[Trending News] Chelsea v Southampton, Crystal Palace v Aston Villa, and more: football – as it happened

That, then is us. Thanks all for your company and comments – peace out.

The rest of tonight’s results:

Back with the Copa del Rey, Barcelona now lead Atletico 4-3; they’ve played 86 minutes.

Levi Colwill reveals he’s close with Nkunku so he’s pleased for him; he’s pleased with his goal but hadn’t told the team it’s his birthday tomorrow; he’s pleased to score against the team from his town, he’s got mates who support Saints whom he’ll be giving stick; and he’s proud of Tyrick George, who he thinks is “very, very sharp, amazing player”.

Next for Chelsea, it’s Copenhagen, Leicester, Copenhagen, but after that things get more difficult – Arsenal, Spurs, Brentford. That run will tell us more.

I hate to say it, but I don’t think you can really learn anything about Chelsea from that game; Southampton are that poor. The win might be restorative, but it might just’ve been the opponents.

FULL TIME: Chelsea 4-0 Southampton

In four days Palace have Millwall, a totally different game as they play a lot of long ball; he needs to find solutions in possession for a deep block. He needs the same level of performance to win that one.

Advised that Wharton played well, Glasner says he was rusty at the start, credit to him and to the medical staff. Everyone knows he’s good, eh’s so smart in anticipating the balls, and he showed that here.

On Nketiah he says he didn’t give him many minutes but he always worked so hard in training, scored goals, he always wanted his goal and now he’s got it; he’s so pleased for him and needs every single player. They’ve a difficult programme and now have Will Hughes suspended for two games.

He then talks about staying patient – Villa find pockets by baiting the press – they had some triggers and the players did well and then it’s about being aggressive, winning the duels and second balls, and the second goal is exactly the kind they’re trying to score, winning the ball, a pass to what they call the far 10.”

Oliver Glasner says Villa surprised him with a 3-4-3 but his players adapted well and scored amazing goals. They didn’t talk about winning, you can talk to much about that, they talked about what they wanted to do – they know Villa like finding players in the pockets with short passes and did it really well at the beginning, McGinn getting Rogers and Watkinson the ball running towards goal, which is hard to defend. But they did well to keep them wide and restrict the pockets – his players played at their top level.

GOAL! Chelsea 4-0 South.

Back at the Bridge, there are 77 minutes gone and Chelsea still lead Southampton 3-0. I reckon they’re going to win…

“A special human being, a special footballer,” says someone on TNT’s commentary team. And here’s the man himself:

Welbeck says Bournemouth are a good side and there were difficult moments, but they stuck together and got the result. You always have to believe you can impact the game form the bench and he was analysing it to see where he might find space; somewhere in Istanbul, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nods to himself. When Rutter picked up the ball, he knew his mate had the ability to play him in, he took a good first touch and it was nice finish.

On the penalty he thought it was clear, but Pedro would’ve wanted to score if he could, and he felt that sometimes the team have been guilty od thinking too far ahead. They need to take it one game at a time and at the weekend they’ve got a big Cup game (away to Newcastle).

It’s so good to see Daniel Welbeck making the most of his dotage. He, perhaps, suffered more than anyone for Alex Ferguson’s retirement, and he then suffered with injuries. But, though he was never a killer in front of goal, he still has a beautiful touch and lovely imagination.

How it stands:

Sancho’s played well tonight. He kills a long ball that hits his buttock and allows him to spin. I think that’s good improvisation even if the specifics weren’t planned, and he then feeds in Neto who allows it across him and can’t catch up.

Looking at the table, Brighton have moved up to eighth – Bournemouth are seventh, Villa 10th. But there are only five points between Forest in third with 47 and Villa with 42.

Back at the Bridge, Chelsea still lead Southampton 3-0.

FULL TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Bournemouth

FULL TIME: Crystal Palace 4-1 Aston Villa

FULL TIME: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Fulham

Back to the Copa del Rey, Barcelona now lead Atletico 3-2 having been 2-0 down.

Palace have been really good tonight. The first three goals were excellent, and they’ve threatened throughout; Villa haven’t played poorly.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 4-1 Aston Villa (Nketiah 90+2)

Goodness, I’d not fancy being Raul Jimenez if Fulham concede. Because they counter, Robinson crosses from the left, and Jimenez chests down nicely … then drags a tame shot wide of the far post. You could fry an egg on Marco Silva’s invective.

Back at Molineux, wolves have a corner and the tannoy announces seven additional minutes. Fulham still lead 2-1.

Kluivert drives into the box down the left … and Minteh slides into an excellent challenge, celebrating with the crowd because he knows if he misses, it’s probably a penalty or a goal.

We’ve played between 85 and 86 minutes in our early games. Wolves are pressing for an equaliser against Fulham; Brighton are playing out time pretty well against Bournemouth; and Villa look beaten.

Tell you what, these have been some really good games – and of decent standard. Meantime, at Wolves, Raul Jimenez gets clear at inside-left, telegraphs he’s going across goal, and Sa saves. On the touchline, his manager has briefly turned into Paulie Gualtieri.

Palace again threaten Villa with a fourth goal, Munoz breaking down the right – he’s a helluvanathlete, him. But he does’t fancy the cross and doesn’t have an angle to shoot, so does neither.

I’ve now got Wolves and Fulham back on; Fulham lead 2-1.

Finally I can let you know that Chelsea lead Southampton 3-0 at half-time.

GOAL! Brighton 2-1 Bournemouth (Welbeck 75)

Eze out to Mateta on the right, first-time pass infield that meets Mitchell’s run … and his finish rolls just past the far post.

He was not. And here come Palace again!

VAR wants a look: was Munoz offside when found by Wharton?

GOAL! Crystal Palace 3-1 Aston Villa (Sarr 71)

At Palace, Emery has changed things, Rashford and Asensio on for Murphy and Watkins. Decent options, but palace are looking nasty on the counter.

GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Southampton (Colwill 44)

At the Amex, Bournemouth have, for now at least, taken over. Kluivert is conducting, and I’d not be surprised to see Huerzler change something.

Eric Dun notes that, in the Copa del Rey, Atlético lead Barcelona 2-1 … no, it’s now 2-2. After 27 minutes!

Phew!

GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Southampton (Neto)

GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Bournemouth (Kluivert 62)

GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-1 Aston Vlla (Mateta 59)

Now, at the other end, Sancho does well to drift inside and find Palmer, who opens his body and you can almost see him pass it into the far corner … except the ball goes wide.

Back at the Bridge, Suleimana nicks a yard down the left, stands up a cross, and Onuachu is up! But Jorgensen makes a fine save, tipping over the top; that’ll do him the world of good.

Rogers is the kind of player I think – and, in a way, fear – is changing football. One of things I most love about the actual playing is that there’s room for your Crouches and your Juninhos, your Riquelmes and your Puskases. But nowadays, the big lads have feet, and a if you’ve a big lad and a little lad of equivalent abilities, you’re clearly going with the former.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Aston Villa (Rogers 52)

And you can, of course, check all the EFL scores by clicking on the link at the top of this page.