Premier League | Gameweek 14

Dec 4, 2024 at 7.30pm UK

St. Mary's Stadium

Southamptonvs.Chelsea

Match preview

Chelsea are back in the title race after a 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Maresca's team have been the most impressive in the Premier League, behind the leaders Liverpool. Sunday's success keeps them tied with Arsenal, with alphabetical order the only thing that puts the Gunners above them in the table.

The Blues had a perfect afternoon, with their attacking players all firing and a first league clean sheet since mid-September. It was a great result and shows that the doubters were wrong.

Maresca and Palmer, the team's star player, shot down any talk of being in the title race after Sunday's match. The midfielder acknowledged that it'll be challenging, given that this is the first year of the project and players are still adjusting.

This midweek fixture will be a great chance for them to move into second place outright, as Arsenal face a tricky test against Manchester United.

Chelsea have won all four away games against sides in the bottom half so far this season. With 10 defeats in 13 so far, Southampton appear to be a favourable opponent on paper.

The hosts have done well against Chelsea recently, losing just twice in the last seven meetings. They even managed to beat them twice in a row when they were relegated in 2022-23.

Russell Martin's team can also take a lot of positives from a spirited display at Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

There was a lot of frustration afterwards though, with Martin really annoyed that Cameron Archer's potential winning goal was controversially disallowed by VAR.

It was the second impressive performance in a row for the Saints, who came so close to taking points off Liverpool five days earlier but fell to a 3-2 defeat.

It's been a tough run for them lately, with just the 1-0 home win against Everton to show for it so far this season.

Fixtures are getting trickier for Martin's side too, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur coming to St Mary's, and trips to European-chasing Aston Villa and Fulham before Christmas.

It looks like it'll be tough for the team that's four points adrift at the bottom. Opta says there's a 94% chance of them being relegated.

The stats show why this is the case. Not only have Southampton scored the fewest goals in the Premier League, but they've also made the most errors leading to shots and goals. They've also lost possession in the defensive third more often than any other side, which has led to scrutiny of Martin himself.

Recent Performance

Southampton Premier League form:LLWLLD

Southampton form (all competitions):LWWLLD

Chelsea Premier League form:LWDDWW

Chelsea form (all competitions):DWDWWW

Team News

Southampton could be without as many as 11 players due to injury, suspension and ineligibility here. Bookings for Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tyler Dibling and Flynn Downes on Friday triggered bans.

Lesley Ugochukwu won't be playing against his parent club either, while Will Smallbone and Adam Lallana are out with thigh injuries, which means the midfield pair will miss out.

Aaron Ramsdale is still out, so Joe Lumley should keep his place after making his Premier League debut at the age of 29 on Friday, replacing Alex McCarthy, who looked uncomfortable and made a big mistake in the defeat to Liverpool.

Chelsea will be without defender Wesley Fofana for around four to five weeks after he picked up a hamstring injury in the win over Villa on Sunday.

Fofana is out with a hamstring issue, as is right-back Reece James. Otherwise, Maresca has the rest of his squad at his disposal, following the returns of Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto at the weekend.

Chelsea should still have their league players fresh for the cup, so there won't be many changes at St Mary's. However, Noni Madueke might be one, as he was surprisingly left out of the side at the weekend.

Possible starting lineup

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