Picking the Best Potential Chelsea Lineup to Face Southampton on Saturday

?Chelsea welcome Southampton to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, keen to build on their midweek victory at Huddersfield.

The Blues are hot on the heels of second placed Manchester United, and know a win is imperative if they are to have any chance of putting any pressure on runaway leaders Manchester City.

Antonio Conte has fitness concerns over star striker Alvaro Morata, while David Luiz will again not be involved. The Italian may well opt to rotate his players as his side play their third league fixture in a week. Here is how Chelsea may choose to lineup on Saturday…

Goalkeeper

  • Courtois

    Courtois13

?Thibaut Courtois is Chelsea’s undisputed number one, and looks set to maintain his ever-present record in the Blues goal this season.

Defence

  • Azpilicueta

    Azpilicueta28

  • Christensen

    Christensen27

  • Cahill

    Cahill24

?Antonio Conte may opt to recall skipper Gary Cahill, after the defender was on the bench for the midweek win away at Huddersfield.

The club captain recently returned from injury, and started the Champions League game against Atletico Madrid eleven days ago, as he continues building towards full fitness.

Antonio Rudiger may well drop to the bench as Conte attempts to rotate his players ahead of a busy festive schedule.

Midfield

  • Zappacosta

    Zappacosta21

  • Kanté

    Kanté7

  • Bakayoko

    Bakayoko14

  • Pedro

    Pedro11

?The Blues are blessed with midfield options heading into this fixture. Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso started the game in midweek at the John Smith’s stadium, but may make way for Davide Zappacosta, and the relocated Pedro.

Danny Drinkwater was ill in midweek, but is likely to return to the match day squad. N’Golo Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko could partner up again in central midfield.

Forwards

  • Willian

    Willian22

  • Hazard

    Hazard10

  • Fábregas

    Fábregas4

?Leading marksman Alvaro Morata missed Tuesday’s outing with a back problem, but may find himself back in contention.

Boss Antonio Conte is unlikely to risk the forward though from the start, and again may opt to field Eden Hazard alongside Willian, and the potentially recalled Cesc Fabregas.

Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi has only 215 minutes of Premier League football under his belt this campaign, but again looks destined to be overlooked with a rumoured exit in January on the horizon.

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Chelsea vs Southampton Preview: Classic Encounter, Key Battle, Team News & More

Chelsea will look to build upon their midweek victory over Huddersfield when they welcome Southampton to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Blues slipped up last weekend, sliding to a surprise defeat at West Ham. However, they were back on form in midweek, enjoying a comfortable 3-1 win at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Huddersfield Town v Chelsea - Premier League

Goals from Tiemoue Bakayoko, Willian and Pedro sealed Chelsea’s sixth victory on the road this season, with only runaway leaders Manchester City currently possessing a better record on their travels.

The Saints come into the fixture in disappointing form and suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Leicester on Wednesday night.

Mauricio Pellegrino apologised to his supporters for an “awful” performance, a result which means his Southampton side have won only once in their last five league games.

??Antonio Conte’s side will look to strengthen their grip on third place with victory, whilst Southampton will be looking to steer clear of the chasing pack in the battle to stay up.


Classic Encounter

In an absorbing encounter at the start of the 1997/98 season, Chelsea defeated Southampton in a high scoring 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea got off to a fast start, with Romania international Dan Petrescu striking the first blow in the opening 10 minutes.

Dan Petrescu

A young Kevin Davies, signed in the summer from second division Chesterfield, equalised for Southampton with his first goal for the club midway through the first half.

That instigated a goal blitz from the home side however, as three quick goals before half-time put the hosts out of sight. 

Franck Lebeouf, Mark Hughes and Dennis Wise struck within six minutes of each other as the home side romped into a 4-1 lead at the interval.

Ken Monkou’s header in the second half restored respectability to the scoreline but the Blues ran out comfortable winners in front of a crowd of 28,832 at Stamford Bridge.


Key Battle

Eden Hazard vs Virgil van Dijk

Eden Hazard has been electrifying this season, proving to fans and pundits across Europe that he is back to his very best.

The Belgian, 26, has scored five goals and contributed three assists in the league so far this season but his influence on Chelsea’s style of play has been immeasurable.

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Keeping an eye on him this weekend is likely to be Southampton’s stand out centre-back, Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutchman has been linked away with a move from St Mary’s for almost a year, with some major European forces said to be monitoring his situation.

The Saints have not kept a clean sheet since the middle of October and will be looking to Van Dijk to subdue the threat Hazard is likely to provide.


Team News

Antonio Conte is likely to rotate his squad as the Blues play their fourth game in 11 days.

Alvaro Morata missed the Huddersfield game with a back problem but should come back into consideration. Midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Danny Drinkwater may earn recalls to the starting lineup, while skipper Gary Cahill could be line for a return to the back three.

Chelsea v Newcastle United - Premier League

Southampton are expected to make changes after their midweek disaster against Leicester.

