Chelsea sunk to a loss against Bournemouth before overpowering Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham. That seems to be The Chelsea Way these days, so make predictions at your own risk.
One of those quirks / screw-ups in Chelsea’s schedule has them face Southampton twice before they face Arsenal once, so the Blues will finish the first half of the season with their second helping of the Saints a few days before their second London derby of the month.
Kevin Peacock: Chelsea 3 – 0 Southampton. Super Frank Lampard overcame his former boss Jose Mourinho as he mixed it up against Spurs. He needs to follow that win with another victory at Stamford Bridge. The Blues allowed Bournemouth to win the last home game, but fellow south coasters Southampton won’t be getting any late presents. Full of confidence, the Blues will smash the Saints as they finally get a decent return on chances created. Of course, Tambraham scores along with Cesar Azpilicueta and Mason Mount.
Olaoluwa Nwobodo: 3 – 0. Chelsea has already played the reverse fixture and won it comfortably. The Blues’ home form has been bad, nonetheless they will sail threw this comfortably. The players were in a slump and needed a confidence boost, and the win against Spurs was perfect.
This is not going to be an easy game, but Chelsea will be too much to handle for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men. Tammy Abraham and Willian to score.
Nate Hofmann: 2 – 1. This was a fun match last time around, but Southampton are actually gathering something vaguely resembling positive momentum. Danny Ings is now level with Tammy Abraham in goal scoring, and Ralph Hasenhuttl is proving that he is, in fact, a competent manager.
If Chelsea waltz in expecting the same abysmal Saints side they hammered back in October, they’ll be unpleasantly surprised. If they can carry the same level of intensity from the Tottenham match into this one, though, it should be an easy day at the office.
With a trip to Arsenal looming in the distance, this has major trap-game potential, but I’ll bet on the good post-Spurs vibes and residual Christmas cheer to be enough on Boxing Day.
Scott Brant: 3 – 1. The team is playing well, but unless they unleash Antonio Rudiger, Fikayo Tomori, and Kurt Zouma at the back again, I just can’t fathom back-to-back clean sheets. Tammy Abraham to light the score board up again with a brace, and Willian to get the other.
Barrett Rouen: 3 – 0. I just have a good feeling about this Boxing Day match. 3-1 is also very likely, but the defense seemed better and Southampton aren’t the same threat as Tottenham, so hopefully the Blues can start defending with at least the bare minimum of professionalism.
Abhishek Pancholi: 4 – 0. Saints knocked out on Boxing Day. Easy win. Three points. On to the next one. Yes, it has been a jolly Christmas. Why do you ask?