Skip to main content

Southampton vs Chelsea preview: In-form clubs clash at St Mary's

It’s a big game for….
Fraser Forster: The Southampton goalkeeper will equal a club record this weekend if he manages to keep a clean sheet against the likes of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Willian to earn his seventh on the trot in the Premier League. But this will prove an arduous task against an in-form Chelsea side who come into Saturday’s game having scored 12 goals in their last four, so Forster will need to demonstrate the form that has had England boss Roy Hodgson lurking with this summer’s Euros in mind. He’s widely tipped to be Joe Hart’s reserve at the tournament, so a solid performance against the champions will be one Forster is looking to have in his back pocket.

Best stat…
The Saints have picked up 16 points from the last 18 on offer, the best tally in the Premier League.

Remember when…
Chelsea were in the midst of their barren spell earlier this season when Steven Davis expertly netted this clever goal, one straight from the training ground, to bring Southampton level, before the Saints commandeered a 3-1 win over the reigning champions, their first win over the Blues since 2013.

Player to watch…
Diego Costa: The Chelsea hitman is on fine form at the moment, with a strike against Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend proving that even a broken nose can’t stop the Spaniard’s prowess in front of goal. He’s scored three in Chelsea’s last four games, and has really found his feet again under Guus Hiddink, leading the Blues to a resurgence in form after a dismal run of results earlier in the season. But he’s still ten goals off his Premier League total from last season, so he’ll be looking to find the back of the net several times over the next few games, starting on the south coast on Saturday.
Past three meetings…
Chelsea 1 (Willian) Southampton 3 (Davis, Mane, Pelle), Premier League, October 2015
Chelsea 1 (Costa) Southampton 1 (Tadic), Premier League, March 2015
Southampton 1 (Mane) Chelsea 1 (Hazard), Premier League, December 2014
Form guide..
Southampton: WWWDWW
Chelsea: DDWDDW
Vital information…
KICK-OFF TIME: 3pm




[independent.co.uk]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introducing Randalin: The Girl with The Crazy Ass

Post a Comment
Read more

Kobe Bryant dead in California helicopter crash

Legendary NBA player Kobe Bryant has died in a California helicopter crash, reports said Sunday. He was 41. Bryant was among at least four people traveling in his private helicopter over Calabasas when a fire broke out, sending the chopper spiraling from the sky,  according to TMZ Sports . The crash occurred around 10 a.m. local time amid foggy conditions in the hills overlooking Calabasas, with the chopper sparking a brush fire on impact that hampered initial rescue efforts,  according to The Los Angeles Times . There were no survivors, and the cause of the crash is under investigation, according to TMZ. Authorities investigating the crash  confirmed to KTLA – Channel 5  that at least five people were killed in the crash, but did not identify the victims by name. Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, was not among those aboard the chopper, according to reports. He is also survived by the couple’s four daughters, with the youngest born just last June. Bryant starred for two decad
Post a Comment
Read more

Zika-Linked Cases of Microcephaly Rise in Brazil

The number of cases of microcephaly in Brazil associated with the Zika virus has risen to 4,863 —up from 4,690 a week ago. Confirmed cases of the virus reached 641, while suspected cases now total 4,222, Reuters reported on Wednesday morning, citing the Ministry of Health. The Zika epidemic—which is now spreading through the Americas and prompting a dedicated response from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—is centered in Brazil. Read more: How Brazil Uncovered the Possible Connection Between Zika and Microcephaly Doctors believe the virus is linked to microcephaly, a birth defect involving an abnormally small head and incomplete brain development, though there is not yet definitive scientific proof of the link.
Post a Comment
Read more