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard with a cross.

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Wesley Hoedt.

Attempt blocked. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Pedro.

Attempt blocked. Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Foul by Álvaro Morata (Chelsea).

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Attempt missed. Wesley Hoedt (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Mario Lemina following a corner.

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Attempt saved. Danny Ings (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Oriol Romeu.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution

Substitution, Chelsea. Mateo Kovacic replaces Ross Barkley.

Delay in match Wesley Hoedt (Southampton) because of an injury.

Attempt saved. Álvaro Morata (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard with a through ball.

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Attempt saved. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.

Substitution

Substitution, Southampton. Shane Long replaces Manolo Gabbiadini.

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Marcos Alonso.

Substitution

Substitution, Chelsea. Pedro replaces Willian.

Ross Barkley (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Cédric Soares (Southampton).

Foul by Álvaro Morata (Chelsea).

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jorginho.

Substitution

Substitution, Chelsea. Álvaro Morata replaces Olivier Giroud.

Attempt missed. Wesley Hoedt (Southampton) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Antonio Rüdiger.

goal

As It Stands

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City86202131820
2Chelsea86201851320
3Liverpool86201531220
4Arsenal86021910918
5Tottenham8602157818
6Bournemouth85121612416
7Wolves843196315
8Man Utd84131314-113
9Watford84131112-113
10Leicester84041412212
11Everton83321312112
12Burnley82241012-28
13Brighton8224913-48
14Crystal Palace821559-47
15West Ham8215813-57
16Southampton8125614-85
17Fulham8125921-125
18Huddersfield8035417-133
19Newcastle8026613-72
20Cardiff8026417-132
View full Premier League table

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