Southampton: Chelsea dealt big injury blow ahead of clash with Saints

Chelsea have been dealt a major injury blow ahead of their Premier League meeting with Southampton on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is set to be unavailable after picking up a thigh injury on international duty with Senegal that has forced him to fly back to London ahead of schedule.

He will undergo further examinations with Chelsea and then start his recovery but could be a doubt as the Blues host Saints this weekend.

For Saints, this could be a provide a real opportunity to pick up another big three points.

Confidence will be high for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side after two consecutive league wins over Burnley and West Brom and Mendy’s absence could boost their chances of making it three wins on the bounce.

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This is because Kepa Arrizabalaga could step in to take up the vacant goalkeeper’s role in Frank Lampard’s starting line-up and his tendency to make mistakes has been well-documented.

His last appearance showed this when he delayed playing a pass out to his defence so long that it allowed Liverpool’s Sadio Mane to nip in and take the ball off him before passing into an empty net.

Fellow shot-stopper Willy Caballero could also step and play during Mendy’s recovery but he is also prone to mistakes at times, and uncertainty over both potential starting goalkeepers could be something that helps Saints when they arrive at Stamford Bridge.

Their high-pressing style sees them put heavy pressure on goalkeepers and defenders and force those backward passes that can cause panic for the opposition.

Danny Ings has been one player who has thrived on this and scored a number of goals last season after Saints had forced defensive mistakes from their opponents. Chelsea’s shaky goalkeepers could add to this if Saints can get their pressing going on Saturday.