Chelsea Climb Back into Top 4 with Convincing Win Over Southampton
Chelsea climbed back into the fourth spot in the Premier League standings with a dominant 4-0 victory over Southampton on Tuesday night.
The hosts took the lead in the first half through Christopher Nkunku, who latched onto a flicked header from a corner in the 24th minute and found the back of the net. Chelsea then doubled their advantage 12 minutes later, with Pedro Neto finding the net with a well-taken strike.
Just before the break, Levi Colwill extended Chelsea’s lead further, heading home a cross from Pedro Neto. Chelsea continued to control the game in the second half, and they added a fourth goal in the 77th minute, with Marc Cucurella finding the target after a well-worked counter-attack.
Here, The Athletic‘s experts Liam Twomey and Conor O’Neill analyze the game.
Was this win crucial for Chelsea’s Champions League aspirations?
Mauricio Pochettino’s poor start to his Chelsea tenure (W3 D3 L4) effectively doomed his chances of leading the club back into the Champions League. In contrast, Enzo Maresca’s results have been slightly better, with two wins, three draws, and five losses in the 10 matches preceding the Southampton game.
However, the Champions League qualification race has been tight this season, with Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa already accumulating enough points to keep Pochettino’s team chasing. This time around, Chelsea could jump back into the top four by beating Southampton, despite their recent dip in form.
The fact that they were second in the table before the winter rut set in under Maresca helps, but Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth are also performing above expectations. The more established teams, such as Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa, are just as flawed as Chelsea.
With Bournemouth and Villa losing on Tuesday, the stage was set for Chelsea to recover ground against Southampton. If they continue to take advantage of their rivals’ struggles, they could find themselves in a commanding position to secure Champions League qualification by the time they face Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on March 9.
Liam Twomey
Has Neto’s performance shown his potential in the central striker role?
Pedro Neto’s transition to Chelsea has been a mixed bag so far. While his pace and dribbling ability were well-suited to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ direct, transition-heavy style, he has had to adapt to Maresca’s more structured and possession-oriented approach.
However, with Nicolas Jackson sidelined until April, Neto has been given the opportunity to showcase his skills as a central striker. His bright performance against Aston Villa provided a glimmer of hope, and against Southampton, he offered a clearer glimpse of his potential in the position.
Neto displayed impressive fluidity, frequently interchanging with Nkunku and Jadon Sancho, which allowed the wingers to drift into dangerous half-space positions. His goal, a powerful strike from Nkunku’s clever reverse pass, and his assist for Colwill’s header marked the first time he has recorded both a goal and an assist in the same game for Chelsea.
Conor O’Neill
Was Palmer’s finishing a concern?
Enzo Maresca has made it clear that Chelsea cannot solely rely on Cole Palmer for their attacking output, and the evidence against Southampton suggested his message had been received.
Palmer’s finishing was uncharacteristically erratic, as he failed to convert a couple of one-on-one chances and skewed a low effort wide. His missed opportunities were particularly concerning when the scoreline was still close.
As currently constructed, Chelsea cannot achieve their goals without Palmer being at his best. However, he will not be firing on all cylinders every game, and on his less efficient days, the team must find goals and creativity from elsewhere.
Nkunku, Neto, and Sancho have the necessary talent, but they have not consistently shown it this season. The Southampton game was a prime opportunity for them to hit their stride, and they must now carry that form into the upcoming fixtures against Leicester City and the tough tests that lie beyond.
Liam Twomey
What’s Next for Chelsea?
- Thursday, March 6: Copenhagen (A), Conference League, 5.45pm GMT, 12.45pm ET
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(Top photo: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
Take advantage of this momentum and secure your Champions League spot. Keep up the excellent work, Chelsea!
