Chelsea wasn't so reliant on Cole Palmer this time. On a frustrating evening for the England star, his Chelsea teammates stepped up — as demanded by their manager — to share the goals in a 4-0 thrashing of last-place Southampton in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Chelsea put a run of three straight defeats behind them with a 4-0 thrashing of Southampton. Goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella ensured Enzo Maresca’s side took what always looked an ideal opportunity to return to winning ways.

Enzo Maresca's side brush aside awful Saints to stop the rot at Stamford Bridge and move back into fourth place in the Premier League table.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says the team’s over-reliance on Cole Palmer is affecting his form as the England star goes through his driest run since moving to the London club

Merson told Sportskeeda: “Chelsea are struggling so badly at the moment. I look at them and they are missing Nicolas Jackson quite badly. Without him, I don’t see a real pattern of play. Jackson’s absence is also affecting Cole Palmer, who has to drop deeper now.”

Cole Palmer has been told three clubs he could join amid Chelsea ’s worrying slump. Chelsea were tipped to challenge for the Premier League title earlier in the season as they emerged as Liverpool ’s biggest rival at the top of the table.