Chelsea defeated relegation-bound Southampton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night to climb to fourth in the English Premier League and keep the visitors firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.
Super Eagles stars Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo were in Southampton’s starting line-up, with the latter playing an unfamiliar centre-back role for the second match in a row.
France forward Christopher Nkunku scrambled home Chelsea’s opener from a Tosin Adarabioyo header in the 24th minute, then turned provider 12 minutes later, slipping a neat pass to Pedro Neto who fired a powerful left-foot shot between goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and the near post.
Defender Levi Colwill made it 3-0 just before half-time, heading down a Neto free-kick and Spain wing-back Marc Cucurella converted a pinpoint pass from 19-year-old substitute Tyrique George in the 78th minute.
Ramsdale made sharp saves in the last 10 minutes, denying Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer but the result, Southampton’s 22nd defeat of the season, leaves them 13 points from the safety zone while Chelsea hang on to hopes of UEFA Champions League football next season.
Also on Tuesday night, Nigeria internationals Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey were second-half substitutes as Fulham secured a 2-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers to boost their hopes of European football
Ryan Sessegnon gave the visiting Fulham a first-minute lead before Rodrigo Muniz scored the winner after the break.
Sessegnon put Fulham in front after 58 seconds, striking a low shot inside the far post after breaking down the left, before Joao Gomes blasted home an equaliser in the 18th minute.
However, Muniz restored Fulham’s lead just after the restart with a chipped finish from the edge of the area.
Fulham rose to ninth in the table on 42 points after 27 games, four points off the top four and two points behind fifth-placed Manchester City. Wolves stay 17th, five points above the drop zone.
At Selhurst Park, Ismaila Sarr scored twice on his 27th birthday to help Crystal Palace to a deserved 4-1 victory over Aston Villa, putting a dent in the visitors’ hopes of Champions League football next season.
Villa dropped to 10th place in the table with 42 points from 28 games, while Palace climbed to 12th with 36 points from 27.
Palace dominated the chances as they secured just a third home win of the campaign, with in-form striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah also on target in a polished performance that was full of attacking threat.
Villa twice had the ball in the back of the net for goals that were ruled out for offside, but they did not create nearly enough in the final third and could only score what proved a consolation through Morgan Rogers.
Villa had two shots on target in the game and one resulted in their goal, but it was defensively where they struggled as they were cut open on numerous occasions by their hosts.
RESULTS
Chelsea 4-0 Southampton
Wolves 1-2 Fulham
Crystal Palace 4-1 Aston Villa
Brighton 2-1 Bournemouth
