Fresh from thrashing Norwich City 7-0, in-form Chelsea host struggling Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
Thomas Tuchel’s side find themselves top of the Premier League on 22 points, having lost just one of their opening nine games this season.
Is there anything he can't do? 😅 pic.twitter.com/rTjcls8XmD— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 24, 2021
Is there anything he can't do? 😅 pic.twitter.com/rTjcls8XmD
At the opposite end of the standings, the Saints sit sixteenth – 14 points behind Chelsea – after winning just one of their first nine matches this term.
Chelsea have won each of their previous four outings in all competitions, scoring a whopping 15 goals along the way (3.75 goals per game).
Funnily enough, they kicked off their winning streak with a 3-1 victory over Southampton before dispatching Brentford, Malmo and Norwich without conceding a goal.
Jorginho bagged a brace in the Blues’ 4-0 victory over Malmo in the Champions League before Mason Mount netted a hat-trick in Saturday’s 7-0 thrashing of Norwich.
Not only have Chelsea scored 23 goals in nine league games this term (2.55 goals per game), but they also boast the best defensive record in the division (3).
The Saints, meanwhile, have only managed to bag eight Premier League goals this season. As a result, they are the division’s third-lowest scorers.
It is also worth pointing out that Southampton have drawn five of their nine league games this term (55%), picking up one win and three losses in the process.
They head into Tuesday’s clash on a two-match unbeaten streak, however, following a win over Leeds and a draw with Burnley.
The Saints came from behind to lead Burnley 2-1 on Saturday, only for Maxwel Cornet to score his second goal of the game and rescue a point for Sean Dyche’s side.
Head-to-head: As we know, Chelsea beat Southampton 3-1 at the start of the month. The Blues enjoyed 62% possession and racked up 20 shots (9 on target) last time around.
The Saints have only managed to beat Chelsea once in their previous 13 attempts, suffering nine defeats along the way (3 draws).
Team news: Chelsea will be without forward pair Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku on Tuesday, while Christian Pulisic and N’Golo Kante are also injury doubts.
As for Southampton, Jack Stephens is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee problem, while Chelsea loanee Armando Broja is unable to face his parent club.
Even if Tuchel decides to rest a number of his first-team regulars on Tuesday, Chelsea should still have more than enough firepower to overcome to the Sants.
For that reason, Forebet predicts that Chelsea will secure a high-scoring clean-sheet victory over Southampton.