An intriguing night in rainy Southampton provided football fans with six goals – five in the home team’s net, though, interesting moments, creative plays, and – last but not least – a bizarre incident. Chelsea crushed ten-men Saints 5-1, while Southampton’s captain, Jack Stephens, was sent off in the 39th minute for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair!However, at that point, Chelsea were already 3-1 up, behind Disasi, Nkunku, and Madueke’s goals, while Southampton’s only notable moment – if you don’t count the hair-pulling situation – was Joe Aribo’s equalizer. After the break, it was all about one team, as Enzo Maresca’s men found the net two more times through Palmer and Sancho. Apart from the goals they scored, the Blues hit the woodwork thrice, over Palmer and Adarabioyo (twice).Most Premier League goals + assists in a calendar year for Chelsea:◎ 36 – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (2001)◉ 36 – Cole Palmer (2024)One more for a new outright record. 👀 pic.twitter.com/sG2XfheO3e— Squawka (@Squawka) December 4, 2024 More than 32,000 people at St. Mary’s Stadium could enjoy “fireworks” during the first half. Throughout the initial 15 minutes, Southampton occasionally threatened through the left flank over Kyle Walker-Peters and Joe Aribo. The duo’s first combination in the second minute was unsuccessful, thanks to Chelsea’s custodian Filip Jorgensen and his terrific stop.GOAL! Aribo, Walker-Peters dancing through the Chelsea defence. 🕺🏼#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/lDimiSfitw— Just Saints (@JustSaints_) December 4, 2024 Still, Aribo netted nine minutes later, crowning a good action and Walker-Peters’ assist with an equalizer, annulling the Blues seventh-minute opener, which came behind Enzo Fernandez’s corner kick and Axel Disasi’s header.Alphabet is trivial? Look at Premier League table!As if the Saints’ leveller angered the visitors, Chelsea kept dominating the game, which paid off in the 17th minute. Trying to start the action from back, Walker-Peters and his teammate in goal, Joe Lumley, misunderstood, which Noni Madueke exploited to snatch the ball and assist for Christopher Nkunku’s goal for 2-1!🚨🏴 GOAL | Southampton 1-2 Chelsea | NkunkuNKUNKU HAS GIVEN CHELSEA THE LEAD !!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/yiWGNZg9Dw— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 4, 2024 🚨🏴 GOAL | Southampton 1-3 Chelsea | MaduekeMADUEKE MAKES IT THREE FOR CHELSEA !!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/d7gdEjZEjQ— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 4, 2024 In the 34th minute, Madueke netted himself using Joao Felix’s well-timed pass, making it 3-1. In the meantime, Cole Palmer hit the post, while Tosin Adarabioyo hit the bar. Still, the most bizarre moment of the match happened in the 40th minute when Southampton’s captain, Jack Stephens, was sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair?! And all that while his team was about to take a corner!The second 45 minutes were more of a “getting the job done” period, but Chelsea still approached it professionally. Felix missed a perfect chance, sending a header wide off the post only 30 seconds after the break, while Adarabioyo hit the woodwork for the second time tonight. Madueke could have netted a brace, but Lumley did not let that happen, stopping the Englishmen twice in one-on-one situations.The Blues at last found the net 14 minutes before the end, when Palmer just passed the ball into the empty net, using Nkunku’s exceptional solo effort and assist. The sub Jadon Sancho threw the first punch, netting the fifth goal for the visitors in the 87th minute.🚨🏴 GOAL | Southampton 1-4 Chelsea | Cole PalmerCOLE PALMER HAS MADE IT FOUR FOR CHELSEA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/CXNvHOZ0u5— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 4, 2024 🚨🏴 GOAL | Southampton 1-5 Chelsea | Jadon SanchoJADON SANCHO HAS MADE IT FIVE FOR CHELSEA !!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/CYOmIM4Ox0— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) December 4, 2024 One more time, Chelsea showed the full capacity of their power and proved that they are in the title mix for a good reason. On the other hand, if it was not clear until now, it certainly is after this match that Southampton are in for a fierce relegation battle.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 14TuesdayIpswich – Crystal Palace 0-1 (0-0)/Mateta 59/Leicester – West Ham 3-1 (1-0)/Vardy 2, Khannous 61,Daka 90 – Fullkrug 90+3/WednesdayEverton – Wolverhampton 4-0 (2-0)/Young 10, Mangala 33, Dawson 49 og, 72 og/Man.City – Nott.Forest 3-0 (2-0)/Silva 8, De Bruyne 31, Doku 57/Newcastle – Liverpool 3-3 (1-0)/Isak 35, Gordon 62, Schar 90 – Jones 50, Salah 68, 83/Southampton – Chelsea 1-5 (1-3)/Aribo 11 – Disasi 7, Nkunku 17, Madueke 34, Palmer 77, Sancho 87/Arsenal – Man.United 1-0 IN PROGRESSAston Villa – Brentford 3-1 IN PROGRESSThursday22:30: (2.45) Fulham (3.50) Brighton (3.00)23:15: (2.70) Bournemouth (3.90) Tottenham (2.50)***odds are subject to change***
