“Don’t be happy yet” Chelsea ease to a victory that tells us nothing because Southampton are so historically bad

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Southampton’s Struggles: A Gift for 11 Premier League Teams

The Teams Still Set to Face Southampton

Liverpool, Wolves, Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Aston Villa, West Ham, Fulham, Leicester, Manchester City, Everton, and Arsenal. These are the 11 fortunate Premier League sides still scheduled to play Southampton this season.

With the race for European spots incredibly tight and the Saints looking outmatched against nearly every opponent except fellow relegation candidates, facing them has become a significant factor in any team’s season calculations.

For Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Chelsea, it’s a different story. They’ve already played Southampton twice, meaning they’ve lost out on three almost-guaranteed points in the battle for league positioning.

Southampton’s Fight to Avoid Historic Failure

When Southampton secured a win against Ipswich, there was disappointment on two fronts. First, it dealt a heavy blow to any hopes of a dramatic relegation battle. Second, it seemed to end any realistic chance of them matching Derby County’s infamous 11-point season.

However, after watching their disastrous performance against Chelsea, doubts remain. Looking at their remaining fixtures, it’s hard to pinpoint where the next three points will come from.

The obvious joke answer would be Tottenham, but even Spurs have avoided their worst habits lately. Not beating Southampton right now would be the ultimate act of self-sabotage.

During their worst stretch of an already poor season, Spurs won just one of 11 league games. That lone victory? A ruthless 5-0 demolition of Southampton—by halftime.

Realistically, their best shot at another win may be against Leicester, but that match isn’t until May, when both clubs might already be doomed to the Championship.

For context, Derby also had nine points after 27 games when they set their unwanted record.

A Defensive Disaster Waiting to Happen

To be fair, Southampton’s defensive issues were particularly dire against Chelsea due to a backline that barely qualified as makeshift. However, the sheer level of disorganization was shocking.

This wasn’t an isolated incident either. They’ve now scored six goals fewer than any other team and conceded six more than anyone else. If their thin defense doesn’t improve, they could easily surpass 100 goals conceded before the season ends—especially if stronger opponents show no mercy.

It’s going to be a long few months for the Saints.

Chelsea’s Much-Needed Win—But What Does It Mean?

For Chelsea, this victory came as a welcome relief in what has been a tough season. But how much does it actually tell us? It’s hard to say.

There were plenty of positives—Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto shone in attack, and young substitute Tyrique George delivered an energetic cameo that would excite any fan.

Cole Palmer’s Slump Continues

However, one concern lingers: Cole Palmer’s form.

This marks six consecutive Premier League games without a goal or assist for the young forward. He looked low on confidence, misplacing passes he would normally execute with ease and choosing to shoot when he should have squared the ball for an easy Nkunku tap-in.

It didn’t cost Chelsea this time, but it has before—and it could again in what looks set to be a fiercely contested race for European qualification.