Southampton Vs Chelsea Match Preview and Prediction

The blues will be facing another big test tomorrow in the English premier league against Southampton. So far so good this season, the manager has done so well with the academy graduates in which has earned some of this young lads a call up into the England national team. In fact, about four players from the blues starting line up will be featuring for the Three Lions in their upcoming matches. The likes of Mount, Barkley, Tomori and Inform striker Tammy Abraham and with this alone, one can easily deduced how far the manager and the young players are making progress.

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Although, the Blues has always had a success in their trip to ST Mary winning 8 matches out of their 11 matches and drawing 2 matches there but their inconsistency so far this season is another thing to take about, they are playing good football, no doubt about that but they have not been doing well in the defense line keeping just a clean sheet so far in the league. Southampton as well have been so inconsistent meaning the game between both sides tomorrow is a winnable game. Southampton has only managed a win at home this season while most of the results this season for Chelsea has been from away.

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Chelsea

Frank Lampard will be making some changes to his line up that played against Lille in the champions league during the week. The manager will now be faced with many options ranging from his midfield after welcoming the likes of Hudson-Odoi and James Reece back to the team some weeks back. Hudson-Odoi will be hoping to start for the team tomorrow after helping the team as a super substitute in two occasions both in the league and the champions league game against Lille. Kante after helping the team during the week still remain a major doubt for selection in the midfield but Kovacic will be on ground to fill the gap. Emerson and Loftus-Cheek are still absent due to injury and Rudiger as well is still recovery from his groin injury sustained after playing only 45minutes this season.

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Southampton

The team has been able able to managed only 7 points in 7 league matches so far this season and are currently on 14th position on the log table. Injury has not really been fair to Southampton as well this season as Cedric is out of selection after an injury sustained in a build up before Tottenham game while the team will also miss the services of Moussa Djenepo the guy who has scored two wonderful goals for the club this season due to an injury sustained to his tendon. The manager Hasenhüttl has not been able to play to his game plan due to injury and has been forced to play in a 3 man defense and the team has not been too clinical infront of goal despite creating more chances in the game. New signing Ché Adams is yet to register a goal in his 6 appearances so far for the club.

Possible Line Up

• Chelsea
  Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Tomori, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic, Willian, Abraham, Mount

• Southampton
  Gunn, Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Højbjerg, Bertrand, Boufal, Redmond, Ings

Match Preview

The Blues will be looking forward to continue their impressive run at ST mary's and it is really going to be an interest game between both clubs. Looking at Chelsea away record this season, one can easily say they will win this game but it is what they really have to work for. Southampton are not really in a good shape due to injuries that has sidelined most of their star players. There manager once again will not have choice again than to stick to his 3 man defense while Chelsea Manager will be left with many options in his attacks. Lampard may come up again in a 3-4-2-1 formation just like he did against Lille in other to provide more stability to his back line and to boost his attack with the wingback while Tammy Abraham will be leading the team again and will be hoping to increase his goal tally but the blues must really watchout for player like Redmond and Ings.

Prediction

Southampton 1 - 3 Chelsea

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@oxygen02

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