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Premier League | Gameweek 8
Oct 7, 2018 at 2.15pm UK
 
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0-3

 
FT(HT: 0-1)
Hazard (30'), Barkley (57'), Morata (90')

Maurizio Sarri tips Ross Barkley to flourish at international level

:Headline: Maurizio Sarri tips Ross Barkley to flourish at international level: ID:338083: from db_amp
The midfielder is back in the England squad.

Maurizio Sarri has backed Ross Barkley to become an integral part of the England squad after he starred in Chelsea's 3-0 success at Southampton.

Midfielder Barkley celebrated his recall to the national team at St Mary's by setting up Eden Hazard's opener and then scoring his first Blues goal.

Barkley and in-form team-mate Hazard were the standout performers on the south coast and the latter laid on a stoppage-time third for substitute Alvaro Morata.

Sarri, who replaced compatriot Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge in the summer, saw his unbeaten start continue on Sunday as Chelsea remain among the Premier League pace-setters.

The division's top-scorer Hazard slotted in his seventh league strike of the season with half an hour played after Barkley dispossessed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and slipped him through.

Barkley then tapped home after Olivier Giroud directed a Willian free-kick back across goal, before Spaniard Morata finished a flowing passing move after being played in by Hazard.

“I think he will become very important in England and for the England national team”
- Maurizio Sarri on Ross Barkley

Sarri felt the final goal was the best of his short tenure and epitomised the slick style of play he is trying to implement.

"Something like this, we moved the ball very quick, I think one touch, at the maximum two touches, and then we arrived at the goal so easy," he said. "I think it's my football."

Asked if it was the finest goal scored since he arrived in England, he added: "Sure, of course, because I can see my way of football in this situation."

Defeat for Southampton continued their miserable recent run in front of their own fans.

Mark Hughes' Saints are 16th in the Premier League (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Saints have won just one of their last 15 league games at home, meaning Chelsea and Leicester have each won more matches at St Mary's in that time.

Striker Danny Ings missed a glorious chance to open the scoring for the hosts, while Nathan Redmond rattled the crossbar at 2-0.

Saints manager Mark Hughes admitted his team struggled to impose themselves on the game.

"(It was a) difficult afternoon for us, we didn't start with the intensity we talked about," said Hughes.

"We were too passive, allowed them to get comfortable possession too often in our own half.

"We were able to create a good chance with Danny – clearly if we score first then it may well have been a different type of game for us.

"Credit to Chelsea, I thought they were excellent on the day, they look very strong, very assured in possession.

"With the talent they've got at the top end of the pitch, it's difficult to contain them for 90 minutes."

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