Chelsea

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Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer believes Cole Palmer's relaxed attitude will help him to find his shooting boots again in no time.

The 22-year-old remains Chelsea's top scorer in the Premier League this season but has not scored in his past seven appearances.

"With Cole Palmer, we see it time and time again that nothing fazes him," said Schwarzer on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "It's like: 'OK it didn't work. I didn't have a good game. I didn't take my chances. So what? On to the next one'.

"That's the thing about him and that's why I'm not concerned because he's so good a player and has such good quality, so it'll come."

Ex-Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison added: "All he needs is one goal. Once he gets one, he will be back on it again.

"Even the best players can suffer what he's going through at the moment, but do you know what I like about him? He still gets in there.

"It's when you start hiding and not getting in there that there is a problem. But he still wants to get in there and create chances. Once he gets one, he'll go on a good run again."

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Enzo Fernandez may still have a little way to go before he justifies his price tag of £106m, but his performances this season have certainly started to show glimmers of why Chelsea paid such big money for his services.

According to Squawka, external, he became the first player to create five or more chances, win over five duels and win possession more than five times in a Premier League game multiple times this season.

As well as doing so against Southampton, he also produced those stats in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth last month.

His touch map highlights just how big of an impact he had on the game, with his 79 touches showing him just about everywhere on the pitch.

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insists goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen "should just follow the plan", despite coming under pressure from fans in the stands.

The Blues shot-stopper was jeered by his own supporters during the first half of Chelsea's 4-0 win over Southampton for playing short passes out from the back.

The 22-year-old, who has replaced Robert Sanchez as the side's number one, came in for criticism after his error proved costly for the team in their 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa on Saturday.

When asked if the fans made it difficult for their own goalkeeper, boss Maresca said: "My message to Filip was if you play a long ball, I will change you - but it is difficult for Filip or Robert when he is playing.

"It is difficult for all the keepers, but they should just follow the plan."

Chelsea returned to winning ways having endured a difficult run of form since Christmas that had seen them pick up just two wins in 10 games.

A small group of just over 100 Blues supporters protested against the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership before the match but, when asked to react, Maresca added: "The only thing I can say is that, at this moment, the fans have to trust because we are in the right process and direction.

"I said since we started that we have been in the top four or Champions League spots for most of the season and I feel it shows we are in the right direction.

"I feel they should trust the players because they are working every day to get the club where it deserves to be, which is in the Champions League."

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We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Southampton.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Andy: Good performance from the whole team. Cole Palmer wasn't at his best but it was great to see the other players step up with goals and assists. Cole Palmer FC no more, but I still fully expect he will turn it on again soon - watch out Leicester! Good to see Moises Caicedo get a few minutes' rest and the young players gaining some minutes. Filip Jorgensen was also very good and it looked like a deliberate ploy to keep passing it to him to build his confidence and seems to have worked. Hopefully it is a springboard for the rest of the season.

Tim: Chelsea played with more passion and seem to have found their form again, but they still had a lot of chances that they wasted. Southampton were a good team to play after some poor results. If we can get a few key players back then we can make fourth spot. Then we need to find a new keeper and a more prolific centre-forward in the summer.

Kevin: This doesn't fool me. We did not play well, Southampton are just poor and if we do not improve quickly I cannot see us winning many more games. We simply do not create many scoring chances and we fail to put away the few we have. Frayed nerves until the end of season for us fans, I think!

Tony: Nice to get a win, but it was against a team completely out of their depth in the Premier League. It still feels as though Chelsea are happier going backwards and sideways, and are not moving the ball quickly enough. Hopefully the boys will take confidence from the win and we can start to threaten again.

Southampton fans

Paul: I can't see where our next points are coming from because of the way we are playing at this stage of the season. We sold the experienced players and brought in a group of youngsters that haven't gelled, however potentially talented they are. If we carry on selling the talent when we generate it, we're likely to drop through the leagues yet again. Depressing doesn't cover it.

Martin: Beaten before we started. That team would struggle in the Championship. With the exception of Aaron Ramsdale and Matheus Fernandes, no-one would get in any other Premier League team. Our manager also looks out of his depth.

Daniel: Sadly Ivan Juric cannot get it right either and the line-up seems wrong. Players like Will Smallbone are nowhere near this level. It looks like the players have given up any fight for him and we look completely clueless. Two of the best performances of the season came under Simon Rusk. We could give him a shot to scrape us at least three more points. It is just a dire situation for us to be in.

