A much-changed Chelsea moved seven points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after a 5-1 thrashing of bottom-side Southampton, who had captain Jack Stephens sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair.

The Blues made seven changes for the trip to St Mary's and still produced a fine attacking display that will only increase talk of a potential title challenge this season as they moved second.

Three players brought in - Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke - all scored in the first half.

Player ratings: Madueke shines

Southampton: Lumley (5); Bree (5), Wood (5), Stephens (4), Walker-Peters (6), Manning (6); Armstrong (6), Aribo (7), Fernandes (6), Fraser (6); Archer (6).

Subs: Brereton Diaz (6), Sulemana (6), Sugawara (6), Taylor (6), Edwards (6).

Chelsea: Jorgensen (7); Gusto (7), Disasi (8), Tosin (7), Cucurella (7); Caicedo (7), Fernandez (7); Madueke (9), Palmer (8), Felix (7); Nkunku (8).

Subs: Sancho (7), Veiga (6), Dewsbury-Hall (6).

Player of the Match: Noni Madueke.

Disasi's seventh-minute header was, however, quickly cancelled out just four minutes later as Joe Aribo swept home past Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who made his Premier League debut.

But Southampton's mistake-laden season continued as goalkeeper Joe Lumley's sloppy pass was cut out by Madueke who set up Nkunku to roll into an empty net in the 17th minute - a ninth Saints error leading to a goal in the Premier League this season.

Madueke then curled in a third in the 34th minute before Saints' night went from bad to worse five minutes later as skipper Stephens pulled Cucurella's hair at a Saints corner and was sent off for violent conduct following a VAR review at the pitchside monitor.

Chelsea then completely dominated proceedings and finally added a fourth through Cole Palmer's 77th-minute tap-in.

Substitute Jadon Sancho added a late fifth for his first Chelsea goal as Enzo Maresca's side made it seven games unbeaten in all competitions and next go to London rivals Tottenham on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

Southampton, meanwhile, are now seven points adrift from safety.

In all competitions, Chelsea have scored 57 goals in 22 games this season, which is already seven more than they scored in 2022-23 (50 in 50 games). Their current goals-per-game ratio of 2.6 is their best in a single season in their entire history.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have scored five or more goals in two away Premier League games this season (6-2 vs Wolves, 5-1 vs Southampton), the first time they have done so twice in a season since 2014/15. Their xG total in the win at Saints was the highest on record (2008-09 onwards) by a team in an away Premier League game (5.29).

Teams

Southampton Lumley, Walker-Peters, Bree (Edwards 79), Stephens (c), Wood, Manning, Fernandes (Taylor 78), Aribo, Fraser (Sulemana 62), Armstrong (Diaz 62), Archer (Sugawara 73)
Subs Not Used McCarthy, Whitmarsh, Cornet, Amo-Ameyaw
Booked Armstrong
Sent Off Stephens 39
Goals Aribo 11

Chelsea Jorgensen; Gusto, Disasi, Tosin, Cucurella (Veiga 79); Caicedo, Fernandez (c); Madueke (Sancho 72), Palmer (Dewsbury-Hall 79), Felix; Nkunku
Subs Not Used Sanchez, Badiashile, Colwill, Lavia, Neto, Jackson
Booked
Goals Disasi 7, Nkunku 17, Madueke 34, Palmer 77, Sancho 87

Attendance 31,193

Referee Tony Harrington

VAR Matt Donohue