Southampton: Team news and predicted Saints line-up to face Chelsea

Southampton host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and will be hoping to claim their first points in six weeks.

A frustrating run for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side has seen six consecutive top-flight losses recorded and this has stopped an otherwise promising 2020/21 season in its tracks.

Thomas Tuchel’s start to life at Chelsea has been very positive and the German has seen his new side win five games in all competitions – suggesting his players are adjusting to his methods well as they bid to turn their own season around.

Saints and the Blues played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge back in October as Jannik Vestergaard’s late goal salvaged a deserved point for the visitors.

For this latest meeting with Chelsea, Saints will be without five players.

Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Kyle Walker-Peters will be out for two to three more weeks, whilst Theo Walcott and Ibrahima Diallo are also still recovering from their own individual issues.

Alex Jankewitz will be available again after serving his three-match ban for his straight red card against Manchester United and will provide another much-needed option in central-midfield.

Striker Michael Obafemi and midfielder Will Smallbone are both recovering from long-term injuries picked up earlier in this campaign.

More from Saints Marching

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• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
• It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
• Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
• A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse

Saints will be hoping that Walker-Peters, Walcott and Diallo can return as options in March to help them towards a solid league finish and a potential appearance at Wembley in the FA Cup.

All three have proven themselves to be key players in their own roles and their absences have left other options limited as Hasenhuttl looks to turn his team’s fortunes around.

Via football.london, Chelsea have been boosted by the return of defender Thiago Silva and forward Kai Havertz to training this week.

Tammy Abraham will be the only absentee for Thomas Tuchel for this weekend as he nurses a ankle injury.

Predicted Saints line-up

Alex McCarthy; Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand; James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu; Stuart Armstrong, Takumi Minamino; Danny Ings, Nathan Redmond

With Kyle Walker-Peters as Saints’ only natural right-back, Jack Stephens may have to fill in again. James Ward-Prowse and Moussa Djenepo are also options for this role if required.

Depth has returned in some positions with the easing of the injury list and the use of other options – in attacking positions in particular – will be key if Saints are to grind out the win they desperately need.