Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge under mounting pressure after another frustrating defeat, this time a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa. This loss further dented Chelsea’s hopes of securing UEFA Champions League football next season.
Enzo Maresca’s side have now lost three of their last four league matches (W1), and a win here is crucial to steady the ship.
Chelsea Seeking a Much-Needed Response :
Despite their struggles, the Blues should take confidence from the fact they convincingly beat Southampton 5-1 in the reverse fixture, and history is on their side against bottom-of-the-table opponents.
Chelsea have won 11 of their last 14 league matches against sides starting the day in 20th place (D2, L1) and have been dominant against teams in the lower half, winning six of their seven league matches against teams starting the round 15th or lower.
Southampton’s Fading Survival Hopes :
For rock-bottom Southampton, relegation seems inevitable after suffering a 4-0 hammering at home to Brighton last round.
The Saints have managed just nine points from 26 games (W2, D3, L21) and now sit 13 points adrift of safety.
However, Russell Martin’s side can make a small piece of history by securing back-to-back away league victories for the first time since June 2020, following their 2-1 win over Ipswich in their last road trip.
The Saints also won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge 2 seasons ago, though they haven’t won consecutive away league games against Chelsea since March 1985.
Key Tactical Insights
– Chelsea’s attacking approach: After their lack of creativity in recent weeks, expect Chelsea to be aggressive early on, especially with Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto looking to exploit Southampton’s vulnerable backline.
– Southampton’s defensive struggles: Having conceded 61 goals in 26 matches, the Saints must find a way to contain Chelsea’s frontline or risk another heavy defeat.
– Set-piece battle: Chelsea’s vulnerability on set pieces could be an area Southampton look to exploit.
Players to Watch
– Enzo Fernández (Chelsea): Scored against Villa last round, though it marked the first time his team lost in one of his goalscoring appearances across both Chelsea and Benfica (W13).
– Joe Aribo (Southampton): Has three league goals this season, including one in the reverse fixture, with each of his strikes coming before the 30th minute.
Potential Lineups:
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1 – Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Enzo, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Nkunku
Southampton: 3-4-3 – Ramsdale; Bree, Bednarek, Aribo; Walker-peters, Smallbone, Fernandes, Wellington; Dibling, Archer, Sulemana.
Key Stats :
– Chelsea have won 11 of their last 14 Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom of the table.
– Southampton have lost 21 of their 26 league matches this season.
– Chelsea have won six of their seven league games against teams starting the round in 15th or lower.
– Southampton have conceded the most goals (61) in the Premier League this season.
Where to watch:
United Kingdom: TNT Sports
United States: Peacock, NBC
Canada: Fubo TV
India: Star Sports Select HD1
Australia: Optus Sport.
Nigeria: SuperSports.
Score Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Southampton
Conclusion:
Chelsea desperately need a win, and facing the league’s bottom side at home provides the perfect opportunity to respond to their recent slump.
Southampton’s poor form and defensive frailties suggest this could be another tough outing for the Saints. Expect Chelsea to dominate and secure a comfortable victory.
