Chelsea crush Southampton to claim fourth place in Premier League

Chelsea stormed into fourth place in the Premier League with a commanding 4-0 victory over struggling Southampton on Tuesday, led by standout performances from Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto.

Enzo Maresca’s side bounced back emphatically after three consecutive defeats, delivering a dominant display at Stamford Bridge. Nkunku opened the scoring before Neto doubled the lead, with Levi Colwill adding a third just before halftime. Marc Cucurella sealed Chelsea’s biggest league win since their 5-1 triumph over Southampton in December.

Maresca had come under scrutiny following a lackluster defeat at Aston Villa, which followed losses to Brighton in both the Premier League and FA Cup. Before kickoff, frustration among Chelsea supporters was evident as over a hundred fans gathered outside Stamford Bridge to protest against Todd Boehly’s ownership, chanting for the return of former owner Roman Abramovich.

Despite the mounting pressure, Maresca remained confident in his project, and his team responded with a commanding performance against a Southampton side rooted to the bottom of the table. Chelsea’s third league win in 11 matches reignites their push for Champions League qualification.

However, their stay in the top four could be short-lived, as Manchester City and Newcastle have the opportunity to overtake them with victories over Tottenham and Liverpool on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Southampton’s dismal campaign continues, with just nine points from 27 matches and 11 goals conceded in their last three league games.