Frank Lampard suddenly has a winning team at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea are now in search of a second straight Premier League victory.
Southampton are out to upset the Blues on Sunday afternoon. The Saints have been highly inconsistent this season and go into the fixture losers of their last two league matches.
Ralph Hassenhuttl’s Saints lost to Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur by a combined score of 5-2. Although Southampton didn’t play terribly bad, they still couldn’t find the goals needed to pick up points.
Chelsea’s defence could offer Southampton a way to goal. However, the Blues’ attack has been very good this term as Tammy Abraham has proven himself as a top flight goalscorer. Abraham has seven Premier League goals and is one of the revelations of the early stages of the season.
The Blues are unbeaten in five of their last six matches. Since losing to Manchester United 4-0 on opening day at Old Trafford, Chelsea’s only blemish was a 2-1 loss at home to Liverpool. Both matches showcased Chelsea’s defensive frailties.
Last weekend’s 2-0 win may not have been due to Chelsea’s improved defence but more about Brighton’s lack of an attack. Still, Chelsea should be in good spirits heading to the south coast.
Southampton have taken just one point from nine possible at St. Mary’s Stadium this season. The Saints one point came against Manchester United while they experienced home losses to Liverpool and Bournemouth.
The Saints average just 1.0 goals per match and strikers Danny Ings and Che Adams have been unable to score goals all season long. Ings has scored twice in the league while adding two in the Carabao Cup.
Adams has scored zero times and his purchase from EFL Championship club Birmingham City looks like a fool’s move.
Southampton have conceded 11 times and Chelsea’s free-scoring attack should take advantage of their defensive issues. Chelsea are the league’s third-highest scorers with 14 goals.
Abraham could get on the score sheet once more and lift the Blues into the top four with a win and results going their way elsewhere. Chelsea are improving under Lampard, especially against teams outside the upper-half of the table.
Chelsea are unbeaten in eight straight matches against Southampton in all competitions. Seven of those games finished in victories.
The Blues will pick up another win against Southampton on Sunday with both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals scored. Abraham and/or Mason Mount could be on target for the Blues.