Chelsea player ratings: 'Livewire' 9/10 but 7 'lost his shooting boots' as Southampton thrashed

Chelsea bounced back from back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Aston Villa with a convincing 4-0 win over struggling Southampton under the lights at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

Against the odds, it was Southampton who started the game brighter. The nippy Kamaldeen Sulemana and lanky Paul Onuachu looking chalk and cheese up front but perplexing Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill.

Hoping to feel their way into the game, Chelsea play slowed, passes between the under-pressure Filip Jorgensen and the back four lacking urgency and drawing groans around Stamford Bridge - those in turn urging Enzo Maresca up from his seat to bark over a remedy.

The Blues are lacking options through the middle at the moment with Nicolas Jackson out and Christopher Nkunku deployed on the wing. Pedro Neto was the man asked to lead the line but it was the ever-dangerous Cole Palmer who began turning the tide with his runs through the middle.

The England international should have scored after 23 minutes when one-on-one with Aaron Ramsdale, but will be easily forgiven thanks to Chelsea going ahead from the corner that followed, Christopher Nkunku lively at the back post to nod home a Adarabioyo flick-on.

That changed the Chelsea tempo with tackles flying in high up the pitch. A superb acrobatic save from Jorgensen from an Onuachu header helping the goalkeeper’s confidence between the sticks.

Maresca’s side had it put to bed by the break. Neto fired in from a well-worked counter attack before Colwill headed home a pin-point free kick served up by the former Wolves man.

There was little response from a seemingly Championship-bound Southampton side after half time, although the Chelsea goal gut of the first half did stop. That was until lively 19-year-old Tyrique Geroge came off the bench and teed up Marc Cucurella with 10 minutes left to play. Here’s how the Chelsea players rated.

Chelsea player ratings

GK - Filip Jorgensen, 7

Who’d want to be a Chelsea goalkeeper right now? The position is under a microscope and Jorgensen looked like he could feel those eyes watching him. Took far too long pondering on the ball at times in a nervy opening to the match but did settle after a cat-like save against Onuachu.

LB - Marc Cucurella, 9

Injects so much character into this Chelsea team. That makes him the ideal player for the ball to fall to when a break needs starting, just as it did for the second goal tonight, the full-back crucial as Neto fired home. Took his goal well in the second half after some nice work by Tyrique George.

CB - Levi Colwill, 8

Calm and collected this evening, and on the scoresheet. Could have kept his eyes closed as was the quality of the Neto delivery but was where he needed to be to ensure that cross got the finish it deserved.

CB - Tosin Adarabioyo, 7

Looked like he could have problems tonight early on, caught between the pace of Sulemana and the physicality of Onuachu. Got to grips eventually and had his head on the corner to knock on to Nkunku for the opener.

RB - Malo Gusto, 7

Had to stay sharp against Sulemana, who was always pacey if not a goal threat. Did that well.

CDM - Enzo Fernandez, 8

Stirred into action after a rare sloppy touch to end a good Chelsea break in the opening 10 minutes. The way he busted a gut to keep a seemingly innocuous move going ahead of the Neto goal was stupendous - he stretched so far for that you feared a hamstring may pop, but was rightly congratulated by his teammates when the ball hit the back of the net a few passes later.

CDM - Moises Caicedo, 7

A creative tour de force lately but less so tonight. Still robust and diligent in the centre of the park.

LW - Christopher Nkunku, 8

Lively and bulldoggish to follow the corner in to head past Ramsdale and start the scoring. Does blow a little hot and cold at times and still remains to be seen where he best position is.

Cole Palmer frustration after fruitless shooting frenzy

CAM - Cole Palmer, 7

How have you not scored tonight, Cole Palmer? His movement was as effortless as always but the England international had so many shots without hitting the back of the net. He’ll be gutted not to be on the scoresheet.

RW - Jadon Sancho, 7

Sound if not spectacular on the right flank tonight. Went about his work well but not an inspiration tonight, and there was plenty of chance to be against this Saints team.

ST - Pedro Neto, 9

A livewire. Deployed through the middle but constantly pulled towards his more natural wings. He works particularly well through the centre when playing on the break, which is how he got his goal, slotting home like a man in form. Then put a glorious free-kick plum onto the head of Colwill for the third. Man of the match this evening.

SUB - Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, 8

Brought a bit of zip into the final stages of the game as Chelsea cruised home.

SUB - Tyrique George, 9

A head-turning cameo. Came on full of energy with his pressing and constantly sprinted through the Southampton defence, picking up the assist in a well worked goal finished by Cucurella.

SUB - Josh Acheampong, N/A

SUB - Mathis Amougou, 6

A debut for the young January signing. Very eager but a little sloppy with some touches.

SUB - Shim Mheuka, 7

Barely head a touch but nearly scored with his first - a header from a corner.

In other news, Chelsea welcomed a ‘miraculous’ injury boost ahead of kick off against Southampton on Tuesday night.