Football news - Sublime Eden Hazard stars as Chelsea down Southampton
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Updated 07/10/2018 at 15:54 GMT
Premier League, St. Mary's Stadium - Southampton 0 Chelsea 3 (Hazard 30, Barkley 57, Morata 90)
Chelsea celebrate Eden Hazard's goal
Image credit: Getty Images
Eden Hazard was at his irrepressible best as Chelsea moved top courtesy of a 3-0 win against Southampton at St. Mary's in the Premier League.
An absolutely toothless home side struggled to contain Chelsea, who literally ran rings around Southampton as they hung back to defend.
The defence was, however, necessary as Chelsea bagged a total of 10 corners in the first half, constantly pressing and constantly looking dangerous against an extremely passive Southampton.
The crowd responded well to a brief spell in possession by the Saints which seemed to give them a bit of confidence, though the wind was knocked out of them by a Danny Ings howler, squandering a great chance from a Ryan Bertrand cross.
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Alvaro Morata of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Chelsea FC at St Mary's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
It was only a matter of time before the Blues inflicted pain on Southampton and it came in the 31st minute of course, from Eden Hazard who made the most of an impressive steal by Ross Barley to take the lead.
In the second half, Southampton again had their moments, but further chances were wasted by Ings, while Nathan Redmond was unlucky to be denied a goal by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea continued to apply pressure and took their chances, with Barkley tapping in an acrobatic effort by Olivier Grioud in the 57th minute to widen their lead.
Further misery was poured on the home side as Alavaro Morata, who came on as a sub for Giroud in the second half, scored his second goal in as many matches thanks to an assist by Hazard in the closing minutes of the game and see the club go – albeit temporarily – top of the table.
TALKING POINT
Should Chelsea’s second goal have stood? Southampton boss Mark Hughes might have been right to look frustrated throughout the match thanks to his team’s lacklustre performance, but he’ll no doubt ask whether or not it was right for Barkley’s 57th minute goal to stand. It appeared David Luiz had been a bit more physical than the opposition might have wanted, holding on the edge of the box to allow the ball to reach Giroud for his spectacular assist.
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Chelsea's English midfielder Ross Barkley (L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on October 7, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
That said, Chelsea fans might rightly ask why Ings only received a yellow card for his takedown of substitute Mateo Kovacic with a lunging tackle in the 92nd minute.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Who else could it be but the league’s top scorer? Eden Hazard was at his irrepressible best looking as dangerous as ever, making the most of the space afforded him by the passive home side, to provide another goal to add to his haul and an assist to ensure the team’s deserved three points.
PLAYER RATINGS
Southampton: McCarthy 7, Cedric 5, Yoshida 5, Bednarek 5, Hoedt 7, Bertrand 7, Hojbjerg 5, Lemina 5, Redmond 6, Gabbiadini 7, Ings 6. Subs: Romeu 6, Long 6.
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga 7, Azpilicueta 7, David Luiz 7, Rudiger 7, Alonso 7, Jorginho 6, Kante 7, Barkley 7, Willian 7, Hazard 8, Giroud 7. Subs: Kovacic, Pedro 6, Morata 6.
KEY MOMENTS
26’ A howler by Danny Ings who spoons the ball well over the bar from close range, after a decent cross by Bertrand.
31’ GOAL! A great challenge by Ross Barkley is played forward to Eden Hazard who waits on the edge of the box and finds the net with ease.
57’ GOAL! Ross Barkley taps in an acrobatic cross by Olivier Giroud to take the visitors 2-0 up.
90+3’ GOAL! And a bad afternoon for Southampton full stop as Morata gives them their third from a Hazard cross!
KEY STATS
- Chelsea have won their last six Premier League games against Southampton, since losing 3-1 under Jose Mourinho in October 2015.
- This was the ninth home Premier League game since the start of last season that Southampton have failed to score in – only Huddersfield (12) have failed to score in more home Premier League games in that time.
- Eden Hazard has been involved in 11 goals in 15 appearances against Southampton for Chelsea in all competitions (6 goals, 5 assists).
- Ross Barkley became the first Englishman to score and assist in a Premier League game for Chelsea since Frank Lampard in December 2013.
- Since Mark Hughes’ first Premier League match in charge of Southampton in March, the Saints have lost nine Premier League games – only Newcastle have lost more (10).
- There were 31 passes in the build-up to Alvaro Morata’s 90th minute goal for Chelsea – the most before a goal in the Premier League this season.
- Chelsea’s Eden Hazard scored and assisted in a Premier League game for the first time since October 2016 – which was also at St. Mary’s against Southampton.
- In the last three seasons, Southampton have taken just seven points from their 26 Premier League games against ‘big six’ opposition (P26 W0 D7 L19).
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