Chelsea vs Southampton LIVE: Premier League result, latest updates and reaction after dominant win

Chelsea returned to winning ways in convincing fashion as they beat Southampton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. Around 200 home supporters gathered outside the ground with banners and smoke flares ahead of kick-off to voice opposition to the club's ownership but tensions were eased, temporarily perhaps, as Enzo Maresca's team scored three in the first half to win for only the third time in 11 in the league.

Christopher Nkunku netted his 14th of the season in all competitions, Pedro Neto scored a rare but needed goal in his personal quest for confidence as he lashed in at the near post and Levi Colwill headed a third in to effectively settle the result before half-time. Marc Cucurella's finish from Tyrique George's cutback completed the rout.

If there was a negative it was that Cole Palmer failed to end what is now a seven-game run without a goal and in doing so missed a glut of presentable chances.

Chelsea vs Southampton latest news

• GOAL! Colwill make it 3-0 before half-time

• GOAL! Neto doubles advantange

• GOAL! Nkunku gives Chelsea first-half lead

• How to watch: TNT Sports

FT: Chelsea 4-0 Southampton

22:09 , Matt Verri

Job done for Chelsea!

Easy as you like for them tonight and, for the time being at least, they are back in the top four.

Chelsea 4-0 Southampton

22:06 , Matt Verri

90+1 mins: Four minutes added on.

Palmer hacked down as he drives towards the area, booking for Manning.

It’s a free-kick in a perfect position for Palmer, this will surely be his final chance of the night to get on the scoresheet.

Goes to the goalkeeper’s side... easy save.

Chelsea 4-0 Southampton

22:04 , Matt Verri

89 mins: The emptying of the bench continues.

Fernandez off, as 17-year-old Mheuka comes on for the final few minutes.

Chelsea 4-0 Southampton

22:02 , Matt Verri

87 mins: It’s basically a training session now for Chelsea.

Knocking it around in defence and midfield - Palmer standing up front waiting and hoping for another chance.

Cucurella playing as a No10 at times.

Chelsea 4-0 Southampton

21:58 , Matt Verri

83 mins: Two more Chelsea changes.

Nkunku and Caicedo replaced by Acheampong and Amougou.

Chelsea 4-0 Southampton

21:55 , Matt Verri

81 mins: Sulemana has been impressive for Southampton. His team-mates... have not.

He produces a brilliant flick to lay it off for Manning in the box, but the wing-back takes too long before eventually getting the shot away.

GOAL! Chelsea 4-0 Southampton | Marc Cucurella 78'

21:53 , Matt Verri

It’s four!

All from a Southampton corner. Visitors just don’t get enough bodies back.

Chelsea slow it down, but George then pulls it back and Cucurella takes a touch before firing home.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:51 , Matt Verri

75 mins: Gusto and Cucurella track back to crowd out Aribo, who somehow shrugs the two of them off.

Looks up as he goes to cross it in... nobody there and he has to turn back.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:47 , Matt Verri

72 mins: Not a huge amount of pace to the match now.

There are more goals in it for Chelsea if they want them, but it’s all very controlled at the moment.

Saying that, George gets in behind down the left. He skips into the box, backheel to Nkunku and the shot is charged down.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:44 , Matt Verri

69 mins: Nearly an instant impact for George.

Fernandez plays him in, Palmer wants the ball squared but George slices the shot high and wide from a tight angle.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:43 , Matt Verri

68 mins: Couple of Chelsea changes.

Neto and Sancho off, George and Dewsbury-Hall on for the final 25 minutes or so.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:42 , Matt Verri

66 mins: Caicedo goes flying in on Fernandes out of nowhere, not sure why he’s bothering to complain about that yellow card.

Some lovely rolls and flips from Fernandes to sell it, mind you.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:38 , Matt Verri

63 mins: Long ball forward, not sure Sancho particularly means the way it bobbles perfectly for him but it turns into a great bit of skill.

He rolls the ball into the path of Neto... who near enough trips over it. Ball sent straight out of play.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:35 , Matt Verri

60 mins: Chelsea passing it around comfortably - both sides know this match is pretty much done.

Main goal for Chelsea now is to get Palmer on the scoresheet...

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:32 , Matt Verri

56 mins: Palmer could have score five tonight.

Nkunku plays it to Palmer in the box, first-time effort and he blazes it over the bar.

A few months ago, that would have been a certain goal.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:30 , Matt Verri

54 mins: Palmer determined to end this run without a goal.

Twists into space on the edge of the box, gets the shot away but it’s a comfortable save for Ramsdale.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:26 , Matt Verri

51 mins: Fernandez swings in a cross, Nkunku gets across hia man and Ramsdale has to tip it over for a corner.

