Date: Saturday 2nd October, 2021
Time: 3:00 pm
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Referee: Martin Atkinson (England)
Chelsea Team News
Chelsea should be able to welcome Mason Mount back in time from a minor knock for this game, with the England international a sure-fire starter over Hakim Ziyech after the Moroccan lasted just 62 minutes of the Juve defeat.
However, Christian Pulisic and Reece James both remain in the treatment room with ankle injuries, while N’Golo Kante is isolating after returning a positive coronavirus test.
Chelsea fans have been calling for Ben Chilwell and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to return to the first XI, and the former could have a strong chance of doing so after replacing Marcos Alonso at half time against Juventus.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Silva, Christensen, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell; Mount, Havertz; Lukaku
Chelsea Premier League form: WWDWWL
Chelsea form (all competitions): WWWWLL
Southampton Team News
Meanwhile, Southampton’s Armando Broja is ineligible to face his parent club but would have struggled for a starting role anyway, while Jack Stephens is out for at least 10 weeks with a serious knee injury.
Will Smallbone is edging closer to a comeback having rejoined team training, but it remains to be seen if Stuart Armstrong and Theo Walcott will be passed fit for the encounter in the capital.
Hasenhuttl is unlikely to consider many changes from the side that failed to fire against Wolves, but Moussa Djenepo will hope to be recalled to the left over Nathan Redmond.
Southampton possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Livramento, Bednarek, Salisu, Walker-Peters; Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Djenepo; Adams, Armstrong
Southampton Premier League form: LDDDDL
Southampton form (all competitions): WDDDWL
