Next Blues’ shootout?
Last week couldn’t have gone any better for the Blues from London. In the top flight with a comfortable home win against Malmö FF, Chelsea had their next show of strength in the Premier League. In the must-win game against Norwich City, the London leaders scored as many as seven goals and thus celebrated the third-highest PL success in the club’s history.
During the week, Thomas Tuchel’s team continues in the cup competition. In the round of 16 of the EFL Cup, the home match against the Saints from Southampton is scheduled for Tuesday evening. Thomas Tuchel is expected to make use of some of his key players, so fluctuations in the odds at the best bookmakers are not at all surprising.
After all, the EFL Cup is not held in high regard by the top clubs in the Premier League. Therefore, a defeat for the Blues from London, who are meanwhile in the championship race in the Premier League, would be quite bearable.
Nevertheless, a potential Chelsea second string still has the potential to master the home game against the Saints from Southampton. Among other things, the recent record at Stamford Bridge speaks for this. Since October 2015, Chelsea have only lost one home game against Southampton FC.
Chelsea – Statistics & current form
Chelsea have made a sensational start to the Premier League season so far and continue to lead the table after nine matchdays. So far, the Blues from London have already scored 22 points, but the lead over their pursuers is only minimal. Liverpool FC, for example, is just one point behind the Londoners.
It was therefore all the more important for Chelsea to master their most recent Premier League challenge. Against Norwich City, CFC not only took three safe points, but also one of the highest victories in their own league history. Only twice have Chelsea won more in the Premier League than the recent 7-0 win over the Canaries from Norwich.
The momentum from the last two competitive games should now be carried over into the cup competition. CFC coach Thomas Tuchel will probably be without a number of key players. In addition, Werner, Pulisic and Lukaku, three important offensive players, are not available due to injury. The use of the recovered Kante is also rather unrealistic.
Will Chelsea’s second string make the quarter-finals?
Because the Blues have a promising line-up across the board, there is a good chance that they can overcome the cup tie against Southampton FC even with a B eleven. Chelsea have already won the League Cup five times. The last time was in 2015, when the Blues beat city rivals Tottenham in the final.
In the last season, this opponent ensured that Chelsea were eliminated in the last 16 of the EFL Cup – for the second time in a row, mind you. However, bettors who still want to bet on Chelsea vs. Southampton reaching the quarter-finals this year can pick up decent odds in the event of success. This is also supported by the recent home record against the Saints.
In the last seven home games, there has only been one defeat against Southampton. Chelsea, on the other hand, have won four out of seven home games in that period. This includes the most recent home win in the English top flight this season, where Chelsea swept the visitors from the English port city 3-1 from Stamford Bridge.
Predicted Chelsea line-up:
Kepa; James, Chalobah, Sarr, Alonso; Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Saul; Ziyech, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi
Last matches played by Chelsea:
Premier League
10/23 2021 – Chelsea London 7 – 0 Norwich
Champions League Grp. H
10/20 2021 – Chelsea London 4 – 0 Malmö FF
Premier League
10/16 2021 – Brentford 0 – 1 Chelsea London
10/02 2021 – Chelsea London 3 – 1 Southampton
Champions League Grp. H
09/29 2021 – Juventus Turin 1 – 0 Chelsea London
Southampton – Statistics & current form
For now, the Saints can breathe a little easier. After all, Southampton FC have extended their cushion on the relegation places in the Premier League with four points in the last two matchdays. Nevertheless, with the current lead, there is still a danger of relegation. It is therefore all the more important to underpin their recent form in the coming weeks.
For now, the focus is on the upcoming cup match against the Blues from London. Almost three weeks ago, Southampton already lost the away match at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. It is quite possible that the Saints will also lose in the EFL Cup against Chelsea. After all, Southampton have not made it past the fourth round of the cup since the 2016/17 season.
Last season, Southampton FC were even eliminated in the second round of the cup. It would therefore be more than surprising if, this season of all seasons, Southampton FC were to reach the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup for the first time in almost five years against the in-form Blues. If you still want to bet on the underdog, you can get odds of 7.60 on Chelsea vs. Southampton for tip 2.
Will the Saints be at their best in the cup tie?
Just like for the Blues from London, the EFL Cup has no special significance for Southampton in the current Premier League table situation. After all, the Saints are in a relegation battle and need the regeneration time for the important away game against Watford next weekend.
It is therefore quite possible that Ralph Hasenhüttl will also start the rotation machine for the cup match. For the time being, it remains uncertain which key players will be deployed in London. In contrast to the Blues, the Saints have a manageable number of players. With a potential second string, it is therefore unrealistic that Southampton will win the away game in London.
In the last round, the Saints narrowly missed out on the cup against Sheffield United. It took a penalty shoot-out for Southampton FC to book their place in the last 16 of the League Cup. Ralph Hasenhüttl will only have to do without Broja and Stephens for the cup match against the Blues due to injuries.
Predicted Southampton line-up:
Forster; Valery, Lyanco, Salisu, Perraud; Diallo, Romeu; Tella, Armstrong, Djenepo; Adams
Last matches played by Southampton:
Premier League
10/23 2021 – Southampton 2 – 2 Burnley
10/16 2021 – Southampton 1 – 0 Leeds
10/02 2021 – Chelsea London 3 – 1 Southampton
09/26 2021 – Southampton 0 – 1 Wolverhampton
Carabao Cup
09/21 2021 – Sheffield United (2)2 – 2(4) Southampton
Chelsea – Southampton Direct Comparison / H2H Record
Competitively, this will be the 108th meeting between the two clubs. So far Chelsea have a record of 47-31-29 against Southampton. The Blues from London celebrated one of their 47 victories against the Saints just three weeks ago. At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea won 3-1 against the club from the English port city.
In the final phase, the Blues benefited from the visitors’ dismissal. After the red card of Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Chelsea scored two goals within five minutes. It was the fourth win in the last seven home games against the Saints for the Londoners.
Chelsea – Southampton Tip
With their current form – and especially after the landslide victory over Norwich City – Chelsea will also go into the cup match with a broad chest. Although the Blues are not expected to be at their best for the match against Southampton, it is obvious that the Londoners will also enter the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup with a second guard.
The Saints have not been the best cup team in recent years. In the League Cup, Southampton have always had to pull the plug at the latest in the round of 16 since the 2016/17 season. Last year, the Saints were even eliminated in the second round of the EFL Cup.
Meanwhile, the cup game during the week is hardly convenient for both clubs. It therefore remains to be seen with what attitude Chelsea and Southampton will go into the cup match. We expect a high-scoring encounter in which the Londoners are likely to prevail. Our betting odds for Chelsea vs. Southampton are “HT/FT: 1/1”. We are betting six out of ten possible units on this match.
