Chelsea vs Southampton: Premier League – Opposition Threats

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 07: Nathan Redmond of Southampton battles for possession with Eden Hazard of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Chelsea FC at St Mary's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 07: Nathan Redmond of Southampton battles for possession with Eden Hazard of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Chelsea FC at St Mary's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 16: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea and Mario Lemina of Southampton battle for posession during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on December 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 16: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea and Mario Lemina of Southampton battle for posession during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on December 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

A visit to Stamford Bridge is tough enough at the best of times but with Southampton sat precariously outside of the relegation zone on goal difference, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men will be desperate to pick up a result against high flying Chelsea.

Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea sit in fourth position following 5 wins in 7 Premier League games over the course of December. Despite disappointing defeats to Leicester and Wolves, the Blues amassed 15 points from a possible 21, including an impressive win in gritty fashion over title challengers, Manchester City.

Southampton by contrast are nervously looking over their shoulders following a disastrous set of results in the last round of fixtures. Factor in that Chelsea have won the last 7 fixtures between the two clubs, the South Coast club’s predicament seems unlikely to improve as a result of this encounter.

Despite the plethora of Chelsea players who could cause problems for the Saints, this article has had the unenviable task of narrowing the opposition threats down to just three key players for the Blues.