Southampton 1-5 Chelsea: Jack Stephens sent off for hair pull as ...

Noni Madueke starred and Cole Palmer was yet again on target as Chelsea cut the gap to leaders Liverpool with an emphatic 5-1 victory at 10-man Southampton.

The Blues eased in front on seven minutes when Axel Disasi was allowed to nod home Enzo Fernandez’s left-wing corner from close range.

Southampton levelled four minutes later when Joe Aribo polished off fine work from Kyle Walker-Peters, but a howler from goalkeeper Joe Lumley allowed Madueke to tee up Christopher Nkunku to roll into an empty net and restore the visitors’ lead on 17 minutes.

The impressive Madueke then got in on the goal act when he cut in from the right and curled a delicious strike into the far corner past the half hour.

Southampton’s evening soured further just prior to the break when Jack Stephens was shown a straight red card after the referee was advised to consult the pitch-side monitor for his pull of Marc Cucurella’s hair.

Chelsea completely dominated the second half and eventually scored again when Palmer inevitably got his goal, tapping into an empty net after Nkunku’s shot dribbled past Lumley.

Substitute Jadon Sancho added a fifth three minutes from time to complete a comprehensive victory for Enzo Maresca’s men.

Next up, Southampton visit Aston Villa on Saturday, while Chelsea travel to Tottenham on Sunday.

Chelsea’s strength in depth has enabled Maresca to effectively field two different sides in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League this season, and he allowed many of his European stars to shine here.

Indeed, The Blues were a cut above an error-prone Southampton and could have racked up an even greater margin of victory had they shown more of a killer instinct in the second half of a very one-sided affair.

Indeed, the Londoners’ only three defeats in their last 29 top-flight matches have been away to Arsenal and Liverpool and at home to Manchester City. It's heavyweight, consistent form, and has inevitably propelled them into reckoning at the top of the standings.

Maresca may try to play down his side’s chances of pushing for the title this season, but they are very much in the mix and, on this sort of evidence, could well excel beyond his expectations even further this season.

A real menace on the right, combining hard work with electric pace and skill. Set up Chelsea’s second of the night and then added a killer third to cap an excellent night’s work.

SOUTHAMPTON: Lumley 5, Walker-Peters 7, Bree 6, Stephens 3, Manning 7, Wood-Gordon 6, Aribo 7, Fernandes 6, Fraser 6, Archer 6, Armstrong 6. Subs: Sulemana 6, Brereton Diaz 6, Sugawara 6, Taylor n/a, Edwards n/a.

CHELSEA: Jorgensen 8, Gusto 8, Disasi 8, Tosin 8, Cucurella 8, Fernandez 9, Caicedo 8, Madueke 9*, Palmer 8, Felix 8, Nkunku 8. Subs: Sancho 7, Veiga n/a, Dewsbury-Hall n/a.

07’ - GOAL! – Southampton 0-1 Chelsea: (Disasi). The visitors grab the lead as Disasi easily heads home Fernandez's left-wing corner at the near post.

11’ - GOAL! – Southampton 1-1 Chelsea: (Aribo). The hosts are back in business! It's a fine response as Aribo fires home a first-time shot from close-range after brilliant work by Walker-Peters down the left.

17’ - GOAL! – Southampton 1-2 Chelsea: (Nkunku). It's more shocking play from Lumley. The goalkeeper plays a terrible pass to Walker-Peters, allowing Madueke to nick the ball and feed Nkunku to roll into an empty net.

34’ - GOAL! – Southampton 1-3 Chelsea: (Madueke). The Blues have breathing space. Felix feeds Madueke on the far right of the area and he cuts inside before curving a low strike into the far corner.

39’ – SOUTHAMPTON RED CARD! VAR intervenes to inform the referee that Stephens pulled Cucurella's hair inside the Chelsea penalty area. The official takes a look at the monitor and returns to the pitch to reduce The Saints to 10 men. Sheer madness from the Southampton man.

77’ - GOAL! – Southampton 1-4 Chelsea: (Palmer). Cole Palmer gets his goal, slamming into an empty net after Nkunku's shot had bobbled past Lumley but wasn't certain to cross the line.

87’ - GOAL! – Southampton 1-5 Chelsea: (Sancho). It's five-star Chelsea - and they deserve it. Sancho is left free to the right to step inside the area and rifle beyond Lumley at his near post.