Neto with the out-swinger, this time Southampton deal with it and Cucurella then handballs it.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:23 , Matt Verri

48 mins: It is absurd how often Southampton give the ball away in their own half. They seem to be most vulnerable when they have the ball.

At the other end, Gusto slides in well to stop Sulemana’s run - that’s been a good battle.

Back underway!

21:21 , Matt Verri

Second-half is up and running.

Pick of the bunch?

21:10 , Matt Verri

Pedro Neto up front again for Chelsea tonight and he has a goal to show for it.

Went for maximum power as he lashed past Aaron Ramsdale at the near post.

HT: Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:05 , Matt Verri

Chelsea haven’t particularly been at their best but they are cruising to a much-needed win.

Goals from Nkunku, Neto and Colwill in the opening 45 minutes.

Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

21:02 , Matt Verri

45 mins: Two minutes added on.

Southampton really need the end of this half. And match. And season.

They give it away yet again, Walker-Peters’ last-ditch challenge stops Sancho making it 4-0.

GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Southampton | Levi Colwill 44'

21:01 , Matt Verri

So, so easy!

Free-kick swung in from deep by Neto, Colwill allowed to run in and head home from six yards out.

Game over.

Chelsea 2-0 Southampton

21:00 , Matt Verri

43 mins: Bella-Kotchap to keen in closing down Nkunku, just stands on his foot.

It’s all very comfortable for Chelsea, even with Palmer missing two one-on-ones.

Chelsea 2-0 Southampton

20:57 , Matt Verri

40 mins: Well the Southampton plan is fairly obvious.

Give it to Sulemana, hope he can run down the left wing and cross it for Onuachu.

He does the first part decently enough, but it’s a terrible ball into the middle.

Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge

20:54 , Matt Verri

It’s been a weirdly nervy 37 minutes but that you almost feel is game over.

A chance for Chelsea to get a bit of feel-good factor back over the remaining half-and-a-bit you’d think.

And ideally, to get Palmer back on the scoresheet.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Southampton | Pedro Neto 36'

20:53 , Matt Verri

Chelsea firmly in charge now!

Southampton give it away and are in all sorts of trouble.

Nkunku rolls it through to Neto on the overlap, and he smashes a finish in at the near post.

Chelsea 1-0 Southampton

20:51 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Palmer AGAIN wastes a huge chance!

Sancho plays him in, first touch from Palmer is good but he then pokes the finish wide of the far corner.

Fernandez wasn’t far away from saving him and getting a touch, but it bobbles out of play.

Chelsea 1-0 Southampton

20:49 , Matt Verri

32 mins: He’s been shaky with the ball at his feet, but Jorgensen has just made a brilliant save to keep Chelsea in front!

Chelsea undone with a cross after great work from Sulemana, Onuachu free in the middle and he powers a header at goal - clawed out by Jorgensen.

Chelsea 1-0 Southampton

20:47 , Matt Verri

30 mins: Neto has gone down off the ball holding his face.

Bella-Kotchap stuck an arm out as the Chelsea man went to make a run - not sure it warrants Neto holding his cheek like it’s about to fall off.

Chelsea 1-0 Southampton

20:44 , Matt Verri

27 mins: Southampton struggling to get out now, Chelsea firmly on top.

They have a pretty terrible record when it comes to giving away leads, though...

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Southampton | Christopher Nkunku 24'

20:40 , Matt Verri

But Chelsea do lead now!

From the resulting corner, Tosin wins the initial header and Nkunku is there at the back post to bundle it home from close range.

Chelsea 0-0 Southampton

20:39 , Matt Verri

23 mins: Palmer has to score!

More brilliant work from Fernandez, puts it on a plate for Palmer.

He’s clean through on goal, ten years out... smashes it at Ramsdale. Had. To. Score.

Chelsea 0-0 Southampton

20:38 , Matt Verri

21 mins: Palmer starting to get involved.

Lovely turn from Fernandez, who rolls the ball into Palmer’s path.

He goes for the first-time shot from 20 yards out, scuffs it a miles wide.

Chelsea 0-0 Southampton

20:37 , Matt Verri

20 mins: Chelsea win it back high up the pitch, and Caicedo can play it through to Palmer.

He works it onto his left foot on the edge of the area, tries to skip past a couple of challenges but there’s no room to get the shot away.

Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge

20:35 , Matt Verri

The faith in the goalkeeping department at Chelsea is so low.

The whole ground is on edge, whistling and booing as the ball is repeatedly played back to Jorgensen, who then takes an age on it looking for options.

