Reece James and Filip Jorgensen will both be pushing to start against Southampton (Image: Getty)
will have hopes of bouncing back in emphatic style against tonight (Tuesday).
His side go into the game at Stamford Bridge off the back of three straight defeats. They were in the title picture during the first half of the season, but their recent drop-off has been so dramatic that even prospects of qualifying for next campaign’s are now hanging by a thread.
Ahead of a favourable tie on paper against the Prem’s bottom side, Express Sport takes you through how the Blues are likely to line up…
Chelsea predicted XI vs Southampton
Goalkeeper: Jorgensen
Filip Jorgensen has had to wait patiently behind Robert Sanchez for his chance in the Premier League this season. And the Dane may have thought he had let it slip when his howler gifted Aston Villa a late, late winner on Saturday. But Maresca insists that Jorgensen remains the No. 1 and will be given the opportunity to put things right.
Defence: Gusto, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella
Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile have been joined by Trevoh Chalobah in the treatment room, and the defender will be out for at least a week with a back issue. A decision will also have to be made on captain Reece James, who played 90 minutes in midfield against Villa but still needs to be carefully managed after a string of injury issues.
All things considered, a centre-back pairing of Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill are in line to get the nod, with left-back Marc Cucurella slotting in to make it a back-three when have the ball and Malo Gusto stepping from right-back into midfield.
Pedro Neto could start at centre-forward again for Chelsea (Image: Getty)
Defensive midfield: Fernandez, Caicedo
Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo have been Maresca’s first-choice defensive midfield pairing for the majority of the season, and there are no indications that will change against Southampton, with Romeo Lavia injured and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall still on the fringes.
Attacking midfield: Sancho, Palmer, Nkunku
Even in the absence of Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku looks set to be overlooked for the centre-forward role and shifted out onto the left wing. Jadon Sancho is in prime position to start on the right, with Maresca’s options limited by Mykhaylo Mudryk’s suspension and an injury to Noni Madueke.
‘s form has dipped in recent weeks but retain full faith in him coming up with the goods from the No. 10 role.
Striker: Neto
With Jackson and injured, and Nkunku likely to start out wide, is set to get the nod up top for the second game in a row.
“It could be a good option,” said Maresca about playing the winger centrally. “We tried with Neto in the days before the [Villa] game and we saw he could do that. It was a positive one.”