Frank Lampard’s Chelsea were made to pay for another lacklustre home showing as Southampton coasted to a comfortable 2-0 win on Thursday.
Chelsea dominated possession in the first half but created very little, and it was Southampton who took the lead. Michael Obafemi found some space as he drove towards the penalty area and he fired into the top in the 31st minute. Chelsea searched for an equaliser but lacked any form of creativity, meaning Southampton held the lead at the break.
The Blues’ first chance came just seconds after the break, but Tammy Abraham’s effort crashed into the side netting. Chances were again hard to come by, although Nathan Redmond perhaps should have doubled his sides lead shortly after the hour mark, but his close-range effort was poor.
However, Redmond did make it two soon after, finishing off a delightful team move to dink the ball over Kepa Arrizabalaga. Chelsea never looked close to coming back, and Southampton coasted to a well-deserved 2-0 win.
CHELSEA
Key Talking Point
For all the positives that came from Chelsea’s use of the 3-4-3 against Tottenham Hotspur, the formation looked woeful in this one.
Lampard had every reason to be faithful after watching his side’s impressive showing against Spurs, but Southampton’s low block meant that it simply did not work here. There was no creativity, the final ball was atrocious and Chelsea looked outnumbered in attack.
Mason Mount was introduced at the break to change the shape, and while a minor improvement was certainly evident, it was by no means enough. There was no creative centrally or out wide, and Chelsea paid for that. Roll on the January transfer window.
Any team in terrible form should come and play Chelsea to get their form back. Embarassing from all the players involved and especially embarassing from Frank Lampard; shocking selections, shocking formation. Showed quite a bit of uncharacteristic stupidity today!
— Projit Sen (@ProjitSen) December 26, 2019
Most disappointing performance of Chelsea’s season directly on the heels of the best. Chelsea not even testing the keeper. No creativity. No answers and all the good that was accomplished on Sunday is undone. They need to figure out what to do at home against these poor sides.
— Mike Ryan Ruiz (@MichaelRyanRuiz) December 26, 2019
Player Ratings
Starting XI: Arrizabalaga (5); Tomori (5), Zouma (5), Rüdiger (5); Azpilicueta (4), Kanté (5), Jorginho (5), Emerson (4); Hudson-Odoi (5), Abraham (6*), Willian (6).
Substitutes: Mount (5), Pulisic (5), Pedro (N/A).
STAR MAN – Tammy Abraham
This was certainly not Abraham’s finest performance in a Chelsea shirt, but it was a respectable showing when you consider the lack of service into him.
There was only so much Abraham could do with the lack of quality around him, and he definitely did everything possible. Unfortunately for Chelsea, it just wasn’t enough.
No full backs that could actually deliver crosses to Tammy and that’s what preventing Tammy to score a lot of goals. Countdown 6 days till transfer window.
— Ayez (@Fxrxxz) December 26, 2019
SOUTHAMPTON
Key Talking Point
With top scorer Danny Ings rested to the benchwith a minor knee issue, the question for Southampton was where the goals would come from. Fortunately, Obafemi and Redmond rose to the occasion.
Those goals allowed Southampton to sit back and execute their game plan, and they did it to perfection. Ralph Hasenhüttl set his side up to defend in numbers and frustrate the Blues, which is what teams in a relegation battle need to do against Chelsea. It was not pretty, but it was perfect.
That’s now consecutive away wins for Southampton, who look nothing like the side who were thumped by Leicester City. Performances like this will guide them away from the relegation zone.
Southampton looked like they were a sure thing when it came to relegation and now they’re dropping humdingers
— Labhuti womphokoqo (@C_Mbadu) December 26, 2019
Player Ratings
Starting XI: McCarthy (6); Soares (7), Stephens (8*), Bednarek (8), Bertrand (6); Armstrong (8), Ward-Prowse (6),
STAR MAN – Jack Stephens
Chelsea’s love of aimlessly floating in poor crosses was the stuff of dreams for centre-back Jack Stephens, who rose to clear header after header with frightening ease.
Stephens almost never looked concerned during the game, as he and partner Jan Bednarek controlled the game from the back, leading by example and ensuring the Saints did not let their level drop for even a second.
Unpopular opinion: Jack Stephens is better than VVD
— Joe (@Joeee_Smith) December 26, 2019
Looking Ahead
Chelsea will look to bounce back from this poor showing when they travel to the Emirates Stadium to meet Arsenal on Sunday.
As for Southampton, they will welcome Crystal Palace to St Mary’s Stadium on the same day.
For more from Tom Gott, follow him on Twitter!
Let’