Chelsea’s season sunk to a new and alarming low as they were beaten 1-0 at Stamford Bridge by the Premier League’s bottom side Southampton.
A converted free-kick from James Ward-Prowse on the stroke of half-time put the Saints’ captain one goal behind David Beckham in the competition’s all-time standings, and sent Graham Potter’s team to a fourth consecutive winless match in the league.
With five of the club’s eight January signings in the staring XI, Potter saw his team labour to find any invention against a Saints side set up by interim boss Ruben Selles to frustrate the hosts’ expensively assembled attacking cavalry.
Victory in their first match since the sacking of Nathan Jones was everything they deserved, Live Score reports.Chelsea have scored just once at home in 2023, and the lack of a recognised striker was made painfully apparent yet again.Southampton took the lead in a familiar fashion.
Stamford Bridge, quiet until now, made its displeasure known.
The required response almost arrived within minutes of the second half starting.
Raheem Sterling, on as a substitute to make his return from injury, shoved Ainsley Maitland-Niles off the ball near the touchline and whipped in a cross that Mount, rising highest, failed to connect with.It heralded a change in intensity for Chelsea’s attack.
The pair celebrated as if top-flight safety had already been secured.
Arrizabalaga saved at the feet of Armstrong as Saints threatened to extend their lead on the break. There was yet more worry for Chelsea when Azpilicueta was carried from the field on a stretcher with an oxygen mask after being struck in the head by the boot of Sekou Mara as he attempted to clear
