Ryan
Bertrand is in contention to face former club Chelsea when Southampton host
the Blues on
Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD.
The England defender is returning from a hamstring injury suffered on
international duty, and could slot straight back into Claude Puel's
back-line.
Southampton, who boast the joint-second best defence in the Premier League,
have lost just once in their last 10 matches, a narrow 1-0 defeat to Inter
Milan at the San Siro.
They progressed to the EFL Cup quarter-finals with victory over Sunderland
on Wednesday, while Chelsea crashed out of the competition with a 2-1 loss
at West Ham.
Despite the defeat, head coach Antonio Conte has pledged to keep faith with
his 3-4-3 formation.
"I think it is the right way for the players because it is a good fit for
the team," Conte said.
"We have found a good balance and also we have a good offensive situation
because in every game we scored the goal.
"It is different when you defend with the four and when you defend with the
three defenders but I see a lot of positive things."
Team news
Bertrand could return from a hamstring injury for Southampton, but Jay
Rodriguez is a doubt after a clash of heads against Sunderland. Fellow
striker Shane Long is still out with a hamstring problem.
Fraser Forster, Virgil van Dijk, Steven Davis and Charlie Austin will be
among the players who return after being rested against the Black Cats.
For Chelsea, John Terry is likely to return to the substitutes' bench.
Terry made his first start in more than six weeks following an ankle injury
as the Blues made seven changes for their EFL Cup defeat at West Ham, but
Conte is set to recall many of the players involved in last Sunday's
comprehensive win over Manchester United.
Branislav Ivanovic is available and Kurt Zouma is nearing a return from his
long-term knee injury, but playmaker Cesc Fabregas (thigh) remains out.
Opta stats
Southampton have won just two of their last 14 top-flight games against
Chelsea, though did beat the Blues in October 2015 (D5 L7).
Chelsea have lost just one of their last eight visits to Southampton in the
league (W5 D2).
Since a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in February last season, the Saints are
unbeaten in nine home Premier League games (W6 D3). It is their longest home
unbeaten top-flight run since March 2005, when they went 12 games without
defeat.
The Blues have won their last three league games, and they will be looking
to make it four in a row for the first time since April 2015 when they were
on their way to winning the title.
Only Liverpool (59) have had more shots on target this season than
Southampton (55), with Chelsea in third (54, level with Spurs).
Nathan Redmond has scored in back-to-back league games for Southampton -
he's never scored in three successive Premier League matches.
Eden Hazard has already equalled his goal tally from last season (four in 31
games) from just nine appearances this season.
Merson's prediction
I'm surprised Chelsea went out of the EFL Cup in the manner they did.
They're playing once a week and should have highlighted that as a must-win
competition. They missed a trick there.
Puel's side will put up a real fight on Sunday because they are extremely
difficult to break down and a threat going forward.
I'm picking a draw but if Chelsea do manage to get a win at St Mary's, you
need to put them back up as contenders.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)
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