Chelsea v Southampton predicted line-ups, how to watch, team news, referee and stats

Two teams desperate for a win clash at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, as Champions League chasers Chelsea play host to a Southampton side set for a speedy return to the Championship.

It’s not often you can write a team off with 12 games to go, yet it’s fair to say there may be no way back for the Saints.

Ivan Juric’s arrival has done nothing to stem the flow of goals against them. Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton marks their eighth defeat in nine games.

They’re exactly the type of opponents Chelsea need right now. The Blues have lost four of five across all competitions but remain firmly in the race for Champions League football.

The reverse fixture saw Enzo Maresca’s side run riot and score five goals at St Mary’s, a repeat of which would be most welcomed in West London.

 

Chelsea team news

Maresca confirmed he will be without Trevoh Chalobah on Tuesday, who is ruled out with ‘not a big injury’.

Filip Jorgensen received the manager’s backing and is expected to start in goal despite a howler in the defeat to Aston Villa.

Pedro Neto is seen as a potential solution to Nicolas Jackson’s absence, though he could play in a deeper role behind Christopher Nkunku.

It remains to be seen if there’s a place for Jadon Sancho alongside Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez in attacking midfield, or if the Argentinian will feature in a deep-lying role.

 

Chelsea predicted line-up

Jorgensen - Gusto, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella - Dewsbury-Hall, Caicedo - Palmer, Fernandez, Sancho - Neto

 

Southampton team news

Jan Bednarek is likely to miss out after suffering an injury in the first half of Southampton’s loss to Brighton.

Juric is also sweating on the fitness of Taylor Hardwood-Bellis, while Jack Stephens will have his minutes managed as he targets a return to full fitness.

Ross Stewart, Ryan Fraser and Adam Lallana are ruled out due to injury, while Lesley Ugochukwu is ineligible to face his parent club.

Armel Bella-Kochap will continue in defence for the Saints, with Will Smallbone operating as the protector in midfield as Kamaldeen Sulemana and Paul Onuachu forming the attack.

 

Southampton predicted line-up

Ramsdale - Aribo, Bella-Kotchap, Bree - Sugawara, Gronbaek, Smallbone, Walker-Peters - Fernandes - Onuachu, Sulemana

 

Chelsea v Southampton: How to watch and listen

Fans can watch Tuesday’s game live on TNT Sports 1 and Ultimate. There’s also live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

 

Chelsea v Southampton stats:

 - Chelsea beat Southampton 5-1 in the reverse fixture, but their biggest win against the Saints was a 6-0 romp in 2022.

- Incredibly, each of the last 12 meetings at Stamford Bridge was decided by one or fewer goals. The visitors have recorded three 1-0 wins and a handful of draws.

- Southampton are currently on course for 13 points, which would mean narrowly bettering Derby County’s record-low of 11 points.

 

Enzo Maresca (Chelsea) quotes:

On Southampton being a ‘tricky’ opponent:

"I really think that. It is football. You are older than me, I guess, and you know better than me that football is full of these kinds of things. I'm not saying that for a message, I'm saying that because I really believe every game is a tough game. The difference sometimes is so tiny and as I said, if you see the Man United game, they were winning until the end and then Man United won the game. We need to focus on how we need to win the game and no more than that."

On Filip Jorgensen as number one:

"He is okay. He feels a little bit sad, or upset, because he recognises there has been a mistake but overall, he is okay.

If we need to change players every time there is a mistake, we need to change players game by game, many players. But no, nothing's changed."

On Cole Palmer and his dip in form:

No, I'm not concerned. I'm always concerned about general performances, but I'm not concerned about Cole because Cole is a human being and during the season, he can have some moments where he struggles a little bit more. The problem is with Cole, we rely on Cole for everything and I've said from the start, we need to rely on the team. For sure, we need big players, top players like Cole, but we are not worried about Cole at all.

Just continue working in the way he is working. The other day, I think yes, he had a great chance but overall, the performance from Cole - as I said, every game we expect from him a goal or an assist, so it is difficult. He is a human being and player. In this moment, his performance also reflects the team's performance that we struggle to score goals and we need to be a little bit more clinical when we get the chances."

 

Ivan Juric (Southampton) quotes:

To follow…

 

Chelsea v Southampton referee stats:

Thomas Bramall will be the man in the middle of Tuesday night, assisted by Scott Ledger, Mat Wilkes and fourth official Simon Hooper, with Craig Pawson on VAR.

Bramall has shown 17 yellow cards in five Premier League contests, oftentimes spending his weeks in the Championship.

He’s also not particularly big on penalties, awarding just three in 16 contests across all competitions.

 

Chelsea v Southampton tips and best odds:

Chelsea 2/9 - Draw 6/1 - Southampton 10/1

 

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(All odds are correct at the time of article publication)

 

Click here to read Tuesday’s bet builder tips in full.

 

Chelsea to win to nil

In the reverse fixture, Chelsea swept Southampton aside comfortably in a 5-1 victory back in December, but Enzo Marseca's come into this fixture struggling for confidence. 

They have won just two of their last 10 Premier League fixtures, but their opponents Southampton are the resident whipping boys of the Premier League. 

The Saints haven't improved under new manager Ivan Juric and have only picked up nine points across the whole season and have lost 21 of their 26 league matches. 

While Chelsea have dropped down the table in recent weeks, this fixture is just what the doctor ordered and we think they'll win comfortably. 

 

Cole Palmer first goalscorer

He's gone rather quiet lately, but Cole Palmer is still having a decent season on the whole. 

Palmer has scored 14 goals in the Premier League this season but has gone five games without finding the back of the net. 

However, you can't keep a player of Palmer's quality down and we think he'll score the first goal of a comfortable Chelsea win. 

Click here to read Tuesday’s bet builder tips in full.

 

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