EFL Cup: Free-scoring Chelsea Out to Sink Saints

Chelsea vs Southampton

Chelsea and Southampton meet for the second time this month as they face off in the EFL Cup round of 16.

The Blues beat Saints 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in their first meeting this season, although they needed two late goals to do so. But Chelsea have seemingly rediscovered their goalscoring touch despite losing two of their top strikers in Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.

Southampton have gone unbeaten in their last two games since that Chelsea loss, thanks in large part to on-loan Blues striker Armando Broja suddenly scoring key goals.

However, the 20-year-old will not be available to face his home team, which will make Saints’ already long EFL Cup 2021 odds to defeat Chelsea even more daunting.

Talking Points

No strikers, no problem for Chelsea

Chelsea have had their issues in attack this season. Despite a promising start, the integration of star striker Romelu Lukaku into the system has not gone as smoothly as expected.

There was a fear that those issues would get worse when both Lukaku and Timo Werner went off injured in their Champions League match against Malmo.

But the Blues have done just fine without their top two strikers. With Champions League final hero Kai Havertz returning to his role as the focal point of the Chelsea attack, they have scored an astonishing nine goals in three halves of football since the strike duo went down. Seven of those goals came in their 7-0 thrashing of lowly Norwich over the weekend.

Mason Mount, who hadn’t scored in the league since last April, led the way with a hat-trick as well as an assist. Meanwhile, wing-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell both got on the scoresheet, with the red-hot Chilwell now scoring his fourth goal in his last five appearances for club and country.

Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel has consistently rotated his squad this season, and expect him to continue that trend for this cup tie. Impressive young centre-backs Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr will likely get the start, as will Callum Hudson-Odoi, who started in the first meeting against Saints and has a goal and an assist in his last two games.

Fringe midfielders Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley, Hakim Ziyech, and Saul Niguez are also likely to get some playing time to give Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, and Mount a much-needed rest.

Saints will miss young Chelsea striker

Ralph Hasenhuttl's Southampton to avenge their recent defeat to Chelsea with a victory in the EFL Cup — Ralph Hasenhuttl gives instructions to Southampton players during a Premier League clash versus Burnley

Southampton were struggling in the relegation zone when they lost to Chelsea earlier this month. But while they are still in 16th, they have doubled their points tally in their last two games.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side picked up their first win of the season against fellow strugglers Leeds, then got a 2-2 draw against Burnley over the weekend.

Two former Chelsea youth products in Tino Livramento and Armando Broja got the goals for Saints. Broja now has two goals in two starts this season and looks to have nudged himself ahead of misfiring Adam Armstrong and Che Adams in the Saints’ striker pecking order.

Broja, who is on-loan from Chelsea, picked up an ankle injury against Burnley which does not appear to be too serious. But he wasn’t eligible to face his parent club anyway, which will be a significant blow to the Saints attack.

Saints captain James Ward-Prowse is also set to miss out as he serves the third and final match of his suspension for his red card against Chelsea.

Adams and Armstrong, who have just one goal between them this season, will now have to step up and produce some EFL Cup 2021 highlights at Stamford Bridge.

opacity 0

CLICK HERE
TO SEE UPDATED ODDS

La Liga

History

Somewhat surprisingly, Southampton have been quite competitive in recent years against Chelsea. Although Saints only have three wins to Chelsea’s 10 over their last 19 meetings, they have held the Blues to six draws.

Southampton have held Chelsea to three draws in their last six meetings and also got a big 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in 2019.

However, Chelsea won their first meeting this season at home, 3-1. Trevoh Chalobah gave the Blues an early lead before Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell struck late to seal the victory.

Betting Tip

	Chelsea vs Southampton	Chelsea Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.07
	October 27, 02:45 (GMT+8)

SBOTOP odds have Chelsea installed as overwhelming 1.44 favourites to claim another home win over Southampton, who are priced at 7.00. A draw is at 4.10.

Clearly, Chelsea don’t seem to be missing Lukaku or Werner all that much. Their terrific strength in depth is such that they can withstand their absence, and they can just go back to the style they played last season with Havertz quite comfortable as a de facto centre-forward.

Look for the Blues to continue their recent hot streak and take care of Saints at home by quite a comfortable margin.