Chelsea lost on the road for the second time in a row in the Premier League. Adam Armstrong’s goal in stoppage time of the first half was the difference in a 2-1 Southampton win at St. Mary’s.
The Blues didn’t look like they were working together, especially in the second half when Thomas Tuchel tried to pull every available string to make a comeback. That didn’t work, so Chelsea has to pick up the pieces again as they return to Stamford Bridge.
Even though Kai Havertz had trouble initially, he has given another chance to start up front, but he didn’t give anyone reason to believe in him. Hakim Ziyech, who might have been on the move before the deadline, was also put up front. His creativity kept the Blues going, but Raheem Sterling couldn’t build on his first-half goal because he didn’t get much help.
Southampton played aggressively together as they pressed Chelsea when they had the ball for 90 minutes. Romeo Lavia’s goal to tie the game was a great strike. It was the Belgian’s first Saints goal on a day when he did a lot more than just score one goal. Armstrong’s winning goal right before halftime was a good match for Chelsea’s sloppy play. He was left alone on the penalty spot and had an easy shot.
With the loss, the Blues drop to eighth in the Premier League table, and Southampton moves up to seventh. The goal by Sterling gives the former Man City forward three goals so far this season. And he’ll have to carry even more weight as those around him struggle.
The Sporting News gave live updates on the score, commentary, and highlights of the Southampton-Chelsea game as they happened.
Chelsea need a midfielder, not another defender
Even though Todd Boehly is trying to get more defenders like Wesley Fofana and Josko Gvardiol, Chelsea’s most significant need is elsewhere.
On the field, it’s clear that Thiago Silva, Kalidou Koulibaly, Trevoh Chalobah, and Cesar Azpilicueta have the central defensive unit covered. Their communication and teamwork are slowly getting better.
Instead, what the Blues need is another central midfielder. Again, Jorginho didn’t look up to speed because he made bad passes and pushed off the ball. After halftime, Mateo Kovacic took over for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who had seen with ice on his knee. Kovacic put in another good shift, but he can’t be the only one to move the team forward against a strong press. Someone named Declan Rice lives across London, but Boehly still seems interested in him.
Blues stuck with a little direction under Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel, the manager of Chelsea, has stayed strong even though the team has been having trouble, both in the preseason and so far this season. He still uses his classic three-at-the-back system. The only reason he changed it today was that Reece James was sick and couldn’t play.
He went back to the formation in the second half when Chelsea was already behind, but it didn’t help them win. Kai Havertz was struggling, but Tuchel kept playing him. He gave his fellow German another chance, but Havertz missed many shots and made terrible tackles. He cut a significant event in the first half when he shot from a tight angle, and the ball went right into the goalkeeper’s chest. In the second half, he blew a wide-open header over the bar.
Talented players like Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja are still waiting for their chance to shine. Both players reached on in the second half, but everyone on the Chelsea team was frustrated by that time. Want-away winger Hakim Ziyech got a chance and played well in the first half, but he couldn’t keep up with the rest of the team in the second half. Keep updated here in OKBet football blogs for more information and best odds.
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