Chelsea: Predictions for turning one clean sheet into two at Southampton

Chelsea have a chance to finish the weekend in fourth place, level on points with Leicester City and Crystal Palace. What an age we live in.

If Bournemouth defeat Arsenal while Chelsea win at Southampton, Leicester City, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and the Blues will all finish matchweek 8 on 14 points, with Manchester United and Tottenham well out of the top six. Our writers expect the Blues to do their part, so it will be up to goal differential and the Cherries to sort out the rest of things.

Olaoluwa Nwobodo: Southampton 0 – 3 Chelsea. The Blues will be buzzing after their midweek Champions League win. The baby blues will be buzzing after their first England call-up. The England debutants will want to show that Gareth Southgate did not make a mistake.

Southampton will sit back and try to hit Chelsea on the counter, but unfortunately for them Fikayo Tomori will say, “NO.” The Saints will not be able to handle Chelsea’s front… three? Front four? Whatever the number, they will not be able to handle it. Tammy Abraham will score a brace and Marcos Alonso will have a goal. Mason Mount with two assists, and Kepa Arrizabalaga will have another clean sheet. Build momentum!

Varun Dani: 0 – 3. This fixture is incredibly hard to predict considering how unlucky Southampton has been. They’re exactly the kind of team that finds its mojo against Chelsea.

Chelsea, though, is high on confidence and will look to end the last game before the break on a high note.

With Tomori and Abraham taking charge, they should get the result, provided Frank Lampard understands the need to rotate. Mount and Willian have run themselves into the ground the last couple of games, alongside Jorginho, Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta. With participation for their national team imminent, they need some kind of respite to regain their fitness. If Lampard doesn’t learn from the mistakes of his predecessors, he is running a huge risk of burning these players out, especially when talents like Christian Pulisic are barely being utilized.

Barrett Rouen: 1 – 2. Chelsea are beginning to move downhill and gain some momentum, which is good especially considering that Southampton are in the opposite situation. They and their manager, though, will be more dangerous because of that.

Chelsea will be a little tired and do still seem to lack concentration, sadly. N’Golo Kante may not play so the team will be in a dangerous position and thus will give up a goal. They will continue to mimic Liverpool in Jurgen Klopp’s first year and outscore them, though.  Tammy Abraham to score again. Bless his perfect blue heart.

Scott Brant: 0 – 2. Chelsea will win, but it won’t be as easy as the score line suggests. Southampton may not be good, but they are still a pain in the behind. They won’t make it easy, but the Blues get it done with a bit of perseverance. A goal to whoever starts up top, and a goal from a center back.

Nate Hofmann: 2 – 3. Southampton are sitting near the top of the table in my personal Apathy League. While Ralph Hasenhuttl is perhaps the most underrated manager in the league, there’s just nothing of interest going on at St. Mary’s this season.

Fortunately, the best cure for a boring team is to put them up against this Chelsea side. Lampard’s attacking football can be breathtaking and devastating, but defensive chaos is never more than a set piece away. Nets tend to bulge when the Blues come to town, as Norwich and Wolves both found out, and there’s every reason to think that trend will continue today.

Kevin Peacock: 1 – 2. Southampton are predictably unpredictable so far this season, as are their visitors to St Mary’s today. Chelsea can score – we know – but have a fragility in defence that is improving but not quite honed to Jose Mourinho’s “parking the bus” mentality just yet.

Frank Lampard is finding his feet in upper management and making his selection decisions based on form in training. He’s coming in for unnecessary criticism by picking Willian over Christian Pulisic – same old, same old – but Willian is finding the net. The season has a long way to go and injuries will see the whole squad play a part in the season. There needs to be patience from the players and fans alike.

Southampton set out to not concede at home so it won’t be easy but, like the midweek game at Lille, the Blues find enough in the locker for another win. Tambraham to continue tearing up the league with another brace.

Abhishek Pancholi: 1 – 4. Hasenhuttl’s side have been huffing and puffing, but not really doing much more this season. Chelsea will put them to the sword and rack up a three goal lead before halftime. Southampton will get one back after the break, but the Blues will hit back almost immediately to restore their three goal cushion. An entertaining game in prospect, with an assured three points.