Chelsea beat Southampton to regain control of title race
Two goals from Diego Costa guide the Blues past Saints and open up a seven-point gap over chasing Spurs
Chelsea 4 Southampton 2
Chelsea took control of the title race on Tuesday evening with a comfortable win over Southampton. The victory restores their seven-point advantage over Tottenham who travel to Crystal Palace this evening knowing that anything other than three points will be a serious setback in their pursuit of their London rivals.
"We've put pressure on Spurs," said Eden Hazard, who scored the first of Chelsea's goals after just five minutes. Oriol Romeu levelled for the Saints midway through the first half but a Gary Cahill header restored the Blues advantage on the stroke of half-time and Diego Costa scored twice after the interval to wrap up the victory, a result that not even a stoppage time goal from Ryan Bertrand could tarnish.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"It does feel like a massive step," said Cahill. "It's the first time for a long time we've played first [before Tottenham in the league] and this result leaves us in a good position."
Spurs visit Palace on the back of a seven match Premier League winning streak, but their comprehensive defeat to Chelsea in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final (their first loss in any competition since a Europa League defeat to Genk in mid-February) will be a test of their character against an Eagles side that are also enjoying a spell of good form in the league, having lost just once in their last eight matches, and claimed the notable scalps of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Chelsea's 2-1 loss at home to Palace was followed a fortnight later by their defeat to Manchester United, two results that reopened the title race and led some to wonder whether the Blues were feeling the pressure. But the manner in which they dispatched Tottenham on Saturday, and now Southampton, suggests that Antonio Conte has steadied the ship.
"We passed a big step - a big psychological step - after the defeat against Manchester United," said the Italian. "We lost three points, then we had to prepare a semi-final against Tottenham, then another tough game here. Mentally we have had a really important test. Our answer was very good. We must be pleased."
And Conte was particularly pleased for Costa who, prior to the Southampton match, had gone seven games without a goal. "It's normal for the strikers that it is important to score, the goals are their life," said Conte of the Spanish striker whose brace against the Saints took him to 50 Premier League goals. "But I've always said I've been pleased with his commitment. He has always worked for the team... now he must continue. He's very important for us, his confidence is very important for us."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Diamonds could be a brilliant climate solution
Under the radar A girl and the climate's best friend
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: November 12, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: November 12, 2024
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Thomas Tuchel to become next England football manager
Speed Read 'Divisive' German coach hopes to lead the men's team to victory
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published