Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell both struck late as Chelsea overcame 10-man Southampton 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in a game shrouded in VAR controversy.
Match Report
Trevoh Chalobah headed in an early opener for the hosts (9) and Thomas Tuchel's men thought they had doubled their lead when Werner's header was ruled out by VAR for a foul from Cesar Azpilicueta on Kyle Walker-Peters in the build-up.
Southampton took full advantage of their reprieve as a foul by Ben Chilwell on Tino Livramento inside the box allowed James Ward-Prowse to level (61) but the Saints captain then saw red for a late challenge on Jorginho, upgraded to a red following VAR review.
It proved a turning point as Werner met Azpilicueta's cross to restore Chelsea's lead (84), and Chilwell added a third five minutes later to ensure Tuchel's men returned to winning ways - and top of the Premier League table ahead of Liverpool's clash with Manchester City on Sunday,
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Werner's shot stopped
8' GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Southampton (Chalobah)
22' Ward-prowse's long shot wide out
26' CLOSE! Chilwell's shot blocked
36' OFFSIDE! Lukaku’s goal disallowed
41' Foul! Werner's goal disallowed
48' Werner's long shot too straight
60' Penalty Goal! Chelsea 1-1 Southampton (Ward-Prowse)
72' CLOSE! Werner's shot blocked
76' Red Card! Ward-Prowse sent off
83' GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Southampton (Werner)
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Thiago Silva, Azpilicueta, Lukaku, Kovacic, Rudiger, E. Mendy, Werner, Loftus-Cheek, T. Chalobah, Chilwell, Hudson-Odoi
Subs: Alonso, Saul , Barkley, Jorginho, Kepa, Christensen, Ziyech, Mount, Havertz
Southampton XI: Walcott, McCarthy, Romeu, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Bednarek, A. Armstrong, Walker-Peters, N. Tella, V. Livramento, Mohammed Salisu
Subs: Shane Long, F. Forster, Armstrong, M. Elyounoussi, Perraud, Adams, Lyanco, Djenepo, I. Diallo