Southampton 2-3 Chelsea: 5 Talking Points

The week of epic comebacks continues with Chelsea being the latest to join the list. The Blues were 2-0 down at Southampton but scored 3 goals in 8 minutes to claim all three points.

Giroud and Pedro came on right after Chelsea went 2-0 down which was the start of Chelsea's comeback. The French striker scored twice with Eden Hazard scoring in between.

Here are the 5 talking points from the game:

#5 – Top 4 hopes still alive?

It was always going to be a difficult task for Chelsea to finish in the top 4 this season following their dubious start to 2018. It looked as though they would have to wave goodbye to the chance of playing in the Champions League next season but today's comeback gave them fresh hope.

The Blues are seven points behind Tottenham and Liverpool but the two sides have a game in hand. Chelsea would be hoping that they get some help from the other teams.

#4 – Hazard impresses in free role

Eden Hazard played a free role today, dropping deep into the midfield. The Belgian was replicating what Messi has been doing for Barcelona this season, but not that effectively.

He was on the ball more often than not for the Blues. Hazard kept trying to get the ball into space for Morata but the Spaniard was either running in the wrong direction or the Saints defenders were intercepting well.

His goal that got Chelsea level was the icing on the cake today. Despite being surrounded by a lot of red and white shirts, he kept his composure and launched it into the top of the net with his weak foot.

#3 – Former Blues impress once again

Oriol Romeu and Ryan Bertrand were out there to make a statement against their former side and they stood out. The former Chelsea duo were dominating their counterparts and played a key role in handing the lead to the Saints.

The left-back got the better of Cesar Azpilicueta in the first half and put in a superb ball into the Chelsea box. Tadic made the most of it and slotted the ball home.

Romeu was impressive in the midfield and dominated all the balls in the first half. However, he went missing in the 2nd half and that got Chelsea back in the game.

#2 - Southampton will struggle to stay up

The first hour of the game showcased the Saints in the best possible light - their excellent passing game, their attacking endeavour, and their undoubted quality on the ball coming to the fore - but if you cannot defend 2 goal leads with half-an-hour to go, the Premier League can be an unforgiving place.

They now stay rooted at 18th, 3 points behind Crystal Palace and four behind Huddersfield and Swansea. Palace play Brighton today and a win for the Eagles will give them the much-needed boost of confidence.

#1 - Antonio Conte's substitutions work brilliantly

Chelsea v Hull City - The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round — Impact subs

With Chelsea doing nothing of note up front, Antonio Conte decided enough was enough and took off the ineffectual Alvaro Morata and also his right wing-back Davide Zappacosta for Pedro just past the hour mark... and the effect was immediate and significant.

If the first goal, the one that started the comeback owed everything to Giroud's sheer determination to get to the ball first - Hoedt's elbow, and pressure, ignored with contemptuous ease - the second owed everything to the sheer attacking nous that both Giroud and Pedro had brought to the fore; Hazard freed up, and the Belgian made no mistake from close in.

The third then proved just why Olivier Giroud is a such an excellent buy - play to his strengths and there are no better second-choice strikers around.