English Premier League - Southampton VS Chelsea Prediciton
English Premier League - Southampton VS Chelsea
Match Time:05-12-2024 03:30 Thursday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Southampton
Russell Martin has several new roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Southampton manager might be bereft of the services of as many as 11 first-team players on Wednesday.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes, and Tyler Dibling will serve one-match suspensions after picking up their fifth bookings of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Meanwhile, Lesley Ugochukwu is ineligible to take on his parent club.
Jan Bednarek (knee) and Paul Onuachu (knock) are closing in on returning to action, but they might not be fit enough to start on Wednesday. However, Aaron Ramsdale (finger), Gavin Bazunu (achilles), Ross Stewart (muscle injury), Will Smallbone (hamstring), and Adam Lallana (thigh) remain on the sidelines.
Joe Lumley should take his place between the sticks, with Southampton lining up in a 5-4-1 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Wednesday. The backline should feature Yukinari Sugawara, Kyle Walker-Peters, Nathan Wood, Jack Stephens, and Ryan Manning.
As for the midfield unit, Joe Aribo and Mateus Fernandes should pair up in the central areas, looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park and provide the creative impetus. Ryan Fraser and Adam Armstrong should be the two wide attackers, with Cameron Archer leading the line for Southampton against Chelsea.
Chelsea
Like his counterpart in the Southampton dugout, Enzo Maresca has a new concern to worry about ahead of the trip to St. Mary’s. The Chelsea manager will be without three first-team players on Wednesday.
Wesley Fofana is the latest absentee, with the Frenchman picking up a hamstring injury this past weekend against Aston Villa. Reece James and Omari Kellyman are the other absentees, and the duo is recovering from similar issues.
Robert Sanchez will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Southampton on Wednesday. The backline should feature Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella, with Badiashile replacing Fofana at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, the resurgent Enzo Fernandez should line up alongside Moises Caicedo in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role and pull the strings in the final third. Nicolas Jackson will spearhead the Chelsea attack against Southampton on Wednesday, with Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto being the two wide attackers.
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Sugawara, Walker-Peters, Wood, Stephens, Manning; Fraser, Aribo, Mateus Fernandes, Armstrong; Archer
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Southampton vs Chelsea Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
With 49 wins from the last 131 meetings between the sides, Chelsea boasts a superior record in the history of this fixture.
Southampton have picked up 33 wins in that time, while the spoils have been shared on 31 occasions.
Chelsea have lost just one of their last 10 visits to St. Mary’s Stadium while claiming seven wins and two draws since January 2014.
Southampton holds the third-worst defensive record in the Premier League, having conceded 25 goals already.
Chelsea are unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 Premier League game, picking up seven wins and four draws since late August.
Prediction: Southampton 1-4 Chelsea
Southampton have certainly improved in recent weeks, but their style of play means they will give up chances, and Chelsea have proven they are a clinical force in attack so far this season. With their big-hitters all in excellent form, Palmer and Nicolas Jackson in particular will see this as a great opportunity to fill their boots again, and possibly move Chelsea into second on their own.
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