Chelsea are back in action once again tomorrow against Southampton.
Southampton remain anchored to the bottom of the Premier League table after a controversial 1-1 draw with Brighton last Friday.
A late disallowed goal due to a lengthy VAR offside review left manager Russell Martin frustrated, and even a win wouldn’t have lifted them off the foot of the table.
Facing high-flying Chelsea seems a daunting task, but Southampton can take confidence from their strong recent record in this fixture, having completed a league double over the Blues in their last Premier League campaign and losing just two of the last seven top-flight H2Hs (W3, D2).
However, their midweek form is concerning, as the Saints have lost their last two Wednesday home games in the Premier League without scoring.
Chelsea arrive on the South Coast in excellent form, having recorded back-to-back clean sheet victories, including a 3-0 triumph over Aston Villa on Sunday.
That win moved them to joint second in the table, with only alphabetical order placing them behind Arsenal.
Enzo Maresca’s men have been particularly dominant against bottom-half teams this season, boasting a near-perfect record (W6, D1) and winning all four of their away games in that span.
While Liverpool’s nine-point lead at the top makes a title challenge unlikely for now, Chelsea’s consistent performances underline their credentials as serious top-four contenders.
Key Battles
– Southampton: Cameron Archer
Archer has been Southampton’s spark in attack, with each of his last five Premier League goals being the opening strike.
His ability to make early contributions could be vital if the Saints hope to trouble Chelsea’s defense.
– Chelsea: Cole Palmer
Palmer continues to impress this season with the Blues, closing the scoring in each of his last four Premier League goals.
His composure and creativity will be key in breaking down Southampton’s rearguard.
Potential Lineups:
Southampton: 5-4-1 – Lumley; Sugawara, Walker-peters, Wood, Stephens, Manning; Sulemana, Bree, Fernandes, Armstrong; Archer.
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1 – Jorgensen; Gusto, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Palmer, Felix; Nkunku.
Score Prediction: Southampton 0 – 4 Chelsea
Where to watch:
United Kingdom: Amazon Prime Video
United States: Peacock
Canada: FuboTV Canada
India: Hot Star VIP, JioTV
Australia: Optus Sport.
Nigeria: SuperSports.
Conclusion:
Chelsea’s form and quality make them strong favorites against a Southampton side struggling for confidence and consistency.
Expect the Blues to dominate possession and capitalize on their chances to secure another comfortable win.
