Chelsea is heading into their upcoming Premier League clash with Southampton on Wednesday night with a significant advantage. The Blues have been in impressive form this season, sitting joint-second in the league alongside Arsenal. This strong run of results has placed them in a good position, with Enzo Maresca’s side looking to secure another win to bolster their chances of a top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League.
In contrast, Southampton has had a torrid start to the season, sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table with just three wins from their 13 games. The team is struggling under manager Russell Martin, who has faced growing criticism for sticking to a possession-based style of play despite poor results. A heavy defeat to Chelsea could spell the end of Martin’s tenure at the club, as pressure mounts on the Saints to improve.
Adding to Southampton’s woes, three of their key players will miss the match due to suspensions. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes, and Tyler Dibling all picked up five yellow cards this season and will be unavailable for the clash with Chelsea. Dibling, who had a brief stint at Chelsea before returning to Southampton, will be especially missed, while Downes’ replacement is also unavailable. Lesley Ugochukwu, who is on loan from Chelsea, was expected to step in but will also be absent for the match. Despite not featuring heavily for Southampton, Ugochukwu’s physical presence in midfield would have been valuable in Downes’ absence.
As the festive period brings a packed fixture schedule, Ugochukwu’s potential future at Southampton is uncertain, with Maresca unsure about recalling the player before the January transfer window. Meanwhile, Chelsea is focused on securing another victory to strengthen their grip on a top-four spot. Maresca downplayed the Blues’ title chances, highlighting the competition from teams like Liverpool and Arsenal but stressing the importance of focusing on their Champions League aspirations.
