Russell Martin during a Southampton FC press conference
Russell Martin went on a long rant about VAR after the Brighton draw
Chelsea's recent surge in performance has catapulted them to third place in the league standings, with expectations of further success as they face a struggling Southampton team languishing at the bottom of the Premier League.
Manager Enzo Maresca has been cautious about labelling Chelsea as title challengers, however, they are merely nine points shy of table-toppers Liverpool, with only goal difference keeping Arsenal ahead. Their commanding 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday highlighted Chelsea's strong contention for a top-four finish this season.
The Blues arguably possess the league's most robust squad, with Maresca often deploying entirely different line-ups in the Europa League. This depth will be crucial during the demanding December schedule as they have a gruelling nine matches in total to go over the month.
Meanwhile, Southampton are already four points away from safety, painting a grim picture for Russell Martin’s squad. Despite their predicament, they have shown signs of improvement, notably in a narrow 3-2 defeat to Liverpool and a spirited comeback to draw against Brighton which really they should have won in too.
Nevertheless, Saints fans will be feeling optimistic as they head in the festive period and a chance to fight in the relegation battle as well as an EFL Cup quarter-final tie with favourites Liverpool too.
Southampton vs Chelsea Odds
Here are the latest odds:
Southampton - 15/2 (CopyBet)
Draw - 24/5 (CopyBet)
Chelsea - 3/10 (CopyBet)
18+ | Gamble responsibly |gambleaware.org| Odds subject to change
Southampton vs Chelsea Betting Tips
Chelsea to win to nil - 29/20 (CopyBet)
Cole Palmer to score anytime - 87/100 (CopyBet)
18+ | Gamble responsibly |gambleaware.org| Odds subject to change
Southampton vs Chelsea Betting Offer
Bookies CopyBet are offering new customers £50 free bets when they place a £10 qualifying bet.
Simply register and bet £10 on a single bet on the match on minimum 1.9 odds and CopyBet will give you five free bets worth £10 each to place on football, horse racing and other popular sports too.
New UK customers only. The qualifying bet should be either a Single or Acca (2+ selections) bet, start at £10, have 1.9 or greater odds and must be settled within 7 days of sign-up. 5 Free bets which must be placed with a min odds of 2 include: 1 x £10 Pre-match Football game (single); 1 x £10 Horse Racing (single); 1 x £10 Acca (min 2 selections); 1 x £10 Acca (min 3 selections); 1 x £10 Acca (min 4 selections). Max payout – £500. 7 day expiry. To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app (Open banking). 18+
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