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Chelsea temporarily went top of the Premier League after a convincing 3-0 victory over Southampton secured their eighth victory of the season under Maurizio Sarri.
The Blues are unlikely to stay top of the pile as Manchester City and Liverpool, the two sides ahead of them at the start of the season, meet at Anfield, but they at least strengthened their claims to being in this season’s title race with a comfortable win.
Eden Hazard continued his impressive run of form this season as he netted the opener when given a sniff of goal with a clinical finish from close range, and while Saints were able to see out the half at a goal down, Chelsea were only just getting started.
Ross Barkley added the second with a well-worked free-kick that saw Willian chip the ball to an airborne Olivier Giroud, whose acrobatic volley gave Barkley a tap in for his first Chelsea goal.
As Southampton pushed on to try and get back into the game, they left themselves open to being picked off and substitute striker Alvaro Morata did just that, scoring an injury-time third that secured the victory.
Show all 22 1 /22Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings <b>Southampton:</b> Alex McCarthy: 6 out of 10 A good save from Alvaro Morata highlighted his impressive shot-stopping skills. Faultless for the three Chelsea goals.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Jan Bednarek: 5 out of 10 Struggled at both centre-back and out of position at right-back. Substituted at half-time, though that had little to do with his performance and more to do with a necessary tactical switch of formation.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Maya Yoshida: 5 out of 10 Anonymous at the heart of the Southampton defence. Olivier Giroud in particular dominated him.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Wesley Hoedt: 6 out of 10 Two excellent sliding challenges in the first half but was fortunate that a third did not concede a penalty. A couple of wild slices when in space in the Chelsea box that he could have perhaps done better with.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Cedric Soares: 5 out of 10 Eden Hazard got plenty of joy against Cedric, but he will tear plenty of right-backs asunder through the rest of the season.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Mario Lemina: 5 out of 10 Similar to his midfield partner. Ineffective, and looked lost in forward areas, stalling a counter-attack in the second half particularly noticeably.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: 4 out of 10 Awful mistake to concede possession to Barkley for Eden Hazard’s opener costs him. Too passive early on, like many of his teammates.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Ryan Bertrand: 6 out of 10 Magnificent ball to lay a goal virtually on a plate for Danny Ings during Southampton’s brief better first half spell. Squandered an almost equally good chance at the start of the second half.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Manolo Gabbiadini: 4 out of 10 Cut a dejected figure when substituted. Started too deep out of position on the right, then moved up front where he looked more comfortable, then beckoned back over to the right wing. Some poor choices in the final third.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Nathan Redmond: 6 out of 10 Nearly lit up Southampton’s performance with a marvelous swerving dipper from distance, but otherwise quiet. Kept Cesar Azpilicueta pushed back for most of the afternoon, however.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Danny Ings: 5 out of 10 Hopelessly isolated early on, and then missed a glorious chance from Bertrand’s ball with the score at 0-0. He was better in the second half, but fortunate not to be sent off for an ugly lunge late on.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings <b>Chelsea:</b> Kepa Arrizabalaga: 7 out of 10 Quiet in the first half, Kepa was forced into action a few times in the second, including a spectacular save from Nathan Redmond’s swerving effort. He’ll have busier afternoons, but few better saves.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta: 6 out of 10 A lot of Southampton’s brighter moments came down his channel, though the Spaniard was not at fault for any of them. His usual solid self.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Antonio Rudiger: 6 out of 10 Largely untested but won plenty of headers.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings David Luiz: 6 out of 10 See Antonio Rudiger. Clever little block to free Giroud for Barkley’s goal.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Marcos Alonso: 7 out of 10 A constant menace marauding down the left, always an extra body in space, allowing Hazard to thrive. The defensive problems many foresaw with Alonso at left-back have not emerged yet. Playing very consistently at the moment.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings N’Golo Kante: 6 out of 10 Kante, bizarrely, had noreal influence on the game. Workmanlike, as ever, but not his sort of contest.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Jorginho: 7 out of 10 The great conduit through which this Chelsea team runs, Jorginho was Jorginho. Tidy and with a clear eye for a pass, he is never out of position and seemingly unable to lose the ball. Started to really pull strings in the second half.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Ross Barkley: 8 out of 10 A fine performance. Won the ball back and played a lovely pass for Hazard’s goal and showed why he is back in the England squad with his all-round showing. Passed well, dribbled superbly and ran the game in midfield.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Willian: 6 out of 10 Continues to waste corner-after-corner, and with Pedro fit again you wonder if Maurizio Sarri may consider a change on the right wing. Willian didn’t really threaten despite seeing a fair amount of the ball.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Olivier Giroud: 8 out of 10 Spectacular, if inadvertent, assist for Chelsea’s second. His usual effective self around the field, creating space for Chelsea’s array of attacking threats.
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Southampton vs Chelsea player ratings Eden Hazard: 9 out of 10 The best player on the pitch with an ability to light up the game at any moment. A goal and an assist. Defences are so scared when he turns and runs at them. Early favourite for Player of the Year.
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So how did the players perform? Click on the gallery above to find out.
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