By Goal.com News on Saturday, 17 October 2020
Category: Goal.com News

LIVE: Chelsea vs Southampton

19' There's a zip about Chelsea here. Pulisic plays the ball off Vestergaard to give the hosts the first corner of the game. Southampton see it off easily enough.

17' Chelsea go looking for a second goal. Chilwell, again Chelsea's furthest player forward on the left, gets on the end of a header but it's too tame to test McCarthy.

13' Mount spots Chilwell on the run down the left and dinks a pass to him. Chilwell's first-time ball in is cleared. The left-back tries again and Werner beats McCarthy with the header but he's offside.

12' Walker-Peters plays a nice one-two with Walcott to keep things moving for Southampton. Bertrand's cross in causes confusion in the Chelsea area and Zouma saves Christensen's blushes by booting the ball out of play.

10' Walker-Peters gallops forward from right-back and Kante brings him down to give Southampton a free-kick. The visitors aren't afraid of getting up the pitch, even if it leaves them open at the back as their recent hammering by Tottenham showed.

8' Chance for Southampton! Adams sniffs a chance in the box and takes the shot early. Kepa is equal to it and Chelsea scramble clear. It's been a brisk, open start to the game.

7' Werner makes his first appearance in the game. The German bears down on goal from the left and aims for the opposite corner but it flashes just past the far post. The striker's still to get his first league goal for Chelsea but it'll come.

5' Chelsea are looking purposeful in these opening few minutes. Walcott slips Ings through but the England striker's shot is blocked. Chelsea take their turn to attack and Chilwell flings a cross into the box from deep. Pulisic darts onto it across Bertrand but can't keep his header down.

3' Chelsea make a bright start to the game! After both sides hockey in midfield, Pulisic dances through the centre and finds Chilwell in acres of space just outside the box. Chilwell lets rip with a low shot and forces a decent save from McCarthy. Werner tests the goalkeeper again but the German is offside.

1' Both sides take the knee and Southampton get this game started!

The two teams are out on the Stamford Bridge pitch. Chelsea will play in their home blue kit. Southampton are wearing their white away kit which has a fetching red trim.

Chelsea have been great at home in 2020. The Blues have won seven of their last eight Premier League home games, losing only to the champions Liverpool and scoring 18 goals in that run. They've also beaten Southampton in seven of their last nine meetings. Southampton won here last season though. Can the Saints march home with a positive result?

There are four changes to the Chelsea side that beat Crystal Palace two weeks ago. Edouard Mendy misses out through injury so Kepa starts in goal. Christensen, Mount and Pulisic also get the nod, while Ziyech is fit enough to make the bench. Southampton make two changes on the wings. Djenepo and Armstrong are out so Redmond starts, as does Walcott who makes his first start for Southampton since his return on loan.

SUBS: Nathan Tella, Ibrahima Diallo, Michael Obafemi, Shane Long, Jack Stephens, Fraser Forster, Yan Valery.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Alex McCarthy; Kyle Walker-Peters, Jannik Vestergaard, Jan Bednarek, Ryan Bertrand; Theo Walcott, James Ward-Prowse (c), Oriol Romeu, Nathan Redmond; Che Adams, Danny Ings.

SUBS: Willy Caballero, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Tammy Abraham, Olivier Giroud.  

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azpilicueta (c), Andreas Christensen, Kurt Zouma, Ben Chilwell; N'Golo Kante, Jorginho; Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount; Timo Werner.

After losing their opening two games, Ralph Hassenhuttl's Southampton are now looking to win three Premier League games on the bounce for the first time since early 2016. The Saints ran out 2-0 winners in this fixture last season. They'd surely welcome another such victory here.

Chelsea and Southampton return to action after the international break having made decent starts to their respective seasons. Chelsea were comfortable 4-0 winners in their last match against Crystal Palace. Frank Lampard will be hoping his young side can kick on over the coming weeks.

Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge.

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