Chelsea’s Spanish defender Marcos Alonso celebrates after scoring during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge in London on December 16, 2017. Adrian DENNIS / AFPMarco Alonso’s free-kick on the stroke of half-time gave champions Chelsea their second Premier League win of the week with a 1-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday.
The hosts dominated but could not find a second against a Southampton team that defended resolutely, and needed a good save from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to deny Saints substitute Charlie Austin.
Chelsea’s win saw them move into third place, 11 points adrift of leaders Manchester City, who were hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the late match.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte — who after last Saturday’s loss to West Ham United all but ran up the white flag on their hopes of successfully defending their title — resisted the temptation to bring Alvaro Morata into the side even though the striker had recovered from a back problem.
Alonso Edges Chelsea Past Southampton
