Team
news and stats ahead of Chelsea vs Southampton in the Premier League on
Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Team news
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard confirmed that Hakim Ziyech will be in the squad
for the first time and could be set to make his debut. The former Ajax star
has recovered from a knee injury with Ben Chilwell and Christian Pulisic
also set to feature.
Edouard Mendy and Thiago Silva are out though, with the goalkeeper injured
and the Brazilian not involved following returning from international duty
later than ideal.
"Mendy won't be fit for this game but we hope he won't be out for too long,"
said Lampard at his pre-match press conference after his new signing picked
up a thigh injury during his time away with Senegal.
Lampard didn't confirm which one of Kepa Arrizabalaga or Willy Caballero
will replace Mendy for Saturday's clash.
Stuart Armstrong is ruled out for Southampton after testing positive for
coronavirus which should hand Theo Walcott a second debut for the club after
joining on loan from Everton.
Fellow new signing Mohammed Salisu is yet to feature as he recovers from
injury and is still "one or two weeks" away according to Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Opta stats
Chelsea have won seven of their last nine Premier League meetings with
Southampton (D1 L1), though they did lose this exact fixture 0-2 last
season.
Following their 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge last season, Southampton are
looking to pick up back-to-back away league victories against Chelsea for
the first time since March 1985.
Chelsea have won seven of their last eight Premier League home games (L1),
netting 18 goals, conceding four and keeping five clean sheets in that run.
Southampton have faced just over seven shots per Premier League game so far
this season (29 in four games), fewer than any other side in 2020-21.
However, only West Ham (1.8) have faced fewer shots on target per game so
far this term than Chelsea (3).
Jorginho has netted three goals in his three Premier League games for
Chelsea this season (all from the penalty spot), just one fewer than he
scored in 31 appearances last term.
Edouard Mendy kept a clean sheet on his Premier League debut for Chelsea
against Crystal Palace last time out - the last keeper to keep a clean sheet
on their first two league starts for the Blues was Petr Cech in August 2004.
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