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Chelsea’s fine start to the season has taken a hit this week with back-to-back defeats to Man City and Juventus, though with both of these coming by 1-0 scorelines, it’s hardly a disaster.
They sit just a single point off league leaders Liverpool and qualification to the Champions League knockouts still looks assured, with Zenit and Malmo rounding off their group, but Thomas Tuchel will be keen for his side to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.
Southampton look like obliging opponents given their season hasn’t been one of great success so far and they seem set to scrap in the lower reaches of the table.
They’re understandably struggling for goals having sold star striker Danny Ings over the summer and aside from League Cup ties with lower-division outfits Newport and Sheffield Utd, they’ve only scored more than once in one of six league games.
Even that came in a 2-2 draw with Newcastle, with the Magpies one of just four teams currently below the Saints in the table, as only rock-bottom Norwich have shipped more goals than Steve Bruce’s men.
Adam Armstrong was signed as a replacement for Ings from Blackburn, but the 24-year-old has so far been unable to translate his goalscoring exploits in the Championship to the top-flight arena.
He hasn’t netted since an opening day defeat to Everton, and the Saints are yet to pick up a league win this term, failing to score in each of their past three outings against West Ham, Man City and Wolves.
Chelsea To Beat Southampton
Armstrong is also an injury doubt alongside another attacking outlet in Theo Walcott, though the former is expected to start.
For the hosts, Thomas Tuchel is only certain to be without Christian Pulisic (injured) and N’Golo Kante (positive covid test), with both Reece James and Mason Mount back in contention.
37-year-old Thiago Silva is likely to be handed a rest after playing midweek, which could mean another opportunity for Trevoh Chalobah should James miss out. Elsewhere, Ben Chillwell could be handed his first league appearance of the campaign, though for the most part the team picks itself.
Chelsea are without a clean sheet in three appearances, having beaten Aston Villa on penalties following a 1-1 draw in their League Cup encounter, prior to those losses to elite sides Man City and Juventus.
However, they had only conceded one goal in their previous six games as even that came when reduced to 10 men against Liverpool, so another clean sheet beckons here.
Indeed, the Blues have registered 15 clean sheets in 25 league games under Tuchel to date, including nine from 13 at Stamford Bridge.
PREDICTION:
CHELSEA TO BEAT SOUTHAMPTON
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