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Recommended bets
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Match preview
After yet another disappointing result in mid-week, can Chelsea start to find some form?
On Wednesday night, the Blues were beaten 1-0 by Borussia Dortmund at Westfalenstadion in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
This doesn’t begin to tell the story, Chelsea ended the night with an xG figure of 2.05, with João Félix in particular squandering two clear-cut opportunities.
Nevertheless, despite defeat in Germany, the Blues are still in a decent position to turn it round, with a second leg to come on 7 March.
Before then, Graham Potter’s team need to improve their Premier League form.
Last weekend’s 1-1 draw at West Ham saw Chelsea slip down to tenth, having won just two of their last 13 league outings.
So, could Southampton spring a surprise in West London?
Well, this seems unlikely given that the Saints are rock bottom of the table, having lost nine of their last ten.
A week ago, despite taking the lead through Carlos Alcaraz, and being up against ten men for over an hour, Southampton were beaten 2-1 by Wolves at St Mary’s.
Jan Bednarek’s own goal is one for the ages and, if you haven’t seen it, go and seek it out, it’s worth your time!
The following morning, Nathan Jones was sacked, bringing to an end the seventh-shortest managerial reign in Premier League history, 95 days to be exact, 44 of which were taken up by the World Cup.
With no successor having yet been found, Rubén Sellés will be in interim charge, his third spell in this role.
Southampton actually won 2-1 when these two met on the South Coast in August, but haven’t won back-to-back meetings with Chelsea since 1993.
This fact is highly unlikely to change at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea team news
Benoît Badiashile was not added to the UEFA squad, but has started all four Premier League games since his arrival, so will return at centre-back here.
Noni Madueke also isn’t eligible for the Champions League, but could return on the right, in place of Hakim Ziyech.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was given the role of Enzo Fernández’s partner on Wednesday, but Graham Potter also has Mason Mount, Mateo Kovačić, Denis Zakaria and Conor Gallagher to choose from.
Wesley Fofana was on the bench in Dortmund, but Édouard Mendy, N’Golo Kanté, Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja are all out long-term.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga; James, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Chilwell; Fernández, Mount, João Félix; Madueke, Mudryk; Havertz.
Southampton team news
Given that Rubén Sellés is now in interim charge, it’ll be interesting to see what changes, if any, he makes.
Deadline signings Kamaldeen Sulemana and Paul Onuachu both started against Wolves, with Ché Adams and Adam Armstrong left on the bench.
At the back, Kyle Walker-Peters, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Duje Ćaleta-Car are injured, so Jan Bendarek, despite his comedy own goal, could keep his place.
Roméo Lavia scored a stunner when the Saints beat Chelsea at St Mary’s and, despite being 19, will be key to their survival bid.
Predicted XI (4-5-1): Bazunu; Lyanco, Bednark, Salisu, Perraud; Lavia, Alcaraz, Ward-Prowse, Aribo, Sulemana; Onuachu.
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Chelsea vs Southampton: Head to head statistics
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