Premier League Matchweek 5: Chelsea targets Saints for lunch - Preview, Predictions and Betting tips

Premier League Matchweek 5: Chelsea targets Saints for lunch - Preview, Predictions and Betting tips

 

Chelsea's Tammy Abraham controls majestically in their emphatic win over Crystal Palace
before the break (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Chelsea vs Southampton
Stamford Bridge
3:00pm

 

Southampton shocked Frank Lampard and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Boxing Day fixture of last season and that remains their only success against the Blues in the last five meetings.

Chelsea have not had the rosiest of starts to the season but the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace before the break showed just how they can be dominant especially with some players breaking into the team after injury. 

Coach Frank Lampard will not have too many excuses if his expensively assembled side doesn’t fire to glory come May, maybe not as champions but with trophies and strong showing domestically and in Europe.

Southampton will welcome back their former starlet, Theo Walcott who joined from Everton on loan for the rest of the season.

The former Arsenal forward joined on deadline day having found regular football hard to come by with the avalanche of quality arrivals at Goodison Park.

But Malian midfielder, Moussa Djenepo will miss the game with a hamstring problem he sustained in the win over Westbrom, incidentally, he scored his first goal in over a year in the game.

Nathan Redmond fends off Conor Townsend of Westbrom in the Saints 2-0 win at St. Mary's Stadium (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Southampton will also be without Stuart Armstrong when they visit Chelsea, the Scottish midfielder tested positive to COVID-19 while on international break and will not complete his isolation period till Friday.

Manager Ralph Hassenheutl has selection headaches with a number of players out but the confidence is high and the belief cannot be questioned.

Chelsea fans might enjoy the privilege of seeing Hakim Ziyech for the first time and Christian Pulisic is fit and ready to play.

Ben Chilwell races against time to be fit but there shouldn’t be a problem for anyone else as no new injury news has been reported.

The key battles will be won by Chelsea no doubt but they must be wary of Danny Ings and the runs in-behind the porous Chelsea back line, it should be a routine win for the Blues

Betting prediction: Chelsea to win