Matthew: We have no discernible style of play or gameplan. At least with Russell Martin there was a plan and structure, despite it not working perfectly. Then at least we had a chance that it might work, but a team with no plan has no chance. Coupled with the poor calibre of attacking players, we're doomed to keep conceding more goals and creating and fewer opportunities. Our strikers have more left feet than they do Premier League goals. Derby fans are preparing to happily brush off their embarrassing title, and soon.

Forward Cole Palmer will be asked if he is happy to stay at Stamford Bridge this summer if Chelsea miss out on Champions League qualification. (Times - subscription required), external

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Enzo Maresca spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Chelsea's victory against Southampton: "Very happy. We said already that from now on every game is important. And if we get three points it's even better.

"First of all, every game is tricky and anything can happen. We have to embrace that and we started the game in the right way. This is the worst game because everyone takes it for granted. It's dangerous.

"I think the performance was there. Even the last game against Aston Villa the performance was there.

"We said since we start we cannot rely on Cole [Palmer] for every game. He has to continue to work, continue to be happy, continue to laugh they way he does. 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.

"In some games we have been unlucky and we could have finished it with a clean sheet.

"The players are happy, this is good. We know that every game is difficult and we're trying to win as many games as we can."

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

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Chelsea were desperate for this win.

After starting the season with 18 wins from 26 matches in all competitions, the Blues had won just three of their past 12 before their match with Southampton.

But they always looked better than the struggling Saints with Christopher Nkunku particularly impressing as they created numerous chances.

While the French forward starred, key man Cole Palmer continued to stutter.

Much has been written about Chelsea's top scorer, who has now gone seven matches without a goal.

He missed two glorious chances when one-on-one in the first half with one effort saved by Aaron Ramsdale and another dragged wide. After the restart he blasted a cut-back over the bar and had a free-kick kept out by Ramsdale.

So while there were plenty of positives for Chelsea supporters, some will continue to worry about Palmer's lengthening goal drought.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca also chose to play goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen who was at fault for Aston Villa's late winner against the Blues last time out.

The 22-year-old Swedish keeper had little to do although he did make a fine diving save to deny a Paul Onuachu header with the score goalless.

Late on, Chelsea gave Premier League debuts to 19-year-old midfielder Mathis Amougou and 17-year-old forward Shumaira Mheuka.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Southampton's display?

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies

Four matches make up Tuesday's Premier League action and we will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Bournemouth

• Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

• Wolves v Fulham

• Chelsea v Southampton (20:15)

All kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Chelsea's poor recent from is down to opposition teams figuring out the Enzo Maresa style of play, Blues fan Tom Overend has told The Football News Show's Ben Croucher and ex-Premier League midfielder Michael Brown.

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Will Faulks
Fan writer

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Chelsea's defeat at Aston Villa generated an astonishing statistic.

The 2-1 loss made it 13 points dropped by the Blues in games they had the lead in - since Boxing Day. That is more points than some teams drop from winning positions in a whole season, and Chelsea have done it in two months.

Asked about that incredible figure and the potential reasons behind it in his news conference on Monday, Enzo Maresca admitted he had been aware of the stat but said he did not have an answer as to why it was happening.

That is a worrying thing to hear about such a critical problem. Even from the outside, it is clear what some of the causes are.

First, there is an obvious personality issue. Building a team of youngsters with little top-level experience was bound to create a group which lacks the composure and leadership to respond to setbacks on the pitch and to work out how to overcome them.

There also appears to be a fitness problem. The energetic attacking which produced such good results through the autumn has faded into sluggish possession play. Maresca's team end every game clinging on, whether winning or losing, and that has to be at least in part a physical issue.

Compounding that is Maresca's own game management. On Saturday, he changed his team and set them up nicely. They took the lead and were well positioned. However, as the match wore on, Unai Emery in the opposing dugout adjusted his side until they had the upper hand. Maresca had no response.

In this instance, there is no denying there was a lack of options on the bench for him, but his failings in this area were notable even when he had a full squad to pick from.

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Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson says "there is a lot being made about the drop in form of Cole Palmer" but Chelsea fans should be looking closer at the rest of the team and manager Enzo Maresca.

