Chelsea vs Southampton Preview

• Chelsea to win
• Palmer to score

Things continue to spiral downward for Chelsea in 2025, with their latest setback coming in a 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa despite taking an early lead.

That result marked Chelsea’s third defeat in four Premier League matches (W1), raising further concerns about their ability to secure UEFA Champions League football next season.

However, the Blues now have a perfect opportunity to bounce back, as they welcome rock-bottom Southampton to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea dominated the reverse fixture, securing a 5-1 victory, and Enzo Maresca’s side has a strong record against bottom-ranked teams, winning 11 of their last 14 league matches against sides starting the day in 20th place (D2, L1).

Meanwhile, Southampton’s woes continue after suffering a 4-0 home thrashing against Brighton last weekend, leaving them with a meagre nine points from 26 matches (W2, D3, L21).

The Saints are now 13 points adrift of safety, and an immediate return to the Championship seems all but inevitable.

Despite their disastrous season, Southampton did win their last away match (2-1 at Ipswich) and could make history by securing back-to-back Premier League away victories for the first time since June 2020.

They also claimed a shock 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge last season, though they haven’t won consecutive away league games against Chelsea since March 1985.

Key Stats

• Chelsea have lost three of their last four Premier League matches (W1).
• Chelsea have won six of their seven league games this season against teams starting the round 15th or lower.
• Southampton have lost 21 of their 26 league games this season, conceding the most goals in the division.
• Southampton haven’t won consecutive away league games against Chelsea since 1985.
• Chelsea won the reverse fixture 5-1 at St Mary’s in December.

Chelsea: Can They Bounce Back?

Chelsea have been wildly inconsistent this season, and their latest defeat at Aston Villa only increased the pressure on Enzo Maresca.

The Blues are currently drifting away from the top-four race, but they can take confidence from their dominant record against struggling sides.

Why Chelsea Fans Can Be Hopeful

• Excellent record vs. bottom-ranked sides (W11, D2, L1 in last 14).
• Won the reverse H2H 5-1 and have historically dominated Southampton at home.
• Southampton have the worst defensive record in the league and were thrashed 4-0 last weekend.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea – Loss
• FA Cup: Chelsea 3-0 Brighton – Win
• Premier League: Chelsea 0-1 Brentford – Loss
• Premier League: West Ham 2-2 Chelsea – Draw
• Premier League: Chelsea 3-1 Leicester – Win

Key Player: Enzo Fernandez (Midfielder)

• Scored against Aston Villa last weekend.
• His first-ever goal in a losing appearance for either Chelsea or Benfica (previously W13).
• Will be crucial in breaking Southampton’s defensive lines.

Southampton: Can They Cause Another Stamford Bridge Upset?

It has been a miserable season for Southampton, and last weekend’s 4-0 drubbing against Brighton further exposed their defensive frailties. Sitting 13 points adrift of safety, relegation looks all but certain.

Why Southampton Fans Can Be Hopeful

• Won their last away game (2-1 at Ipswich).
• Stunned Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last time there (1-0).
• Scored in three of their last four league games.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Southampton 0-4 Brighton – Loss
• Premier League: Ipswich 1-2 Southampton – Win
• FA Cup: Southampton 1-3 Burnley – Loss
• Premier League: Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth – Loss
• Premier League: Southampton 0-1 Leicester – Loss

Key Player: Joe Aribo (Midfielder)

• Scored in the reverse fixture (5-1 loss).
• All three of his Premier League goals this season have come before the 30th minute.
• Could be vital in Southampton’s counter-attacks.

Head-to-Head Record (Last Six Meetings in All Competitions)

Key Trends

• Chelsea have won three of the last six H2Hs, including a 5-1 victory earlier this season.
• Southampton’s last win at Stamford Bridge was in February 2023 (1-0).
• Four of the last six meetings have featured over 2.5 goals.

Tactical Insights

Chelsea’s Approach

• Control possession and dominate midfield.
• Exploit Southampton’s defensive weakness – they’ve conceded 3+ goals in 6 of their last 8 matches.
• Utilise pace on the wings – Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke to stretch Southampton’s backline.

Southampton’s Approach

• Defend deep and counter – Chelsea have struggled when teams sit back.
• Attack set-pieces – exploiting Chelsea’s vulnerabilities in dead-ball situations.
• Early goal strategy – all of Aribo’s goals have come before the 30th minute.

Match Prediction

Chelsea are under huge pressure to deliver a response after their recent struggles, and with Southampton’s defensive frailties, this is a perfect opportunity for Maresca’s side to regain some confidence.

The Blues have dominated struggling teams this season, and with their 5-1 win in the reverse fixture, another comfortable victory seems likely.

Southampton may take confidence from their 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge last season, but given their poor defensive record and lack of form, it’s difficult to see them repeating that success.

Final Score Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Southampton

• Cole Palmer to continue his fine form with a goal contribution.
• Chelsea to keep a rare clean sheet after recent defensive struggles.
• Southampton’s attacking woes to continue after drawing blanks in four of their last six league games.

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Chelsea v Southampton, 2024/25 | Premier League