Chelsea 0-0 Southampton

20:33 , Matt Verri

16 mins: Getting very edgy as Jorgensen plays out from the back - Chelsea fans have no patience for this right now.

Fernandez drops in and takes the ball, firing it long to Neto. He can’t hold it up... not really his strength, is it.

Chelsea 0-0 Southampton

20:31 , Matt Verri

14 mins: Southampton work the free-kick nicely, playing it wide and Downes then stands up a cross to the back post.

Walker-Peters comes charging in, wins the header but it loops wide. Did really well to get there initially.

Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge

20:28 , Matt Verri

There’s already a real desperation to Southampton’s defending.

Downes with a great last-ditch tackle there and we’ve already seen a couple of vital interventions from Bella-Kotchup.

Chelsea 0-0 Southampton

20:28 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Downes slides in to save the day for Southampton.

Fernandez’s pass very nearly rolled through to Cucurella in the box, but the Saints midfielder lunged in to flick the ball away.

Chelsea 0-0 Southampton

20:26 , Matt Verri

9 mins: Heavy touch from Neto, just as he could have played Palmer in.

It’s then brilliant from Sancho on the right wing, skipping past Walker-Peters and firing a ball across the face of goal.

Any touch and it was 1-0... nobody there.

Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge

20:23 , Matt Verri

Boos for Marc Cucurella from the away end, presumably for his part in Jack Stephens’ red card in the reverse fixture.

Or maybe just because he’s Marc Cucurella.

Chelsea 0-0 Southampton

20:22 , Matt Verri

5 mins: Sulemana has his first run with the ball tonight.

Into the box, Tosin sticks with him and the Saints man goes down very, very hopefully.

Referee could not have less interest.

Chelsea 0-0 Southampton

20:19 , Matt Verri

2 mins: No surprise that it’s Chelsea seeing all of the ball early on.

Neto drifts out to the right, where he’s obviously more comfortable, but Bella-Kotchap gets across to deal with it.

Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge

20:17 , Matt Verri

From the way Chelsea have lined up at kick-off, looks like Pedro Neto will continue through the middle.

KICK-OFF!

20:16 , Matt Verri

We’re up and running at Stamford Bridge!

Here we go!

20:14 , Matt Verri

Teams are out onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge!

Pre-match thoughts from the managers

20:08 , Matt Verri

Enzo Maresca insists this is a “dangerous” game for Chelsea, despite the miserable season Southampton are having.

Not long now...

20:03 , Matt Verri

Just over ten minutes to go until kick-off in west London.

There was a protest earlier this evening - it could turn very ugly if Chelsea find a way to lose to the worst side in the Premier League.

Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge

19:56 , Matt Verri

Letsile Tebogo, the 200m Olympic champion who delivered Botswana’s first ever gold medal last summer, is here this evening and enjoying himself posing for selfies pitchside as the players warm up.

Southampton need a miracle...

19:48 , Matt Verri

Two wins all season in the Premier League all season for Southampton.

They are 13 points off safety - would need something extraordinary for them to be playing Premier League football next season.

Already feels like ‘playing for pride’ job...

Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge

19:38 , Matt Verri

It was during the 5-1 win over Southampton earlier this season that Chelsea supporters were jubilantly singing “We’ve got our Chelsea back”.

Tonight, a good few hundred of them have been outside Stamford Bridge chanting “We want our Chelsea back”.

Things have spiralled pretty quickly - that wasn’t even three months ago.

Maresca addresses Palmer future

19:28 , Matt Verri

Enzo Maresca says Chelsea do not need Champions League football to convince Cole Palmer of his future at the club - but admits missing out on the top four could impact their summer transfer business.

From second in the table as recently as mid-December, the Blues have slumped to seventh and are now entrenched in a tight race for the European places, with only seven points separating eight teams between third and tenth.

Palmer has cut an increasingly frustrated figure during that run of poor results and earlier this month former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher questioned whether Chelsea could keep their star man happy without qualifying for the Champions League.

“For sure if we finish top four and we can play in the Champions League next season we can convince players to come here,” Maresca said. “But players that are already here? I don't think we need that.

“First of all we need to see how we finish. Then, in case we don't finish in the top four, we'll see if Cole is happy or not happy.

“But I don't think that Cole is worried in this moment about next year, that he wants to play in the Champions League. Cole is just focused on how he can help the team, how we can help him and how all together - as I said already many, many times this season - we can bring this club where this club has to be.”

Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge

19:18 , Matt Verri

Can Chelsea’s return to home comforts help steady the ship?

Maresca brings in Sancho

19:10 , Matt Verri

Filip Jorgensen keeps his place in goal for Chelsea, while Malo Gusto starts at right-back and Reece James drops to the bench.

