Southampton vs Chelsea Prediction, Preview, Lineups and Team News | Premier League, December 4, 2024

Southampton vs Chelsea Preview

• Tournament: Premier League
• Date: 4th December 2024
• Kickoff time: 19:30
• Venue: St Mary’s Stadium

Chelsea will travel to Southampton this week as they look to continue their rise in the league table. Enzo Maresca’s side sit 3rd in the table – level on points with 2nd placed Arsenal – and can jump above them with a win.

They are up against Southampton, who are at the rock bottom of the table. The Saint Shave won just once this season and have picked up just one point in their last 3 matches.

Maresca has already labeled the match as his toughest and said: “It’s the worst game since we start the season, for us, and will be the toughest game since we start the season. We need to be ready, otherwise it will be a bad day for us.”

They are facing off after over 20 months as the home side were relegated to the Championship in 2023 before bouncing back up in the next season.

Southampton Team News

Aaron Ramsdale, Gavin Bazunu, Adam Lallana, Ross Stewart, and Jan Bednarek are ruled out for Southampton. They also have Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes, and Tyler Dibling suspended as they picked up their 5th yellow card of the season in the previous match.

Lesley Ugochukwu, who has joined them on loan from Chelsea for the season, cannot play against his parent club.

Chelsea Team News

Reece James and Wesley Fofana are the only players ruled out. Enzo Maresca has no other injury issue this week.

“We don’t have any update [on Fofana] at the moment. It happened two days ago so we need to wait a little bit. We are hoping to get some more news in the next days but for sure, he will be out for the next weeks, for sure. [On Reece James] He’s the same situation, more or less. He’s getting better but he still needs weeks to come back.”

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Predicted Lineups

Southampton Predicted Lineup: (5-4-1)

Goalkeeper: Lumley

Defenders: Sugawara, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Taylor, Manning

Midfielders: Armstrong, Aribo, Fernandes, Fraser,

Forward: Archer

Chelsea Predicted Lineup: (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Sanchez

Defenders: Caicedo, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucucrella,

Midfielders: Lavia, Fernandez, Neto, Palmer, Sancho

Forwards: Jackson

Southampton vs Chelsea H2H Record

Southampton got relegated in the 2022/23 season but still completed a league double over Chelsea. However, that remains their only win over the Blues at home since the 2013/14 season.

Chelsea thrashed them 6-0 in 2022 and also scored 3+ goals in 4 of their last 5 visits to the St Mary’s Stadium.

Key players to watch in Southampton vs Chelsea

Joe Lumley (Southampton)

The Southampton goalkeeper will be the one to keep an eye on as Tyler Dibling is suspended. The teenager would have been their best player, but is out of the match and the goalkeeper will be the one who determines if they can get something at home this week.  

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Cole Palmer is easily the one to watch from Chelsea as he has been in red-hot form. Got a goal and an assist in the win over Aston Villa this Sunday and will be hoping to get on the scoresheet again this week.

Southampton vs Chelsea Prediction

Chelsea should be the easy winner this week. They will run riot but with Southampton playing a lot black, things could be interesting until the first goal is scored.

Prediction: Southampton 0-4 Chelsea

Where to watch Southampton vs Chelsea live?

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