Barkley shines as Chelsea crush Southampton
Southampton 0 Chelsea 3
Ross Barkley celebrated his England recall by scoring his first Chelsea goal as the Blues maintained their unbeaten record under Maurizio Sarri.
Barkley created Eden Hazard’s first-half opener and doubled the lead on 57 minutes by bundling the ball in after Olivier Giroud had acrobatically volleyed across the face of goal.
And Alvaro Morata capped the win with his second goal in as many games when he lifted the ball over keeper Alex McCarthy after being set up by Hazard in injury time.
Sarri’s men went ahead on the half-hour mark when Barkley, named in the England squad this week, won the ball and then played it through to Hazard, who coolly slotted home.
Both the first two goals came shortly after Danny Ings missed chances for Southampton.
Chelsea totally controlled possession in the opening 20 minutes but Hazard’s goal – his eighth of the season – came after a tricky spell for them.
They were almost undone on the counter-attack when Mario Lemina was unable to add the finishing touch to Ings’ cross.
The Saints then registered the game’s first shot on target when Manolo Gabbiadini’s effort was held by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
And the visitors had a major let-off when Ings contrived to volley over from close range after being found by a superb cross from former Chelsea man Ryan Bertrand.
The miss proved costly for the hosts because three minutes later – just after Chelsea had penalty appeals waved away after Wesley Hoedt brought down Giroud – Chelsea took the lead.
They scored again shortly after Bertrand had shot over and Ings had fired straight at Kepa after being set up by Nathan Redmond.
Redmond would have pulled a goal back but for a fine save by Kepa, who pushed his shot on to the bar and also kept out a late strike from Ings.
Morata, on as a substitute, should have made it 3-0 after being set up by Hazard but shot straight at McCarthy.
But the Spaniard got it right when Hazard created another opportunity for him in the final seconds.
Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Barkley (Kovacic 81), Willian (Pedro 75), Hazard, Giroud (Morata 69)
Subs not used: Caballero, Fabregas, Zappacosta, Cahill.
