Chelsea face Southampton at St Mary’s in just under an hour, and the teams are in!
Tonight’s game is a midweek match – but it it’s the Premier League. That put up major questions about what way Enzo Maresca would go with the lineup – and he’s gone all out in terms of changes. Although some of them are not the changes we would have expected.
Let’s figure this out from back to front. Filip Jorgensen makes his first Premier League start in goal, after increasingly impressive performances in his cup games.
Ahead of him, it looks a simple back 4 – Malo Gusto returns on the right for a first start since before the last international break. In the middle, both Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill are rested, with Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi forming the centre back partnership. Marc Cucurella keeps his spot at left back.
In midfield, Moises Caicedo has clearly made himself undroppable, as he’s in there despite the minutes piling up for him this season. He plays alongside Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer.
The attacking line has Christopher Nkunku leading the line, with Noni Madueke on the right wing and Joao Felix on the left.
Here are the full team line-ups for Southampton vs Chelsea (kick off at 19:30 GMT)
CHELSEA:
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— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 4, 2024
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Enzo Maresca during Southampton press conference (Photo by: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Cole Palmer wraps one left footed into the top corner.
Enzo hits a shot with the outside of his foot.
Cole Palmer waits with the ball. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Cole Palmer waits with the ball. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
We’re happy that Maresca has rolled the dice and rested players with Sunday’s game against Tottenham in mind. But it’s an interesting selection of players rested. We would have expected Cucurella, Caicedo and Palmer to be top of the list of players who may get a break, but Maresca clearly doesn’t think the team can function without their influence.
Hopefully we build an early lead and can take off all three of them pretty sharpish in the second half.