Southampton vs. Chelsea: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Chelsea showed off title-winning credentials when they thrashed Manchester United 4-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League last week. However, Sunday's trip to take on Southampton represents a tricky fixture for Blues manager Antonio Conte and his team.
The Saints have been in fine form themselves, more than meriting a 1-1 draw at the home of leaders Manchester City in their last league outing. Manager Claude Puel has crafted a side that is solid defensively but with deceptive flair in the final third.
Before a preview, read on for the schedule and viewing details for the penultimate game from this week's fixtures:
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Date: Sunday, October 30
Time: 4 p.m. (GMT)/12 p.m. (ET)
TV: Sky Sports 1/NBC
Live Stream: Sky Go, NBC Sports App.
Preview
Chelsea have been revitalised since Conte reverted to the 3-4-3 formation he used so effectively with Juventus and the Italy national team. Yet the Blues back three is set for a stern test from the pace and ingenuity of Southampton's fluid and versatile forward line.
Nathan Redmond's speed and perceptive running off the ball have proved a nightmare for defences. He's indicated how switching from the flank to a striker role has helped his game, per Shravanth Vijayakumar of Reuters (h/t the Daily Mail): "He (Puel) made it clear he wasn't going to play with wide players, but he also made it clear that he'd watched me before and seen me play, so he knew I had the potential to play there (up front)."
The former Norwich City winger is complemented by the aerial power of target man Charlie Austin and the technical acumen of Serbian schemer Dusan Tadic.
This trio forms a potent a combination that could easily overrun Chelsea. The Blues are loaded with experience and brawn at the back, but Gary Cahill and skipper John Terry are ageing and naturally lack pace.
Where the Blues aren't lacking for pace is up front and in wide areas. Wing-backs Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses are tireless runners along the flanks, while Eden Hazard, Pedro and Diego Costa run defenders ragged up top.
Tracking Hazard could be a major issue, especially since he's been given more freedom in this formation. The Belgian No. 10 is the obvious match-winner in this squad.
Fortunately for the Saints, Puel has a superb barrier in front of an accomplished back four. The role is occupied by a player with whom Chelsea are familiar, former Barcelona prospect Oriol Romeu.
He struggled during an ill-fated spell at Stamford Bridge, but Puel's arrival in Southampton has revived his career. Nick Wright of Sky Sports detailed how effective the 25-year-old Spaniard has been at winning the ball this season:
"Romeu has been one of the Premier League's best ball-winning midfielders this season. Danny Drinkwater, N'Golo Kante and Jordan Henderson are the only outfield players to have recovered possession more times (76), and the Spaniard made more tackles against Manchester City (eight) than any other Southampton player has managed in a single game all season.
"
As long as Romeu is patrolling the ground in front of centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte, the Saints will be tough to breach.
Still, Puel will be without one member of the back four, with left-back Ryan Bertrand set to miss out, along with striker Jay Rodriguez, according to BBC Sport. The same source also revealed how right-back Branislav Ivanovic and midfield playmaker Cesc Fabregas will also be unavailable, while French defender Kurt Zouma won't be ready to feature.
Still, there's enough quality in Chelsea's squad to test the Saints' current form, even on home soil. Given the form of both teams, though, a score draw seems the most likely result.
