The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 05, 2025
Today: April 05, 2025

Chelsea routs Southampton 4-0 on frustrating night for Cole Palmer. Brighton and Palace win

Britain Soccer Premier League
February 25, 2025

Chelsea wasn't so reliant on Cole Palmer this time.

On a frustrating evening for the England star, his Chelsea teammates stepped up — as demanded by their manager — to share the goals in a 4-0 thrashing of last-place Southampton in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella were the scorers as Chelsea ended a three-match losing run by beating a team destined to go down, perhaps as one of the worst-performing teams to ever play in the Premier League. Southampton has just nine points from 27 games.

Chelsea routs Southampton 4-0 on frustrating night for Cole Palmer. Brighton and Palace win
Britain Soccer Premier League

As for Palmer, he will wonder how he didn't get on the score sheet and add to his 14 league goals so far this season.

The best of his many opportunities at Stamford Bridge came midway through the first half when he was played clean through one-on-one with Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. He delayed and delayed and then shot too close to Ramsdale, who parried the effort away.

After wasting another chance in the second half, Palmer appeared to laugh at himself.

Palmer is on his driest run since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in September 2023. He hasn't scored in seven games now.

Chelsea routs Southampton 4-0 on frustrating night for Cole Palmer. Brighton and Palace win
Britain Soccer Premier League

On the eve of the match against Southampton, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said Palmer's dip in productivity has probably arisen because “we rely on him for everything.”

Maresca returned to that same theme after the game.

“He has to continue to work, continue to be happy, continue to laugh they way he does,” the coach said. “We are completely happy with him. It is normal to go through a moment where you struggle to score but it doesn’t matter. Just continue and you are going to score many goals.”

Chelsea climbed to fourth place in the standings. The Premier League is likely to get five qualification berths for next season's Champions League.

Another loss for Bournemouth, another win for Brighton

Chelsea routs Southampton 4-0 on frustrating night for Cole Palmer. Brighton and Palace win
Britain Soccer Premier League

Bournemouth is a more unlikely contender for Champions League qualification, its ambitions boosted by an 11-match unbeaten run in the league from late November to the end of January.

However, the unheralded south-coast club has now lost three of its last four league matches, the latest being a 2-1 reverse at Brighton after Danny Welbeck scored the 75th-minute winner — three minutes after coming off the bench.

Justin Kluivert had equalized for Bournemouth in the 61st, canceling out Joao Pedro's 12th-minute opener from the penalty spot after he was fouled by goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Bournemouth started the match in sixth place — one point behind fifth — but dropped to seventh and has now been joined on 43 points by Brighton, another improbable candidate for Champions League qualification.

Chelsea routs Southampton 4-0 on frustrating night for Cole Palmer. Brighton and Palace win
Britain Soccer Premier League

It was a fourth straight win in all competitions for Brighton since a 7-0 loss at Nottingham Forest.

Palace wins in front of Thomas Tuchel

Crystal Palace beat Aston Villa 4-1 at home, with Ismaila Sarr scoring twice for the hosts in a match watched by England men's coach Thomas Tuchel.

Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah also netted for Palace, with Morgan Rogers replying for Villa.

Fulham won 2-1 at Wolverhampton thanks to a goal in the first minute by Ryan Sessegnon and a winner by Rodrigo Muniz.

Chelsea routs Southampton 4-0 on frustrating night for Cole Palmer. Brighton and Palace win
Britain Soccer Premier League

___

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Share This

Popular

Economy|Europe|Political|US|World

Hear Rubio’s response to 'crashing' markets after tariff news

Hear Rubio’s response to 'crashing' markets after tariff news
Europe|MidEast|Political|US|World

‘It is time for you to leave the United States’: Ukrainians receive erroneous email from Homeland Security Department

‘It is time for you to leave the United States’: Ukrainians receive erroneous email from Homeland Security Department
Europe|Political|US|World

Ukraine's Zelenskiy disappointed with US embassy reaction to missile strike

Ukraine's Zelenskiy disappointed with US embassy reaction to missile strike
Business|Economy|Europe|Political|US

Elon Musk hopes for ‘zero-tariff situation’ between US and EU

Elon Musk hopes for ‘zero-tariff situation’ between US and EU

Sports

Europe|Sports

Coach Luis Enrique's guile guides PSG to 13th Ligue 1 title without defeat

Coach Luis Enrique's guile guides PSG to 13th Ligue 1 title without defeat
Entertainment|Sports

Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Sue Bird highlight Basketball Hall of Fame class

Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Sue Bird highlight Basketball Hall of Fame class
Sports|US

Wayne Gretzky has been helping Alex Ovechkin long before this record goal chase

Wayne Gretzky has been helping Alex Ovechkin long before this record goal chase
Business|Lifestyle|Sports

Those mismatched 3-point arcs from March Madness last year? The Sports Bra made that court its bar

Those mismatched 3-point arcs from March Madness last year? The Sports Bra made that court its bar

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In