Chelsea plays Southampton in a crunch fixture for the blues coming off two defeats in the last two games.
Tuchel’s men fell short against Manchester City last weekend and then again against Juventus in the Champions League in midweek.
The manner of defeat would have been comforting for the men in blue as they lost both the games by a scoreline of 1-0. However, in Southampton, Chelsea will face a team much easier to play against City and Juventus. The Saints are yet to win a game in the league. They have four points from the first six games, drawing four matches and losing the other two. However, they have held Manchester City to a 0-0 draw at Etihad a fortnight ago.
Chelsea
N’Golo Kante continues to self-isolate following a positive Covid-19 test. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic is expected to again miss the match with injury. Reece James has been ruled out because of an ankle problem. However, Mason Mount has been declared fit and will be a welcome boost to Tuchel’s creative department.
Tuchel on Mason Mount,
‘We need to be careful. He had a rough time at Tottenham. It is not time on single players. We of course miss Mason.
The whole team missed Kante and Mason, of course, that’s why he plays.
Reece James too? Yes of course. Pulisic? Of course.
We have a squad and the duty, for me as a coach, to find a solution.
It is possible to win games with Mason Mount.’
Big money signing Lukaku was kept quiet in two huge matches for the European champions. Tuchel said Lukaku has a good connection with Kovacic and Mason Mount more than other players.
When asked whether Lukaku was isolated in the two matches, he said,
“Yes and no. He was fully involved in the very first game, then the second half against Tottenham in chances and assisting. I think that also, football now is about connections and Romelu I think feels a strong one with Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic, everyone else lacks it a little bit.
Southampton
Southampton will assess Stuart Armstrong, who has resumed training following a calf injury. Meanwhile, Theo Walcott is fit after a similar issue. Loanee Armando Borja is ineligible to play the match. He is ineligible to face his parent club.