"There has been a lack of goals, lack of assists and goal involvements from him, but you need more from the rest of the team," Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"I have to look at Enzo Maresca because at one stage Leicester were 17 points clear at the top of the Championship last season and they surrendered it. By the end of April they were third, so it does suggests there is a drop-off with his teams after Christmas.

"It may be a complete coincidence but the same thing has happened now at Chelsea."

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Chelsea have looked very flat in recent weeks and ended up being beaten by Aston Villa on Saturday after taking the lead.

Enzo Maresca's side are desperate to get back to winning ways so this is the perfect game for them - you could not ask for more of an open goal at the moment than playing Southampton at home.

Saints will give Chelsea the chance to find their rhythm again and I don't see them keeping them out.

I must say every week how dismal this season has been for Southampton fans, and probably the only thing they have to look forward to at the moment is the prospect of a day out in Norwich next season when they are back in the Championship.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Many football fans enjoy watching their rivals stagger as much as watching their own favourites stride on to victory. I have never really felt this but I am told it is "a thing". Now where is that winking emoji when you need it?

Take the pleasure many have had in watching Manchester United's ignominious slide over the years since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down. I stuck to my guns back then and felt like a lone voice shouting in the distance: "You are making a mistake sacking David Moyes - give him time!"

I still feel that is their worst error of many, whatever the prevailing feeling is. I am sure Moysie didn't feel any special warm glow inside as his Everton went 2-0 up against his old club at the weekend, he is much bigger than that... possibly.

Manchester City have their detractors too and you don't have to look far to find hordes of anti-Chelsea fans wallowing in their New Year implosion. Nine points from the past 30 is relegation form, not Champions League form.‌

My old team seem to get more stick than most, probably because they were the original 'new money' club. They were seen as brash and un-British under Roman Abramovich and then the new owners throw their wads around.‌

Spending well over a £1bn in no time at all, is something the true English football fan shies away from like a startled mustang. So, yes, I do understand why they are loving the Blues' current slide.

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Chelsea have lost two of their past three Premier League games against Southampton, as many defeats as in their previous 18 against them (W11 D5).

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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There are a lot of clips online of Cole Palmer getting frustrated with his team-mates amid Chelsea's run of just two wins in 10 matches across all competitions.

The 22-year-old forward registered a club-record 26 goals and 13 assists last season and is now himself declining in terms of goal involvements.

He hasn't scored in six matches and has not registered an assist in 13 matches, but his manager Enzo Maresca suggests he is simply a "human being" and frustrated by recent results, not his team-mates.

Many will be watching Palmer as Chelsea have a favourable run of matches against Southampton, Leicester and Copenhagen.

The conversation will increasingly be about whether Chelsea can match their talisman's ambitions, if they can win a trophy in the Conference League, and what might happen if they don't qualify for the Champions League.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game at home against Southampton (20:15 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca confirmed Trevor Chalobah will be out for "around one week to 10 days" with the injury he suffered in Saturday's defeat at Aston Villa, adding: "It is good because it is not an important injury but a shame because of the amount of injuries we have."

• The head coach said "nothing changes" in terms of Filip Jorgensen being first-choice goalkeeper after his error at Villa Park, stating: "If we need to change players every time they make a mistake, we need to change many players game by game. He's OK. He feels a little bit sad or upset because he recognised there has been a mistake."

• Despite the defeat, Maresca was happier with the performance than he has been after recent displays, adding: "The performance was there. We didn't deserve the final result, but we need to accept that. I don't think [the players] reserved energy against Villa. They are giving everything. The performance from the players was there."

• On Cole Palmer: "I am not concerned about Cole [and his form]. During the season he can have some moments where he struggles a little bit more. With Cole, we rely on Cole for everything. I said since we start, we need to rely on the team. We are not worried about Cole at all."

• Asked how results can improve, Maresca said: "In the last seven, eight, 10 games, the huge difference has been in both boxes. Except Brighton away in the Premier League, we always create chances. We need to be defensively more strong and more clinical when we get the chance."

• Maresca was asked if facing lowly Southampton was a perfect fixture and he replied: "I don't trust games like this, they can be tricky games. When you are here at Chelsea, there isn't a game where we aren't preparing to win. Our duty is to prepare every game to win. From now on we have 12 games to go and it is no doubt that all 12 are must win for us."

• He still believes Christopher Nkunku is an option at striker, stating: "He didn't play a lot in the first six months. In the last three games, he starts all the games. Hopefully from now on, he can help us in terms of numbers [output]."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news