Well, that's more like it. Chelsea gets all three points and an impressive performance. It was an afternoon that couldn't have contrasted more with the defeat to Brentford the week before.
The Blues threatened to start slowly as Southampton earned some early set-pieces. Still, the home side could not handle the pace of Chelsea's attack as Timo Werner showed his intent with some impressive running and near-misses.
Marcos Alonso opened the scoring, followed by Mason Mount, but Werner was soon in on the act when the Saints gifted him the ball near the halfway line to go and finish. Kai Havertz converted after a miss from Werner for the Blues to finish the half 4-0 up. The 26-year-old striker was already adding to his tally just four minutes into the second period. Five minutes later, Mount added his second and the team's sixth.
READ MORE: Southampton vs Chelsea highlights: Timo Werner and Mason Mount score twice as Blues run riot
Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea relaxed and controlled the game from then onwards, with key players like Havertz and Thiago Silva rested early with a Champions League fixture against Real Madrid too far away. A very good afternoon for the Blues, and while there was plenty to see on the pitch, football.london takes a look at the moments you might have missed below:
Ruben Loftus-Cheek at right wing-back
When the teamsheet came out with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante all among the XI, some would have expected Tuchel to have opted for a rare midfield three, with Andreas Christensen having on an outing at right-back as he did against Crystal Palace earlier in the season.
That wasn't to be, and as the Blues revealed Azpilicueta was out following a positive Covid-19 test, Loftus-Cheek was soon making his way across the St Mary's pitch. The way Alonso hugged the left flank was the first hint before his teammate took his place on the opposite wing.
The last time we were here, the 26-year-old academy product was left exhausted after taking to the position for the second half against Norwich in the Premier League. On this occasion, while Saints did not provide the sternest opposition, Loftus-Cheek repeatedly delivered quality crosses from the right, from which Werner could have added to his tally. A very solid performance from the former Fulham loanee with Reece James on the bench on Saturday afternoon.
Mason Mount's big changes
It should perhaps come as no surprise after Mount was caught wearing a hat on a not too cold Friday as he headed for Chelsea training that we had a new hair-cut waiting in the wings from the England international. His long flopping locks have received plenty of attention but had disappeared with a fresh new cut in place for the trip to the south coast. Whether it had been weighing him down, who knows, but Mount looked unburdened.
The more important change on Saturday afternoon was Mount's ability to thrive in the hole behind Havertz and Werner, however. He tormented Ralph Hasenhuttl's side and showed true class and composure with his touches in the box to set up Alonso for Chelsea's first goal.
The midfielder, from Portsmouth, was able to quieten the Southampton crowd with a fine finish of his own in the first half, lifted his finger to his mouth to make sure they knew, and added a simple second in the following half. The 23-year-old has now both scored and assisted in a game for the fifth time this season, with only Mo Salah able to match that feat.
Timo Werner loves Southampton
There's no arguing against it, Werner just loves playing against Southampton. They are the only team he has scored a Premier League goal against this season, and it didn't take long to see that he was going to be in for a busy afternoon.
In the opening half alone, Werner managed to hit both posts and the crossbar, while one outing in the box produced a very impressive save from Fraser Forster. In that instance, Werner was quite frankly fuming at missing from close range, or maybe just because it wasn't quite coming off against his favourite team.
He showed plenty of control and composure with his finish when James Ward-Prowse misplaced a header in his own half. With his goal in the second period, the former RB Leipzig star netted his fifth Premier League goal against the Saints out of his nine in total. In fact, they've totalled 23.8% of all of Werner's goals at Chelsea.
What Kai Havertz did
The forward has been at the heart of positive for Chelsea in 2022 and has led the line very well. On this outing, he was ably helped by Mount and Werner but still was able to show the kind of special player he is.
It was just a 45-minute performance for the German forward, who was presumably being protected ahead of Real Madrid, but he still managed to find himself on the scoresheet when he converted a tap in when Werner hit the post. Given how many Chelsea scored, perhaps not his most impressive moment of the afternoon, however. The German international managed to beat two Saints players in a row with consecutive Maradona turns in an exquisite piece of play. Movement, skill, he has it all.
