EPL: Chelsea thrash Southampton, Villa beaten by Palace in race for Champions League
Chelsea surged into the Premier League’s top four with a commanding 4-0 victory over struggling Southampton, while Aston Villa’s ambitions for a Champions League spot took a hit after a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Desperate for a turnaround after three consecutive losses, Chelsea faced the bottom-of-the-table Saints, who are on the verge of relegation. The Blues delivered a much-needed performance, netting three goals in the first half through Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Levi Colwill, securing just their third league win in 11 matches.
Before kickoff at Stamford Bridge, a group of disgruntled Chelsea fans protested against the club’s ownership, citing frustrations over ticket prices and the team’s performance. However, once the match began, it proved to be a comfortable evening for Enzo Maresca’s side.
Nkunku, who scored his 14th goal of the season, opened the scoring with a header from a corner. He later assisted Neto for the second goal, before Colwill added a third with a header from Neto’s free-kick. Marc Cucurella wrapped up the scoring with a calm finish from a cross by teenager Tyrique George.
Post-match, Maresca expressed relief, stating, “We needed that, the fans needed that, and the club needed that.” He emphasized the importance of pushing for a Champions League spot: “It will be like this until the end of the season—we need to be ready.”
With this victory, Chelsea climbed two points above Manchester City into fourth place, capitalizing on a strong performance from English clubs in European competitions that could see a top-five finish secure a Champions League spot.
In contrast, Villa had recently boosted their hopes for European football with a victory over Chelsea but found themselves on the wrong end of a heavy defeat at Selhurst Park. Unai Emery’s side has now won just one of their last seven league games, leaving their Champions League aspirations in jeopardy. “After today, it is difficult to try to explain everything,” stated Emery. “We have to move on and be motivated in the FA Cup and Champions League.”
Crystal Palace’s victory featured goals from Ismaila Sarr, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Eddie Nketiah, with Morgan Rogers briefly equalizing for Villa. The win marked Palace’s continued rise in form, while Villa’s defeat leaves them struggling to find consistency.
Elsewhere, Brighton secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Bournemouth, with Joao Pedro converting a penalty and Danny Welbeck scoring the winner.
Meanwhile, Wolves missed an opportunity to distance themselves from the relegation zone, falling 2-1 to Fulham.
