Chelsea’s impressive 5-1 win at bottom-placed Southampton closed the gap on leaders Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday after the home side sent off Jack Stephens before half-time for pulling hair on Marc Cucurella.

Chelsea took the lead in the seventh minute through a header from Axel Disasi, but Joe Aribo equalized Southampton four minutes later before a goalkeeper howler enabled Christopher Nkunku to put the visitors back in front within six minutes.

Noni Madueke extended Chelsea’s lead 11 minutes before half-time and despite Stephens’ red card, the visitors had to wait until the 76th minute before Cole Palmer scored a fourth goal and Jadon Sancho completed the win three minutes from time.

Chelsea took the lead when, following a corner whipped into the near post, Diasi beat the goalkeeper and fired a header into the net.

The home side quickly equalized, Kyle Walker-Peters put the ball back from the baseline and Aribo was there to shoot it into the goal.

All Southampton’s hard work was undone six minutes later as they again paid the price this season for their insistence on playing out of defence.

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Keeper Joe Lumley was well outside his own penalty area when he played a poor pass into midfield. The ball was stolen by Chelsea’s Madueke and passed to Nkunku, who shot into the empty net.

Chelsea took control when Joao Felix passed wide on the edge of the box to Madueke, who cut inside before firing his shot into the far bottom corner.

Southampton’s problems were compounded by Stephens’ moment of madness when he pulled Cucurella’s hair from a corner kick and the defender was shown a red card six minutes before half-time.

Chelsea started the second half where they left off, creating chance after chance. The unmarked Felix sent a header past the post and Tosin Adarabioyo fired a shot past the post from close range.

They eventually scored their fourth goal when Nkunku’s shot would probably have rolled over the line under pressure, but Palmer took no chances and slotted the ball into the goal as Chelsea fans chanted their manager Enzo Maresca’s name in celebration.

“The results certainly help us a lot in calming the noise around the club. It’s a good feeling to see the fans happy,” Maresca told reporters.

The home fans were already heading for the exits when Sancho received a pass from Malo Gusto and fired his shot past Lumley to seal Chelsea’s third consecutive league win.

The Southampton fans still in the stands greeted the final whistle with boos.

“I understand that people want their team to win and when they see such a big result and a few goals conceded, I understand that,” said Southampton coach Russell Martin.