Three reasons why Chelsea beat Southampton 4-1 | Premier League 2019-20

Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount were once again on the scoresheet for a potent Chelsea, who prevailed with a comfortable 4-1 away win against Ralph Hasenuttl's Southampton side in their final Premier League fixture before the next international break.

Abraham broke the deadlock after 17 minutes, latching onto Callum Hudson-Odoi's lofted pass before flicking it high above an onrushing Angus Gunn. Despite Maya Yoshida's last-ditch clearance attempt, goal-line technology showed the ball had fully crossed the line before being punted to safety.

Mount displayed both industry and spatial awareness just seven minutes later, winning possession in Southampton's half before Willian spotted his marauding run through into the box where he slammed home at Gunn's near post.

The hosts were handed a lifeline on the half-hour mark, when Danny Ings netted his fourth goal in three games. The former Liverpool man poked the beyond Kurt Zouma at Kepa Arrizabalaga's near post after Yan Valery's adventurous run-and-cross were not intercepted in time. Ten minutes later though, they restored their two-goal cushion as N'Golo Kante saw his strike from distance take a wicked deflection off Pierre-Emile Hojberg anf fly into the back of the net.

Ings would've doubled his tally in first-half stoppage-time but for Jorginho's excellent recovery, moments after Fikayo Tomori's mistake in possession gifted a chance with the goal gaping.

Ultimately the game was put beyond any doubt late on, as two second-half substitutes - combined to apply gloss on a well-deserved away win. American Christian Pulisic teed up striker Michy Batshuayi, with his first Chelsea league goal since October 2017.

Without further ado, here's a look at three reasons behind the Blues' fourth successive win in all competitions.

---

#3 Jorginho and Willian the unsung heroes

Jorginho and Willian come in for criticism after underwhelming displays but should be credited here

Jorginho and Willian have been two of Chelsea's chief scapegoats whenever they underperform or find themselves on the receiving end of a frustrating defeat - it's been so since last season began, for various reasons.

Willian has never managed to recapture his best goalscoring form - the 2015/16 campaign - while Jorginho was immediately a victim of his £60m pricetag from Napoli. Earmarked as their midfield saviour, he hasn't always looked that as part of a Chelsea side struggling to find the right balance between technical quality and defensive nous.

After a slow start to the campaign, Willian is producing steady displays. His assist for Mount was as clever as it was subtle. The Brazilian weighted his pass perfectly for the 20-year-old Mount to control and shoot goalwards, having already breached their way into Southampton's box with seeming ease. He now has a goal or assist in his last three appearances (all competitions), at a crucial juncture in his Chelsea career with less than twelve months to run on his existing deal.

As for Jorginho, he picked up an early booking after sliding in late on Shane Long - despite suggestions he'd also won the ball in the process. Having to walk the proverbial tightrope for the remaining 78 minutes meant he needed discipline and concentration, against a Southampton midfield capable of troubling anyone league-wide when they're on song.

The Saints were okay in patches but with the Italian's presence alongside the dependable Kante, they found themselves effectively stifled by Chelsea. Southampton's best chances came either from slaloming runs or individual mistakes, like Tomori did on the stroke of half-time. Besides his goal-saving clearance, the 27-year-old worked smartly with three interceptions and two tackles: enjoying an encouraging start to his second campaign in England.

#2 Saints' lackadaisical defending

Yoshida and Co. were forced to endure a tough afternoon against a patient and potent Chelsea side.

This defeat is Southampton's fifth already this term and after eight games, they find themselves level on goal difference (-7) with Marco Silva's Everton hovering in the relegation zone.

The international break comes at a welcome time after losing three successive league games. The problem which will concern Hasenhuttl most is the manner in which they concede goals. The Saints have now shipped 15 goals in the league and October has just begun. Norwich (21) and Watford (20) are the only two sides who have conceded more. If you look at how they conceded four in this match, it speaks volumes about their struggles.

Abraham's opener was an unorthodox but deft finish by a striker playing full of confidence, despite Yoshida's best efforts. Callum Hudson-Odoi had far too much time to pick out a pass for Tammy though and should have been closed down. Angus Gunn's starting position is far too high and the goalkeeper essentially dares his compatriot to chip him, which he does.

Mount's goal stemmed from a poorly-executed attempt at passing out from the back in the So'ton half and having been given another chance to atone for their error, a weak Jan Bednarek header forward saw an alert Willian retrieve possession before teeing up Mount seconds later.

Space was a recurring theme for Chelsea's third goal - this time Kante striking from distance. Although it took a deflection and wrong-footed Gunn, there were four Southampton players within blocking range of the Frenchman as he shaped to shoot. Yet, none of them closed him down quickly enough or better yet, shut off the passing lane altogether?

The final goal was brilliantly-worked from the visitors but Southampton defenders were caught ball-watching. Batshuayi dropped deep to receive Jorginho's pass, played a slick one-two with Pulisic, whose defence-splitting return ball left their back-line in tatters before the Belgian international slotted his first-time finish through Gunn's legs at his near post.

#1 Abraham and Mount's purposeful start

Mount celebrates his goal having worked tirelessly to retrieve possession in the So'ton half.

Tammy Abraham has silenced critics to prove his worth as Chelsea's first-choice forward option in recent months but Mason Mount's adaptability, invention and persistence means the pair have combined to develop into one of the duos to watch in the league this term.

Sure, it's still early days but all the signs are promising from two players with plenty of potential to fufill and a manager in Frank Lampard that will provide them ample opportunity to blossom.

It was far from a vintage display by either but crucially, they did what they could to get Chelsea going early on. From there, they found themselves in cruise control courtesy of the Saints' lax defending and a comfortable away cushion to protect.

Mount's passing was risky and the stats show that (28 accurate passes, 68.3% completion), though the 20-year-old playmaker created two key chances and displayed composure to double the lead with Southampton still stewing from the frustrating way they conceded their first. He could've completed his brace three minutes later, but fired an effort over the bar after good work from Hudson-Odoi.

Abraham meanwhile, was an ever-present thorn in the hosts' back-line and despite registering just 23 touches in 84 minutes, showcased precisely why he scored goals for fun on-loan in previous seasons elsewhere.

Attacking intelligence, awareness and precise movement were key as he broke the deadlock and continued to pull So'ton defenders left-and-right trying to track him later on. Both were replaced late on by Kovacic and Batshuayi respectively, presumably with their latest England call-ups in Lampard's mind after the pair delivered another memorable shift.