Nathan Redmond, James Ward-Prowse and Manolo Gabbiadini came off the bench during the second half of Wednesday’s encounter and boss Mauricio Pellegrino may opt to draft a couple of them in to start after a slightly improved second half showing.


Potential Chelsea Lineup: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill, Zappacosta, Kante, Bakayoko, Pedro, Fabregas, Willian, Hazard.

Potential Southampton Lineup: Forster, Soares, Van Dijk, Yoshida, Bertrand, Romeu, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Tadic, Austin.


Prediction

Chelsea have a decent home record this season, though they have tasted defeat twice in their eight home games so far.

The Blues have won their last three league encounters with the Saints and come into the match as strong favourites.

Southampton have struggled on the road this season, winning only once on their travels.

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They have, however, enjoyed recent success at Stamford Bridge, and will look to draw inspiration from their 3-1 victory here two seasons ago.

With the opportunity to strengthen their grip on third place and put pressure on rivals Manchester United, it’s hard to look past Antonio Conte’s side for this one.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Southampton

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Chelsea Star Alvaro Morata Admits He Watches Highlights of Didier Drogba to Improve His Own Game

?Alvaro Morata has admitted he watches clips of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba in the hope of improving his own game.

The Spaniard, signed from Real Madrid last summer for £60m, has enjoyed a fruitful first few months at Stamford Bridge, and fans are largely happy with his opening contributions.

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The 25-year-old has scored nine goals and laid on four assists in the Premier League so far, and looks to be on course for a good first season with the west Londoners.

But Morata accepts that there is always room for improvement, and to help with that he watches highlights of Ivorian aerial threat Drogba in his prime at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's Didier Drogba celebrates after

He said, as quoted by the ?Evening Standard, he said: “I put it on at home so I improve with Didier. When I was seven or eight, I got a trampoline. My dad used to say to me all the time, ‘come on with the head’ and then pass the ball to me as I jumped. I really think it’s helped my heading game because I practiced this all the time with my dad.

“I found it funny when I was little to jump high and head or kick the ball, but it helped me for the future as well because the aerial game is one of my good points.”

Six of Morata’s total Chelsea goals so far have been headers, so it certainly looks as though the combination of watching Drogba and his early training with his day is paying dividends.

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Barcelona Midfielder Expects Strong Challenge From Chelsea in Champions League Last 16 Tie

?Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is expecting a strong challenge from Chelsea when the two sides meet in the last 16 of the Champions League, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Iniesta scored a stunning last gasp goal against the Blues in the 2008/09 semi-final between the sides that sent the Catalans to that year’s final on away goals in a tie remembered for a string of controversial decisions in Barca’s favour by Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo. Barca went on to win the first of two trebles that year.

After Monday’s draw was made, Iniesta commented on his memories from that dramatic night eight years ago and spoke of the challenge ahead, saying: ??

Great memories come to mind, some of the best that I could have experienced. The first thing I thought after the draw was that it will be a very tough tie against a strong team in every sense.”

The 33-year-old has been out recently with an injury, but Barca are still unbeaten in all competitions and sit five points clear at the top of La Liga.

The meeting will be the first between the sides in the Champions League since the semi-final stage of 2011/12, where Chelsea overcame Barca 3-2 on aggregate on their way to a memorable European triumph in Munich.

However, Chelsea relinquished top spot in Group C and a result the first leg will be at Stamford Bridge on the 20th February, with the return leg at the Nou Camp being played on the 14th March.


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Chelsea Starlet Targeted By Premier League Clubs Due to Breakdown in Contract Talks

?Chelsea wonderkid Kyle Scott is a target for both Leicester City and Huddersfield Town as his contact talks have stalled.

The 19-year-old playmaker is regarded as one of the hottest prospects at Chelsea.

Milton Keynes Dons v Chelsea U21 - Checkatrade Trophy Second Round

He was denied a loan move to Reading in the summer as the Blues struggled to complete the deal to bring Danny Drinkwater to Stamford Bridge.

Scott is yet to feature for the Blues first-team, but has impressed in the Checkatrade trophy.

He also made an appearance on the bench for Chelsea’s opening two fixtures of the current Premier League season.

Huddersfield Town v Chelsea - Premier League

However, according to ?The Sun, Scott is concerned about his lack of game time and could look for a move somewhere else, a move that’s reportedly put Huddersfield and Leicester on red alert as both sides look to bolster their ranks.

Scott’s current deal expires in 2019, but Chelsea are keen to extend it.

Antonio Conte’s men cruised to victory over Huddersfield on Monday night with goals from Tiemoue Bakayoko, Willian and Pedro ensuring a comfortable away win.

Speaking after the clash, Conte claimed Chelsea can still catch Manchester City at the top of the pack.

FBL-ENG-PR-HUDDERSFIELD-CHELSEA

But the Italian admitted only a spectacular City collapse will make that likely.

He said: “It doesn’t mean we don’t want to try to catch them but we have to hope they have a big, big slip and for us then to win every game in this league.”


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