Chelsea’s 5-1 thrashing of Southampton had plenty of goals and some great moments, but a shaky defense reminded us there’s still work to be done.
Last night, we delivered a resounding 5-1 victory against a struggling Southampton side in the pouring rain at St. Mary’s. Despite the dominant scoreline, the performance left plenty to dissect, and as a fan, I’m cautiously optimistic but far from convinced we’ve hit our stride.
A Europa Conference Final Preview?
Maresca’s team selection felt like a sneak peek at what our Europa Conference League final lineup might look like, should we make it that far. And what a start we had! An early goal, gifted by Southampton’s goalkeeper in a moment of festive generosity, set the tone. It was like Christmas had come early for us.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The right-hand side looked worryingly open, with Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi struggling to contain Southampton’s attacks. Enzo Fernández and Noni Madueke, stationed in front of them, didn’t provide much cover either. Enzo’s mishit clearance led directly to Southampton’s equalizer, and for a while, it felt like the home side was on top.
Flashes of Quality Amid the Chaos
Despite the shakiness, Chelsea’s star quality shone through. Christopher Nkunku capitalized on another goalkeeper error to restore our lead, and then we saw the best bit of play in the match. João Félix pulled off a sublime setup for Madueke, who calmly slotted it home to make it 3-1. Just before halftime, the season of goodwill ended abruptly for Southampton’s captain, who was sent off for a hair pull. It was as bizarre as it sounds.
By the end, it felt like the score could have been 14-1, a Premier League record if we’d been more clinical.
Second-Half Dominance (Sort Of)
Even with ten men, Southampton didn’t sit back, and their attacking intent left them wide open. It should have been a goal-fest, but Chelsea’s finishing was frustratingly casual. Félix missed a couple of sitters, Nkunku squandered a golden opportunity, and Madueke, despite his goal, could have easily walked away with a hattrick. At 3-1, the scoreline flattered us.
Then came Maresca’s substitutions, and they paid off handsomely. Cole Palmer tapped in a fourth, and Jadon Sancho blasted home a fifth to seal the rout. By the end, it felt like the score could have been 14-1—a Premier League record if we’d been more clinical.
The Bigger Picture
Yes, it’s a huge win, but let’s not kid ourselves. We didn’t play particularly well, but we scored a lot. Is that the stuff of champions? Maybe, but for now, it feels like we’re in the race for third, not first. A leading goalkeeper and a commanding center-back would go a long way toward a sustained title charge.
As things stand, I think our title race might come down with the Christmas decorations. But hey, nights like these remind us why we love the game. On to the next!
