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Chelsea secured a crucial victory over Southampton courtesy of goals from Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, N'Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi to move to 14 points from eight games.
The win was also their fourth consecutive three points, having registered three earlier against Grimsby Town, Brighton & Hove Albion and LOSC Lille. Meanwhile, Southampton have lost three Premier League matches in a row now - a run that has pushed the side to the bottom five.
The Saints are yet to win a game at St. Mary's since March, and have only collected one point out of the seven they have in their kitty, so far this season.
On an overall note, Chelsea held a firm grip on proceedings and were impervious to the Southampton challenge. Kante's goal following Danny Ings' timely strike provided them with a cushion, after which they never looked back. To add to the hosts' misery, Batshuayi got his goal as well.
On that note, we look at the major talking points from Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Southampton.
#1 Lampard reverts to 4-2-3-1 at Southampton
Frank Lampard, ever since taking over the reins at Chelsea, has illustrated his essence as a manager who believes in fluidity and most notably, the concept of change and dynamism. Unlike what we saw from Maurizio Sarri, Lampard has fielded a host of formations, systems and in turn, methods.
Today, he started with four at the back. Captain Cesar Azpilicueta kept his place in the side, with Marcos Alonso filling the other side of the backline. Alongside young Fikayo Tomori was Kurt Zouma, perhaps because Andreas Christensen needed a breather.
There were two and not three central midfielders. Jorginho, recently appointed as the club's vice-captain for the season, partnered the engine in N'Golo Kante.
The headline prior to the game was stolen by Callum Hudson-Odoi though, as he made his first start for the senior team down the left. Willian occupied the opposite flank, allowing Mason Mount to run the game from his desired number 10 position.
Tammy Abraham of course, spearheaded the Chelsea attack as the lone striker. Michy Batshuayi and Christian Pulisic made the bench, while Olivier Giroud failed to make the matchday squad.
#2 Pressing in the final third paid off for Chelsea
The Saints clearly held the upper edge in the natal stages of the game, pressing high up the pitch, recovering the ball many a time and expressing themselves more than their opponents. Chelsea on the other hand had to switch on and keep pace.
However, their idea, as from what the shape they held indicated, was to keep Southampton at bay when they would play out from the back. Chelsea's pressure paid off, as they disallowed Southampton to play freely, charged forward in numbers and snatched the ball back in daunting areas of the pitch.
And suddenly out of nowhere, closed spaces down Chelsea's left led to the turnover of possession. Without any delay, Hudson-Odoi picked the run of Tammy Abraham. From then on, it was all the striker's work.
He kept the ball alive despite being pushed by a red and white shirt, maintained the composure. What followed was a moment of footballing brilliance, as he tucked the ball over an onrushing Angus Gunn to give his side the lead.
Doing that was far from simple, owing to the distance, pressure and lack of company.
#3 Southampton shot themselves in the foot
Southampton, in an attempt to play out and load attacks with patience and spaces, were not helped by their centre backs. Back passes were way too awkward for Gunn, who himself is not what you bill as a 'modern-day, ball-playing goalkeeper.'
Far too often, Chelsea were eased to the ball in the advanced areas of the pitch. Credit Frank Lampard for the change in system and approach in uprooting Southampton's challenge, but the hosts had to do better, especially against a side that headed into the game with three consecutive victories under its belt.
As a result, Chelsea won the ball back in and around the central area of midfield, and Jorginho played an incisive first-time pass to Willian. The in-form Mason Mount exhibited his willingness and desire by running ahead and receiving the pass.
And from what he's been like this season, he was probably never in doubt. Ralph Hasenhuttl cut a dejected figure as his side continued to gift Chelsea the ball in heart-wrenching zones.
#4 Chelsea need to improve at the back
There, there. We've discussed Southampton's headaches while defending and being caught in possession, but how could we forget to highlight Chelsea's defensive woes?
With just one clean sheet this term, the Blues have owned an apparent defensive problem throughout. As Andy Townsend rightfully pointed you at half time, "You can forgive them for naivety here and there, but not for basic errors."
Once again, they stood static when Yan Valery made a jinking run through the blue shirts. Marcos Alonso was beaten, Jorginho couldn't touch the right-back. Kurt Zouma was undone by Ings, who first held his run and then tricked him right in front.
All of a sudden, the complexion of the game changed with one goal. The visitors succumbed to that pressure and let the Saints enter the game just a little bit.
However, just when the game displayed the right of potentially opening up for a turnaround, Southampton invited problems once again.
This time it was through Alonso, who was played through down the left. No one knew how he had so much space to nail the ball down and whip a cross. He found Kante, who was also awarded acres of space. What on earth were the Southampton players doing there, when the Frenchman received the ball?
They jogged towards him, and a fortuitous goal restored Chelsea's two-goal advantage.
#5 Easing things down helped Chelsea keep their lead
Thrice in the space of eight games, Chelsea have been bound for the restart with a lead. However, only on one out of the three occasions prior to this victory, the Pensioners ended up bagging all three points.
A lead against Leicester City was blown away before a two-goal advantage against Sheffield United at home was surrendered. Teams began to understand Chelsea's brand of football, but here, they just applied themselves a bit more in possession which calmed their nerves down.
They knocked the ball about from corner to corner in a conservative fashion, which ultimately paid off as Southampton were made to work harder. It was a far more mature performance, indeed.
And they capped off that brilliant piece of tactical play in the second half with an excellently worked goal for Michy Batshuayi, who played a gorgeous one-two with fellow substitute Christian Pulisic to tuck home the fourth.
Following their 4-0 drubbing away from home against Manchester United, Chelsea have netted a total of 12 goals in three subsequent away games and taken nine points. Some way to respond.
