Chelsea returned to winning ways on Saturday, beating Southampton 3-1 in the Premier League thanks to late goals by Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell after the Saints were reduced to 10 men.
Blues defender Trevor Chalobah put the hosts ahead in the ninth minute but Southampton hit back with a penalty converted by James Ward-Prowse in the 61st minute after Chilwell fouled former Chelsea defender Tino Livramento.
Ward-Prowse was shown a straight red card 16 minutes later for a foul on Jorginho which was picked up by the VAR officials and the game swung back Chelsea's way.
In the 84th minute Werner scored from point-blank range after a cross by captain Cesar Azpilicueta and five minutes later Chilwell atoned for giving away the earlier penalty by smashing the ball in after a goalmouth scramble.
The win lifts Chelsea to the top of the table ahead of Monday's clash between fellow title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City. Winless Southampton remain just outside the relegation zone.
Earlier, Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Everton after Andros Townsend's equaliser cancelled out Anthony Martial's opener for the home side.
United, who began with Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba on the bench, took the lead two minutes before the break when Bruno Fernandes set up Martial and the Frenchman's slightly deflected shot flashed past Jordan Pickford.
But Everton caught United out on the break to draw level in the 65th minute - the impressive Demarai Gray working the ball to Abdoulaye Doucoure, who found Townsend to drill home a low shot.
The visitors looked to have grabbed a late winner when Tom Davies' low ball was turned in by Yerry Mina, but United were handed a reprieve by a VAR review that judged the goal to be offside.
There was a late chance for United's Jadon Sancho, played in by a back-heel from substitute Ronaldo, but his shot was easily dealt with by Pickford.
Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion created a slew of chances but failed to get many of them on target as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a rudderless Arsenal.
On a wet, blustery evening, defender Lewis Dunk fluffed a golden chance to give the home side the lead in the 21st minute, blazing the ball high over the bar after it was spilled by Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Brighton dominated the opening 45 minutes but it was Arsenal who went closest to scoring as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed against the post from a tight angle during a rare first-half attack.
For all their possession, Brighton struggled to get shots on target and they were almost punished when Emile Smith Rowe broke away in the 75th minute, but Robert Sanchez was able to steer his shot behind for a corner.
With the final whistle approaching the Seagulls turned the screw as they created a flurry of late chances, but the Arsenal rearguard held firm despite conceding 21 goal-scoring opportunities to claim a scarcely-deserved point.
The result sees Brighton rise to fifth in the table on 14 points after seven games, two behind Chelsea. Arsenal are ninth on 10 points.
Reuters
