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CHELSEA v Southampton: Preview

Date: Wednesday 2nd January 2019

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

 

 

 

Our first game of 2019 sees us at home to Southampton. We finished 2018 in 4th place after a slight upturn in results, although we had to resort to winning ugly to get there.

Southampton, meanwhile, have lost their last two games but still show some signs of improvement under Ralph Hasenhuttl, picking up six points from 15. They don’t have a particularly good record against us in recent years though, so let’s hope that continues today and we can get the year off to a good start.

 

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going into tonight’s game, with a nod to our current injury situation, Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri says “We are in trouble because in January we have to play every three days. We have to play 18 [more Premier League] matches, so other teams’ results are not important. But it is crucial to have continuity.”

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl meanwhile, says “The mentality and character of the team is okay. They believe in their qualities and we can do it better than we did. We did it against Arsenal and we can do it against Chelsea.”

 

SQUAD NEWS

For Chelsea, Olivier Giroud (ankle), Pedro (hamstring), Cesc Fabregas (neck), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (back), Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring) and Danny Drinkwater are all expected to miss out.

Southampton defender Ryan Bertrand (back) is doubtful, Obafemi (hamstring) is expected to miss out again and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is suspended.

 

TEAMS

CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic, Willian, Morata, Hazard

SOUTHAMPTON (Possible line-up): McCarthy; Yoshida, Stephens, Bednarek; Valery, Lemina, Romeu; Targett; Armstrong, Redmond, Ings

 

LAST SEASON

Chelsea 1-0 Southampton (16th December 2017)

 

CURRENT FORM (PL)

CHELSEA: LWWLWW

SOUTHAMPTON: LLWWLL

 

OTHER STUFF

  • Chelsea have won the past seven meetings in all competitions
  • Southampton have only won three of the 19 Premier League encounters at Stamford Bridge
  • Chelsea have won four of their last five league matches.
  • Chelsea are aiming to keep back-to-back clean sheets for the first time in the league this season.
  • Chelsea lost the last time their opening Premier League match of a calendar year came at home.
  • Southampton are aiming to avoid a third consecutive defeat.
  • Southampton have conceded 21 away league goals this season.
  • Southampton are without a win in 15 Premier League away fixtures against the teams who finished in the top six of the table last season.
  • Southampton have gone 10 league games without a clean sheet
  • Southampton have lost 15 points from a winning position this season.

 

PREDICTION

BBC Sport: Chelsea 2-0 Southampton

Sky Sports: Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Southampton

 

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