St Mary’s welcomes the league leaders on the 28th to continue the festive football. After Southampton’s 4 defeats in a row at the beginning of the month they have bounced back in recent games with 2 straight wins, scoring 6 in the process. Chelsea meanwhile have also answered back after their first loss of the season to Newcastle. Since defeat to the Geordies, Mourinho’s side have won 2 on the bounce, each game finishing 2-0. Comfortable victories to say the least. Southampton will want to continue their resurgence back to form after 4 straight losses threatened to derail their impressive campaign thus far. The problem is Chelsea aren’t a first choice for a game to claim 3 points even at home. Chelsea will also want to come out of the rest of the festive schedule with maximum points since their closest rivals at the top Man City are currently strolling through a 7 game winning streak, also winning 8 of their last 9 league encounters.
Chelsea, although they have only lost once this campaign, will be wary of City’s impressive form and also a resurgent Man United who seem to have turned a corner, and will also not be burdened with European competition. It has all the ingredients for a top clash with Southampton’s insistence on playing on the front foot, which will put Chelsea’s rearguard on the back-foot as they will look to break in typical Mourinho fashion against the home side.
Team News
In terms of injuries Southampton continue to wait for Jay Rodriguez’s return to fitness from his lengthy lay off. The Saints will continue to be without Jack Cork, Sam Gallagher and Jake Hesketh. Other than these players mentioned Southampton have their full squad to call on for the game against the league leaders. It’s safe to assume given Ronald Koeman’s approach so far this season that he will stick largely to the squad that won the past two fixtures to pick the Saints out of their recent 4 game slump.
After recent trouble with players serving suspension, Chelsea will go into the Southampton game with a full accompaniment. Their injury table, unlike many at this time of the season, is barren and given the strenuous nature of the festive fixtures you may see minimal changes to the team that faced West Ham on Boxing Day as players’ rest is required with a New Year’s day fixture to look forward to as well. Expect Mourinho to field a fully strength side as much as player fatigue allows him, as he is definitely going to be chasing 3 points at St Mary’s on Sunday.
Interesting Statistics
- Southampton have only won 1 of their last five meetings against Chelsea at St Mary’s, losing 3 times and drawing the other
- There have been 78 goals scored in previous meetings between the two sides. Chelsea scoring 49 and Southampton 29
- No penalties have ben awarded in Premier League matches between the two sides
- Last time the sides met at St Mary’s Chelsea were 3-0 victors, even Fernando Torres made it on the score sheet
- The two top goal scorers in the fixture are James Beattie and Frank Lampard who scored 5 goals each in previous matches between the two sides.
Key Players
Southampton: Sadio Mane
The former Salzburg winger has let his presence be known since arriving in the Premier League. Mane has 2 goals and 2 assists to his name since joining the Saints. Hardly startling stats but at 22 years old and debuting in the Premier League after other Premier League sides thought against signing him, it has been an impressive start for Mane. His direct attacking style and blistering pace is enough to put any defence on the back foot. His issue may lay in his decision making, as he appears to be at his best when playing raw and instinctively. He was a major force in the Boxing Day victory over Crystal Palace and if there was ever a time to find a run of form it would be with the pending visit of the league leaders. This could be a game that allows Mane to stand up in front of all those who doubted his Premier League credentials and really be noticed, having managers and directors of football scratching their heads wondering why they turned down an option to sign him in the summer.
Chelsea: Cesc Fabregas
Simply put, there aren’t many better central midfielders than Cesc Fabregas. After his dream return to Barcelona ultimately saw him stifled and forced into an unnatural false 9 position, he has triumphantly returned home. Admittedly now wearing the blue war paint but displaying that mercurial talent Premier League fans purred over since his early days at Arsenal .Not only that but he’s better if anything. Two goals and 1 assist is a decent return for a central midfielder heading into the New Year. His creation is second to none in the league. The balance his presence next to Nemanja Matic and behind the “3 amigos” has brought to the Chelsea side has made them look like a world class side. His ability to pick apart a side with his range of passing could win any game. Southampton will have to line up to stifle him if anybody, Van Gaal did it when he got Fellaini to man mark him for 90 minutes. Southampton have that capability if they put Wanyama on him. It is Fabregas that usually keeps Chelsea ticking over, and against Southampton it would be no surprise if he was the biggest influence on the game, either obviously or quietly in the background
Prediction
Considering the immediate form this could be a very close game and one to call. Chelsea’s quality goes without saying and Southampton have been impressive this season. Had it not been for their recent wins over Everton and Palace it woul be a simple game for Chelsea but Koeman’s side have lifted spirits on the south cost and the visit of Chelsea could be a chance for redemption after failing against the top sides they faced at the beginning of the month. However, after that hard 4 game losing streak I feel the visit of Chelsea could be too early for Southampton. Those defeats to the big sides will be fresh and Chelsea will be aware of that and if anybody is capable of putting out a side to pick apart any naivety in the Southampton side it will be Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea team. A Chelsea win but by no means a comfortable one I think.