Jadon Sancho returns to the starting lineup for the Blues, who appear to have Pedro Neto once again leading the line.

It’s a very inexperienced bench for Chelsea - they’re going to be relying on the starting lineup to get the job done.

Southampton team news

19:06 , Matt Verri

Southampton XI: Ramsdale, Sugawara, Bree, Bella-Kotchap, Aribo, Walker-Peters, Downes, Smallbone, Fernandes, Kamaldeen, Onuachu.

Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning, Wellington, Gronbaek, Dibling, Archer

Chelsea team news

19:02 , Matt Verri

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo, Palmer, Nkunku, Sancho, Neto

Subs: Sanchez, James, Acheampong, Fofana, Samuels-Smith, Amougou, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Mheuka

Stamford Bridge factor key for Chelsea

18:51 , Matt Verri

On Friday last week, Enzo Maresca suggested that seven wins from Chelsea’s seven remaining home matches could be enough to deliver Champions League football. Judging by their recent away record, it might just have to be.

The Blues return to Stamford Bridge tonight for their first home fixture in more than three weeks, with the visit of Championship-bound Southampton looking kind in its timing, to say the least.

Since victory over West Ham at the Bridge at the start of the month, Chelsea have lost three straight away games and remain without a win on the road in any competition since coming from behind to beat Tottenham on December 8.

In the Premier League, at least, it is not immediately obvious where the next one is coming from. Should Maresca’s men fail to beat Arsenal at the Emirates in the middle of next month, they will head into April still in the midst of that drought.

Stage is set!

18:42 , Matt Verri

Visitors have arrived at Stamford Bridge.

Southampton were actually victorious on their last visit here, when James Ward-Prowse gave them a famous win over Graham Potter’s Chelsea.

Chelsea fans stage protest

18:32 , Matt Verri

Chelsea fans have staged a protest against the club’s owners outside Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are in a dismal run of form, having taken just nine points from their last ten league matches to slip from second in the table to seventh, and now face a battle to secure Champions League football next term.

A group of supporters have chosen to voice their frustration over the stewardship of co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, who bought the club in May 2022.

Chelsea have spent more than £1billion on players in that time but are yet to win a major trophy and are left relying on the Conference League as their sole hope of ending that drought this term.

The protest began outside the stadium’s Bovril Gate around two hours before kick-off before moving along the Fulham Road to the Stamford Gate.

The group, which swelled to around 200 fans, sang “we want our Chelsea back” and chanted the name of former owner Roman Abramovich. One banner read: “Wanted for crimes against Chelsea - Clearlake [and] BlueCo”.

Standard Sport prediction

18:20 , Matt Verri

This has to be a win for Chelsea.

They have been unconvincing in attack in recent weeks and vulnerable at the back, which is not a particularly ideal combination.

But Southampton have largely been terrible this season and are the ideal opponents for the Blues to get back to winning ways.

Chelsea to win, 3-1.

Southampton team news

18:06 , Matt Verri

Jan Bednarek is not available for Southampton, after he was forced off early in the defeat to Brighton last time out.

"Bednarek will be out of this game," Saints boss Ivan Juric said. “It’s nothing serious. Just fatigue."

Taylor Harwood-Bellis is making progress in his recovery from injury and could be back on the bench for Southampton tonight.

Lesley Ugochukwu is ineligible against his parent club.

Chelsea team news

18:00 , Matt Verri

Pedro Neto is expected to continue in his new role at centre-forward.

The Blues are juggling a striker shortage with first-choice No9 Nicolas Jackson ruled out with a hamstring injury and backup striker Marc Guiu also injured in the game against West Ham earlier this month.

Maresca had initially used Christopher Nkunku at centre-forward in the absence of that pair and even experimented with Cole Palmer as a false nine in the defeat to Brighton a fortnight ago.

However, neither formula worked and Maresca instead turned to Neto to lead the line in Saturday’s meeting with Aston Villa.

Chelsea will be without centre-back Trevor Chalobah, who was forced off early in the loss at Villa and is set to miss the next two games.

Tosin Adarabioyo replaced Chalobah at Villa Park and is likely to come into the XI, though academy graduate Josh Acheampong is another option.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku; Neto

How to watch Chelsea vs Southampton

17:51 , Matt Verri

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage starts at 6.30pm GMT ahead of an 8.15pm kick-off.

Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Discovery+ app.

LIVE coverage: Follow all the action right here, featuring expert analysis from Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge!

Good evening!

17:44 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs Southampton!

Big night for the Blues, who must get back to winning ways against the worst team in the Premier League. Anything other than three points and the pressure will be piled on Enzo Maresca.

We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8:15pm GMT from Stamford Bridge!