Chelsea racked up a fourth consecutive league win without conceding a goal as they outclassed Southampton with strikes from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa at St Mary's on Sunday.
Antonio Conte's side produced a vibrant display to inflict a first home defeat of the season on Southampton and underline their title credentials.
Hazard cut back from a tight angle and rifled a shot through Fraser Forster's legs after six minutes to give Chelsea a lead they never looked like relinquishing against a Southampton side who could do nothing with their superior possession.
Hazard forced Forster into another save before halftime while he also kept out Costa as Chelsea continued to look dangerous on the break.
Spain striker Costa doubled the lead 10 minutes after the break with a sensational strike, receiving a pass from Hazard and beating Forster with a swerving right-foot shot from 25 metres to take his league tally for the season to eight.
Chelsea, who moved back above Tottenham Hotspur into fourth spot just one point off the leaders, had the opportunities to increase their tally with Costa sqaundering another glorious chance when he elected not to shoot.
Southampton's best chance fell to Charlie Austin who headed over the bar.
Chelsea have now amassed double the amount of points (22) that they managed after 10 games of last season when their hopes of defending their title under Jose Mourinho were already in tatters.
"Southampton's record at home is very good -- we knew that. But we knew if we carried on our form, we'd cause them problems. We worked hard," Chelsea defender Gary Cahill told Sky Sports.
"It's too early in terms of any team talking about winning the league but its important to stay near the top."Under the 3-4-3 formation that Conte has employed since taking over in the summer, Chelsea have secured three successive Premier League victories, includingwins against Manchester United and champions Leicester City, without conceding a goal.
Chelsea travel to Southampton on Sunday in fourth place, one point behind Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Conte said the players are adapting well to the change from the 4-4-2 formation they were used to in the past.
"I think it is not a win or a defeat that can change my idea or the players' confidence," Conte told reporters on Friday.
"I think it is the right way for the players because it is a good fit for the team, this system. We have found a good balance and also we have a good offensive situation because in every game we scored.
"It is different when you defend with four and when you defend with three defenders but I see a lot of positive things and we want to continue on this aspect and we are working hard to improve. We understood this way is the right way."
The system also appears to have provided more attacking freedom to playmaker Eden Hazard, who has scored four goals in the league so far, having struggled for much of last season.
Chelsea face a Southampton side who are on a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League and Conte believes the trip to St Mary's Stadium will be a good examination of his side.
"This test is different. We are playing away against a team in good shape," he said. "It's a big test for our ambition."
The London club have won six of their nine league games but Conte dismissed premature talk that they can win the title.
"Now there are five teams very close but we shouldn't look at the table," the former Juventus coach added.
"We must think and must be focussed on the work on the pitch and to see game by game because it is early to talk about the table, about the title race."
Conte added that defender Branislav Ivanovic has recovered from injury and was available for selection.
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