Alvaro Morata to return to the line-up? – Predicted Chelsea starting XI to face Southampton

Chelsea needed N’Golo Kante to come up with the winner against Crystal Palace in our last game and have a testing tie against Southampton on Wednesday.

The Saints are under new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, and they could turn up against us after having beaten Arsenal earlier in the season.

The win over Palace gave us a five-point cushion ahead of Arsenal in the race for the top four, and we should start as favourites to beat the Saints.

There are a few injury concerns for us with Pedro still injured while Olivier Giroud went off in the win over the Eagles.

Maurizio Sarri isn’t sure of the extent of Cesc Fabregas’ problems too, and keeping that in mind, here is our predicted line-up for the Blues.

Predicted Chelsea XI

Formation: 4-3-3

Manager: Maurizio Sarri

Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK)

The Spaniard kept an important clean sheet against the Eagles, despite it not being hard for him at the weekend.

Cesar Azpilicueta (RB)

There shouldn’t be many changes in defence and we should see Azpilicueta start on Wednesday.

Antonio Rudiger (CB)

The German did a decent job in our previous game, and it will be important for him to be at his best for Chelsea against the Saints.

David Luiz (CB)

Luiz has been one of our more consistent players under Sarri and we should start with him alongside Rudiger.

Marcos Alonso (LB)

It would be great seeing Emerson Palmieri get a run but we should start with Alonso before the other left-back gets a few minutes.

Jorginho (CM)

The man that makes everything tick in the midfield, Jorginho has to be at his best against a sprightly Saints team.

N’Golo Kante (CM)

Kante might not be playing at his best this season but he keeps coming up with crucial goals as he did against Palace.

Mateo Kovacic (CM)

The Croatian could be started in place of Ross Barkley as we need to keep the team fresh for the upcoming FA Cup and Carabao Cup games.

Eden Hazard (LW)

The Belgian played wide in our win over the Eagles and has to start against the Saints.

Alvaro Morata (ST)

Morata got a few minutes in our win over the Eagles and should start for us on Wednesday.

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Willian (RW)

Callum Hudson-Odoi is a doubt and with Pedro’s problems, the Brazilian should remain in our starting XI.