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Chelsea capitulated and were booed off as Southampton won at Stamford Bridge for the first time in almost 14 years to leave Jose Mourinho contemplating a fourth loss from eight Premier League games this season.
Captain John Terry was restored but Saints exposed the now familiar failings in the defence which just five months ago formed the foundation for winning the title.
Chelsea have conceded at least two goals in seven of their eight Premier League games this season - the exception the 2-0 defeat of Arsenal - and time and again Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic found holes in a 3-1 win.
Willian scored a fourth free-kick goal in four games to open the scoring, but Chelsea afterwards scarcely tested Maarten Stekelenburg as they fell to a first home loss to Saints since January 2002.
A rare Steven Davis goal levelled matters and Mane put the visitors ahead after mistakes by Gary Cahill and John Terry, before Pelle got Southampton's third.
Who was Chelsea's villain? Scroll through the gallery to see our ratings
Show all 22 1 /22Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings CHELSEA: Asmir Begovic - 5 out of 10 Aside from one nervy moment early on when trying to deal with Azpilicueta’s back-pass, the goalkeeper made several saves to keep his side in the match in the first half, but then conceded twice in the second period.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Branislav Ivanovic - 4 out of 10 Was never really troubled by Tadic or Mane as he had been in previous weeks by the likes of Porto’s Brahimi, Crystal Palace’s Bolasie or Swansea’s Montero in the first half, but was lucky when Tadic then outran him minutes after the break only to see his low drive to Mane go wide. However, he fell under more and more pressure by the Southampton winger and could not contain him as the game progressed.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Gary Cahill - 4 out of 10 Looked much more assured playing alongside Terry and was not afraid of coming out to clear the ball whenever Southampton pushed forwards but was completely outmuscled by Pelle when the striker set up Davis for the equaliser.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings John Terry - 4 out of 10 Terry: 4 Was handed a start for the first time in weeks and the Chelsea captain did not disappoint in the first period as he commanded his back line well while never really being tested one-on-one. However, that all changed in the second half when he failed to stop Mane racing into the area to score and then did not do enough to marshal his back line for Southampton’s second and third goals.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta - 6 out of 10 Did not have any real problems down the left flank and kept Tadic quiet early on but should have done better for Pelle’s effort after leaving him with acres of space to get his shot in. Ramires: 5 Was lucky not to have given away a first-half penalty for his tackle on Mane inside the area although it did look like a spot-kick. Was hauled off at half time after picking up a booking for a foul on the Southampton winger.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Ramires - 3 out of 10 Handed the start after his heroics at Newcastle but the Brazilian was awful in the first half and was hauled off by Jose Mourinho at half-time for Nemanja Matic.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Cesc Fabregas - 4 out of 10 Linked up well with the likes of Hazard and Oscar to help build up Chelsea’s attacks in the first half, but completely lost Davis for the opener. As in previous games, the midfielder became more and more of a bystander as the game wore on.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Willian - 8 out of 10 Scored another superb free-kick to hand the Blues the lead although he could have pressurised Davis more ahead of the equaliser. Was brought off for Pedro just after the hour mark after seeing his impact on the game wane.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Oscar - 5 out of 10 Looked more positive in attack alongside Hazard and tested Stekelenburg with a shot in the first period but could not inspire Chelsea to another goal when they fell behind.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Eden Hazard - 4 out of 10 Won the foul that Willian scored the opener from and overall, looked more dangerous in attack, but clumsily gave the ball away that ended in Pelle scoring and giving Southampton a 3-1 lead.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Radamel Falcao - 5 out of 10 Looked full of energy but could not get the better of van Dijk or Fonte in the first half but should have got a penalty following Stekeleburg’s foul on him after the break.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings SOUTHAMPTON: Maarten Stekelenburg - 5 out of 10 Couldn’t do too much about Willian’s goal but did well otherwise when Oscar tested him with a powerful shot in the first half. However, he was then fortunate to have not given away a penalty after bringing down Falcao in the box.
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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Cedric Soares - 7 out of 10 The right-back was put under constant pressure from Hazard but he did not shy away from his defensive duties. A good performance from the defender.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Virgil van Dijk - 7 out of 10 The towering centre-half kept Falcao quiet for much of the match and defended well when under pressure.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Jose Fonte - 7 out of 10 The defender made two key clearances in the first half with the score goalless after dealing with Hazard and Falcao and played well alongside van Dijk.
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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Ryan Bertand - 7 out of 10 The defender enjoyed a good return to his former club after keeping Willian quiet following the Brazilian’s first-half goal and defending really well as Chelsea began to look for the equaliser after going behind.
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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Oriol Romeu - 4 out of 10 It was his tackle on Hazard that gave away the free kick from which Willian scored from. He never really had a grip on the Belgian and, after being cautioned in the first half, was replaced by Ward-Prowse.
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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Victor Wanyama - 6 out of 10 Played out the first half struggling to contain Chelsea’s creative players but grew into the game.
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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Sadio Mane - 8 out of 10 Didn’t really prove a threat in the first half, but after the break proved dangerous after first narrowly firing a shot wide before he gave the Saints the lead with his drive past Begovic and then setting up Pelle for the visitors’ third.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Steven Davis - 8 out of 10 Scored Southampton’s equaliser minutes before the break with his fine shot and regularly got involved in the visitors’ attacks.
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Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Dusan Tadic - 7 out of 10 Did not prove a threat in the first half but after outrunning Ivanovic in the second period to set up Mane for a good chance, started to cause the Chelsea right-back all sorts of problems.
Chelsea vs Southampton player ratings Graziano Pelle - 9 out of 10 Got two assists at Stamford Bridge, first when he used his power to get the better of Cahill and chest the ball down into the path of David for the opener before his low drive found Mane for Southampton’s second goal. The striker then netted his side’s third goal with a fine low drive past Begovic.
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