Chelsea continue their remarkable Premier League campaign with a midweek clash against Southampton at Saint Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Riding high after a dominant 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday, the Blues head to the south coast to face a Southampton side that has struggled this season and currently sits at the bottom of the league table.
Given the short turnaround between matches, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to make several adjustments to his lineup for what will be his first midweek Premier League fixture of the season.
While Maresca has heavily rotated his squad during Europa Conference League outings, he remains focused on the Premier League as the club’s primary objective.
However, injuries and player fitness concerns will play a key role in determining his choices for the game against Southampton.
One of the significant selection dilemmas involves the defensive lineup.
Wesley Fofana, who sustained a hamstring injury during the win over Aston Villa, has been ruled out for several weeks.
This opens up an opportunity for Benoit Badiashile to step into central defense alongside Levi Colwill.
Additionally, Malo Gusto could return to the starting lineup, which would allow Moises Caicedo to reclaim his preferred midfield role after being deployed as a makeshift right-back against Villa.
Midfield rotation is also anticipated, particularly as Romeo Lavia, who played 86 minutes in the previous match, may be given a rest.
Caicedo’s potential return to midfield could address this gap, ensuring a solid central partnership with Enzo Fernandez.
In attack, some fresh faces might be introduced.
Noni Madueke is in line to replace Pedro Neto, while Joao Felix could step into the left-wing role, previously occupied by Jadon Sancho.
Despite the anticipated changes, Cole Palmer, who delivered a standout performance against Villa and was named man of the match, is likely to retain his spot in the starting XI.
The striker position offers an intriguing possibility, with Chelsea’s leading scorer, Christopher Nkunku, potentially making his first Premier League start of the season.
He could replace Nicolas Jackson, who contributed a goal in Sunday’s victory.
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Robert Sanchez
Defense: Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto
Midfield: Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez
Attack: Joao Felix, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke
Striker: Christopher Nkunku
Chelsea’s form, combined with tactical tweaks by Maresca, sets the stage for an exciting encounter as the Blues aim to consolidate their position in the PremierLeague standings.
