The Blues took the lead midway through the first half when Christopher Nkunku nodded in from close range and we never looked back.

Pedro Neto, who impressed in the number nine role once more, made it 2-0 with a well-taken finish before Levi Colwill extended our advantage with a header just before the break.

Whilst we may have only added the one goal in the second half, we were totally dominant and spent most of the second 45 minutes camped in the Saints' half.

The fourth goal then arrived when teenager Tyrique George - one of four Academy graduates on display at Stamford Bridge - set up Marc Cucurella for another confident finish.

Two changes

The Blues were always going to be forced into at least one alteration to our starting line-up following Trevoh Chalobah's injury at Aston Villa on Saturday. Unsurprisingly Tosin Adarabioyo came into the side and there was also a start for Jadon Sancho, who replaced Reece James as he continues his return to full fitness.

Southampton's intense man-to-man marking was making it hard for the Blues to break down our visitors, who had the game's first clear-cut chance after 14 minutes when Paul Onuachu flashed a shot over the bar from just inside our area.

Chelsea's threat grew as the game went on and the opening goal arrived midway through the first half.

Cole Palmer had already fired a warning shot when he slipped while striking from 20 yards and then seemed set to open the scoring when Enzo Fernandez put the England international through one-on-one. Aaron Ramsdale produced a superb save but from the resulting Enzo corner, Tosin headed the ball towards the back post and Nkunku was there to nod in from close range.

Southampton went close to an equaliser soon after when Onuachu jumped highest to head goalwards but Filip Jorgensen clawed the ball away and it was cleared.

Palmer went agonisingly close to scoring a second for Chelsea when Jadon Sancho cut inside his defender and slid the ball through. But Palmer's low shot from eight yards out went wide of the far post and Enzo was just unable to reach it.

The second did arrive on 36 minutes though when Nkunku cut the ball into the left-hand side of the penalty area and Neto hit it powerfully first time past Ramsdale at his near post.

And there was still time for a third before the break when Neto curled in a free-kick on 44 minutes and Colwill met the delivery to head in for 3-0.

Chelsea had Southampton camped in their own half for almost the whole of the second half and had early chances, as Nkunku saw his header palmed over and Palmer's shot was blocked into the arms of Ramsdale.

Good play from Nkunku on the left wing then saw Palmer go close once more, as he fired a shot over the bar from the edge of the area.

Tyrique George and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were introduced midway through the second half and the young Academy graduate provided a real threat playing as the number nine, as he had an effort himself and set up Nkunku for a blocked shot shortly after his arrival.

And George was to set up the fourth goal when a counter-attack saw the 19-year-old reach the byline and the cut the ball back to Cucurella, who fired into the bottom corner from close to the penalty spot.

Southampton fired a warning shot when Ryan Manning had a goal-bound shot blocked by Enzo but it was a rare highlight for the visitors during a totally dominant Blues half.

There was a Chelsea debut for January signing Mathis Amougou, who came on alongside Academy graduate Josh Acheampong.

Enzo then had an effort saved before another Academy player, Shumaira Mhueka, was introduced for his Premier League debut and almost scored a first goal moments later, as the 17-year-old had a header from a corner saved.

Palmer's search for a goal continued as he had a free-kick saved but in the end, we had to settle for 4-0.

What it means

With Bournemouth the only other top-seven side in action tonight, the Cherries' 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea's win means we are now in fourth position in the Premier League table, two points ahead of Manchester City in fifth, with Pep Guardiola's men playing their game in hand tomorrow night.

Aston Villa, who were one place behind us in eighth going into the night, lost 4-1 away to Crystal Palace and Wednesday night sees league-leaders Liverpool host sixth-place Newcastle United, it is second versus third as Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest, and Manchester City in fifth travel to Tottenham Hotspur, who are now 13th in the table following tonight's results.

What's next

Chelsea have no game this weekend following our exit from the FA Cup so the men's team's next match will be the Conference League round of 16 clash away to Copenhagen on Thursday 6 March.

The teams

Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo (Amougou 83), Enzo (c) (Mhueka 89); Sancho (Dewsbury-Hall 68), Palmer, Nkunku (Acheampong 83); Neto (George 68)
Subs not used: Sanchez, James, Fofana, Samuels-Smith, Mheuka
Scorers: Nkunku 24, Neto 36, Colwill 44
Bookings: Caicedo 66

Southampton: Ramsdale; Sugawara (Wellington 89), Bree (Harwood-Bellis 45), Bella-Kotchap, Walker-Peters (Manning 59); Downes (Archer 83), Smallbone, Fernandes; Kamaldeen, Onuachu (Dibling 59)
Subs not used: McCarthy, Stephens, Wood, Grønnbæk
Bookings: Onuachu 45+2

Referee: Thomas Bramall
Attendance: 39,485