Premier League team news and prediction: Chelsea vs Southampton
Chelsea have been solid at home in recent weeks, but in the last couple of years, Southampton have been a bit of a bogey side for the Blues. Indeed, the west London outfit have won just one of the last three league meetings between the pair at Stamford Bridge and lost this fixture last season as goals from Michael Obafemi and Nathan Redmond saw Saints earn a 2-0 win on Boxing Day.
Frank Lampard's side currently sit just a point above Saturday's opponents after a mixed start to the season, but victory over the south coast side, coupled with results elsewhere going their way, could see the Blues end the weekend in the top four.
Ahead of the meeting at Stamford Bridge, we have all your need-to-know match information in one place.
When is kick off?
Saturday 17th October, 15:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Stamford Bridge, London
Where can I watch it?
Sky Sports Pay Per View
The season so far
Chelsea have endured a inconsistent start to the season. Having secured a 3-1 win at Brighton to kick off the campaign, the Blues fell to a 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool. They followed up the defeat with a 3-3 draw at West Brom, battling back from 3-0 down to pick up a point, but came into the international break on a high having landed a comfortable 4-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Like Chelsea, Southampton have two wins to their name. After falling to back-to-back defeats to Crystal Palace and Tottenham, Saints landed successive victories over Burnley and West Brom and now sit within a point of the Blues. They are now hoping to land a third consecutive Premier League win for the first time since they won their final four league outings to see out the 2015/16 campaign.
Team News
In what may prove a significant blow for Chelsea, summer signing Edouard Mendy is a doubt with a thigh injury sustained on international duty. Kepa is on standby to deputise for the former Rennes shotstopper, who will have been hoping to make two clean sheets from two after a shutout on his league debut against Crystal Palace.
However, better news is that former Ajax man Hakim Ziyech and American winger Christian Pulisic are fit to make their first Premier League starts of the season, which is a boost for Lampard's attacking options. N'Golo Kante and Ben Chilwell are doubts, however, for the Blues having suffered knocks on midweek international duty for France and England, respectively, but Billy Gilmour is out.
Stuart Armstrong returned to full training for Southampton on Friday, but he won't be fit to feature having been forced to self-isolate for the last 10 days. Mohammed Salisu is a fitness concern for Ralph Hasenhuttl, but Moussa Djenepo is ruled out for the visitors. Theo Walcott returned to the club on deadline day and may make his second debut for.
Probable XIs
Chelsea (4231) - Kepa; Azpilicueta, Silva, Zouma, Alonso; Jorginho, Kovacic; Mount, Havertz, Pulisic; Werner
Southampton (442) - McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand; Walcott, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Redmond; Ings, Adams
Key Battle - Timo Werner vs Che Adams
😵 Most shots without a goal in the Premier League this season
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 11, 2020
1⃣ T. Soucek - 12 (West Ham)
2⃣ T. Werner - 11 (Chelsea)
3⃣ C. Adams - 9 (Southampton) pic.twitter.com/WAiExFjSvK
Timo Werner's arrival from RB Leipzig drew plenty of admiring glances, but the German has struggled so far. His only goal has come in the Carabao Cup and four games without a goal in the Premier League has raised the pressure on the 24-year-old. That said, Werner scored and provided an assist in Germany's midweek 3-3 draw with Switzerland, which should boost morale coming into this clash at Stamford Bridge.
Like Werner, Che Adams is yet to score a Premier League goal this season and it means only West Ham's Tomas Soucek (12) and Werner (11) have had more shots than the Saints striker (9) of those yet to score a top-flight goal in 2020/21. Both strikers will be looking to hit the back for the first time to help their respective side to victory in this meeting in the capital.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Southampton
