Chelsea temporarily moved to the top of the Premier League table, courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Southampton away at the St. Mary’s on Sunday.
Chelsea ensured they kept pace with fellow title challengers Liverpool and Manchester City, as they romped home to a comfortable victory against the Saints, inspired by Eden Hazard and Ross Barkley.
The Belgian attacker opened the scoring at the half-hour mark with a precise finish, after being fed by Barkley, before the former Evertonian scored his first goal for Chelsea twelve minutes into the second period — being set up brilliantly by Olivier Giroud. Substitute Alvaro Morata then continued his resurgence, bagging his second goal in three days’ time in stoppage time to add more sheen to the scoreline.
Maurizio Sarri’s men extended their unbeaten start to the season and went to the top of the table, albeit temporarily, following their first victory in three Premier League games. Here’s how the ecstatic Chelsea fans reacted to another quality performance from their side;
Chelsea’s form this season.
-WWWWWWDWDWW
-19 Goals scored
-5 Goals concededUnbeaten. pic.twitter.com/lUHC2jRMOF
— Mod (@CFCMod_) October 7, 2018
☑️ Barkley – Playing top football
☑️ Luiz – Incredible
☑️ Morata – Getting back to form
☑️ Hazard – now getting to form
☑️ Competitions for the midfield positions
☑️ Moses needs to leave Chelsea
☑️ Sarriball is the new football
☑️ Kepa is a keeper#Chelsea pic.twitter.com/6E6y3XAux3— HotSports TV (@HotSportsng) October 7, 2018
Genuine title challengers this season! Ignore them at your peril. @premierleague @ChelseaFC #TopOfThePLTable #SOUCHE
— Seema Jaswal (@meseemajaswal) October 7, 2018
Barcelona anyone? Buzzing here ?. Thanks Sarriball!! I care less about trophies if we keep playing like this. pic.twitter.com/kkgXY9v0l0
— Mr Bassett (@MrBassett7) October 7, 2018
Chelsea – Southampton thoughts:
– So deserved by Barkley
– Kepa better every minute
– Azpi = Big concern
– Willian = Wasteful
– Jorginho quietly crucial
– Giroud always helps
– Bad time for an int. break for Morata
– Rüdiger, please be OK
– Hazard w/ Sarri = Absolute Hazard— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) October 7, 2018
#Chelsea have won 20+ points from their first eight Premier League games for the eighth time:
? 03/04: 6W 2D 0L
? 04/05: 6W 2D 0L
? 05/06: 8W 0D 0L
? 08/09: 6W 2D 0L
? 09/10: 7W 0D 1L
? 12/13: 7W 1D 0L
? 14/15: 7W 1D 0L
? 18/19: 6W 2D 0LTop three finish in all eight.? pic.twitter.com/VgDvr2v0py
— The Blues (@TheBlues___) October 7, 2018
Maurizio Sarri has now gone all competition as Chelsea manager unbeaten.
? 11 games
? 9 wins
? 2 draws
? 21 goals scored
? 6 goals conceded
? 7 clean sheetHe's won our hearts already ?#Sarristuff #cfc pic.twitter.com/8qxdtOx685
— Sarri Stuff (@SarriStuff) October 7, 2018
Really nice performance,keep it up the blues.
Hazard is just the Classic player currently,Chelsea just the best team now with good coach.
I can't just stop loving this club.— Tyoyima Simon (@TyoyimaS) October 7, 2018
What a performance, Hazard and Barkley both getting a goal & assist, Giroud with an unreal assist, Kepa was fantastic and Álvaro bags again. Very proud of the boys today.?? #CFC
— ⒹⓎⓁ (@ChelseaDyl) October 7, 2018
Ross Barkley was the star of the show for Chelsea, along with Eden Hazard. Having been on the fringes of the team under Antonio Conte last season, the Englishman is coming into his own under Sarri and that was not last on the supporters.
Ross Barkley breakout day!
Good. For. Him. He’s worked hard.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) October 7, 2018
Massive credit to Ross Barkley there. Forceful stuff & a nice assist to the best in the PL.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) October 7, 2018
Really been impressed with Ross Barkley today. One goal, one assist, and some great play up through the middle. I know he's been waiting a long time for the opportunity to shine. Fantastic to see him finally do it.
— Dan Levene (@danlevene) October 7, 2018
People doubting Barkley last week, worshipping him this week. Key is to not be reactionary.
Always rated Barkley, knew he had it in him, just needed someone like Sarri to bring it out. Up the Chels!
— Simon Phillips (@SiPhillipsSport) October 7, 2018
Always believed in Barkley, always will. Things will only get better for him from here.
— CFC (@CFCWriter) October 7, 2018
Ross Barkley: "You can't see me, my time is now." It has been a good week for him. #CFC #SOUCHE pic.twitter.com/Z4uqM1BnEG
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) October 7, 2018
Ross Barkley proving all his doubters wrong today, I'm loving it. Bagging a goal and an assist today, couldn't have imagined it any better.
Healthy competition in that midfield.
— Mod (@CFCMod_) October 7, 2018
Ross Barkley is the first English player to score and assist in one game for Chelsea since Frank Lampard in 2013!
Mad stat! Fair play to Ross but also a bit depressing it took 5 years…#SOUCHE #CFC pic.twitter.com/bRg7yfn0NF
— Laurenz Vescoli (@Laus1507) October 7, 2018