With a busy midweek schedule, here’s our Southampton vs Chelsea preview, prediction, team news and confirmed line-ups ahead of tonight’s Premier League match.
Southampton vs Chelsea Preview
Chelsea appear to be growing from week to week. After a 3-0 win against Aston Villa, there is talk of the Blues mounting a title challenge.
Enzo Maresca’s side have been superb so far, and might be best placed to challenge leaders Liverpool.
With an identical record, Chelsea are behind second-placed Arsenal only due to alphabetical order.
The manager dismissed such talk of title races after Sunday’s win, but his team have momentum on their side.
Chelsea have not lost in the league since their entertaining 2-1 defeat at Anfield in October.
Wednesday’s game sees them visit the Premier League’s bottom side, who have something of an availability crisis to deal with.
A combination of injuries and suspensions means Southampton will be without a host of their brightest talents when Chelsea roll into town.
Young starlet Tyler Dibling is one such absentee. However, Saints fans might argue it’s better for the teenager to miss what was always a free hit against top opposition rather than a relegation six-pointer.
Southampton have looked good at times, and came agonisingly close against Liverpool recently.
But as has been the case all season, their risky play-style and error-strewn defence cost them at least a point.
Russell Martin’s side picked up an impressive draw at Brighton last time out, but will need to turn such games into wins if they are to have any hope of survival.
⏭️ Chelsea (h)
You REDS ❤️ pic.twitter.com/11Pd8Mtqo0
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 2, 2024
Southampton vs Chelsea Team News
The Saints could be missing as many as 11 first-team players on Wednesday. Along with Dibling, Flynn Downes and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are suspended.
On-loan Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu cannot face his parent club, while Adam Lallana and Will Smallbone are still side-lined.
First-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is recovering from surgery on a broken finger, meaning Joe Lumley could make his second Premier League start after Alex McCarthy’s poor showing against Liverpool.
Chelsea are missing Wesley Fofana after the defender hurt his hamstring against Aston Villa.
Reece James is back in the medical room once again, but the Blues were boosted by the return of both Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto at the weekend.
With a massive squad, Meresca may opt to rotate somewhat, allowing Noni Madueke to come back into the starting line-up.
Southampton vs Chelsea Confirmed Line-ups
Southampton: Lumley; Walker-Peters, Bree, Stephens (c), Wood, Manning, Fraser, Aribo, Fernandes, Armstrong, Archer
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto, Disasi, Tosin, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo (c), Madueke, Palmer, Felix, Jackson
Southampton vs Chelsea Prediction
Hosts Southampton have looked better recently. Their performances against Liverpool and Brighton had plenty of positives and they arguably deserved more.
But with so many players missing, we think they will struggle against Chelsea.
Maresca’s Blues are in dangerous form and we don’t expect them to struggle against the league’s bottom club.
Prediction: Southampton 1-3 Chelsea
