Eden Hazard opened the scoring for Chelsea in less than five minutes but Oriol Romeu scored against former side to grab an equaliser. Gary Cahill restored Blues' advantage in first half stoppage time . And Diego Costa struck twice in the second half to see Blues cruise towards victory.
Ryan Bertrand netted late consolation against former side at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea starting XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses (Terry), Kante, Matic, Alonso, Fabregas (Pedro), Hazard (Willian), Costa
Southampton starting XI: Forster, Cedric, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand, Romeu, Davis, Ward-Prowse (Long), Tadic, Boufal (Redmond), Gabbiadini (Rodriguez)
Chelsea know how to close out Premier League titles, their winning mentality is what makes last season's aberration all the more baffling, they proved it once more to vanquish a spirited Southampton.
The Saints won at Stamford Bridge last season and threatened to provide another thorn in the side. Oriol Romeu levelled after Eden Hazard had put Chelsea ahead early.
Gary Cahill's goal came at crucial juncture, just before the break, and appeared to break the Saints' spirit and when Diego Costa got the third in the second the game was up. The striker's late second added an exclamation point to an emphatic win that Ryan Bertrand's added-time strike could not remove.
So is there any stopping Chelsea now?
The Blues eased to victory on the match day and you sense even if Spurs do the unthinkable and actually hold their nerve by winning their remaining Premier League games, there will be no taking the title from Chelsea.
The Blues go seven points clear at the top of the table as Tottenham Hotspur travel to Crystal Palace today.
Antonio Conte’s men lost 2-0 to Manchester United in their last league fixture and were eager not to drop more points ahead of Spurs’ trip to Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
The victory pushed Chelsea on to 78 points after 33 games and exerted more pressure on second-placed Spurs, who must win a potentially awkward London derby at Crystal Palace on Wednesday to restore the gap to four points.
"We had a really important psychological test and our answer was good," manager Antonio Conte said. "We have reached the final of the FA Cup but the other competition is totally open. But we fight until the end."
Conte juggled his team again on Tuesday starting with Costa and Hazard, who came off the bench at Wembley, and his tactics were rewarded.
It took them less than five minutes to open a lead when Costa controlled a pass from Cesc Fabregas, surged forward and cut the ball back for the advancing Hazard, who angled his shot into the bottom corner of Fraser Forster's net.
Claude Puel's Southampton worked their way back into the game, keeping tidy possession in midfield and making surging runs with Sofiane Boufal, Ryan Bertrand and Manolo Gabbiadini looking dangerous.
Their industry paid off in the 24th minute when former Chelsea midfielder Oriel Romeu forced home from close range after Gabbiadini's shot clipped the leg of keeper Thibaut Courtois and fell into his path.
Chelsea's lead in the Premier League has been chipped away in recent weeks by a resurgent Tottenham, but Saturday's fiery Cup win had clearly boosted Conte's side.
They grabbed the lead again just before halftime when a Fabregas corner was cleared only as far as N'Golo Kante 30 metres out. The France midfielder curled the ball back into the area for captain Gary Cahill to head home.
Costa, who has been misfiring of late, took his chance in the 53rd minute and powered in a header -- his 50th Premier League goal -- after a corner and one-two between Fabregas and Hazard.
He added a well-worked second for good measure in the 89th after a one-two with Hazard.
Southampton scored a stoppage-time consolation through another former Chelsea player Ryan Bertrand.
Conte delighted fans by bringing on club captain John Terry, who announced his end-of-season departure from Chelsea last week after more than 18 years as a senior player, for the last five minutes of the game.
The former Juventus and Italy coach has used 36-year-old former England captain Terry sparingly since arriving at Stamford Bridge last July.
Conte, already a favourite at the ground where two seasons ago Jose Mourinho held sway, is aiming to emulate Chelsea predecessor and compatriot Carlo Ancelotti by winning the double in his first year in charge.
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