Southampton vs Chelsea: Match Preview & predictions
Southampton vs Chelsea: Match Preview & predictions. Enzo Maresca‘s red-hot Chelsea are back in Premier League action on Wednesday night and will be aiming to continue their unbeaten run as they travel to bottom-of-the-table Southampton.
The Saints are bringing up the rear in the Premier League, but Russell Martin‘s side have at least been competitive for much of the season thus far. They ran league-leaders Liverpool close in their previous home game and were unlucky not to claim all three points at Brighton last time out.
However, the hosts are set to be without their core for Chelsea’s visit.
Maresca’s Blues made light work of Aston Villa on Sunday to maintain their top 3 spot and also extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games. Chelsea are level on points with Arsenal in third, but Maresca has been quick to dismiss his side’s title aspirations.
Wednesday’s visitors haven’t tasted defeat in the league since they lost 2-1 at Anfield on 20 October.
Below, is our guide to Wednesday night’s Premier League clash on the South Coast.
What time does Southampton vs Chelsea kick-off?
Location: Southampton, England
Stadium: St Mary’s Stadium
Date: Wednesday 4 December
Kick-off Time: 19:30 GMT / 20:30 WAT / 14:30 ET / 11:30 PT
Referee: Tony Harrington
VAR: Matt Donohue
Southampton vs Chelsea H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Southampton: 3 wins
Chelsea: 2 wins
Draws: 0
Last meeting: Chelsea 0-1 Southampton (18 February 2023) – Premier League
Southampton team news:
The Saints are currently in the midst of an availability crisis, with the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes and Tyler Dibling all missing out for this one.
Lesley Ugochukwu is ineligible to face his parent club having joined Southampton on loan from the Blues in the summer. Will Smallbone and Adam Lallana are also set to miss out due to thigh injuries, while Joe Lumley will likely deputise for Aaron Ramsdale between the sticks after the 29-year-old got the nod against Brighton.
Southampton predicted lineup vs Chelsea
Southampton (5-4-1): Lumley; Sugawara, Walker-Peters, Wood, Stephens, Manning; Fraser, Aribo, Mateus Fernandes, Armstrong; Archer.
Chelsea team news:
Maresca has rotated for Chelsea’s midweek fixtures this season, but the Italian is not expected to make wholesale changes to the team that beat Villa 3-0 on Sunday.
Joao Felix and Noni Madueke are contenders to come into Maresca’s team having appeared off the bench last time out.
Wesley Fofana sustained another injury setback at the weekend and is set for at least a month on the sidelines as a result. Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo are the leading candidates to partner Levi Colwill at the heart of the defence on Wednesday.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Southampton
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Felix, Neto; Nkunku.
Southampton vs Chelsea score prediction:
He won’t want to admit it, but this is a bit of a write-off game for Russell Martin. The Saints are finding it hard enough as it is and will surely be overwhelmed on Wednesday without Harwood-Bellis, Downes and Dibling in the side.
Chelsea are edging towards firing on all cylinders with Maresca at the helm, and their kind run to end the calendar year means the Blues should be determined to enter the title conversation, even if only briefly.
Although, it’s hard to envisage anything but a cruise for the Blues on the south coast in midweek should be in the cards.
Prediction: Southampton 0-4 Chelsea
