Chelsea Predicted XI: We predict Chelsea manager Frank Lampard’s starting XI as they host Southampton this afternoon

Chelsea Predicted XI: We predict Chelsea manager Frank Lampard’s starting XI as they host Southampton this afternoon.

It’s been an up and down start to the season for Chelsea, who have put in some fantastic performances, but also endured some disappointing results.

One of those recent difficult matches was the poor display away at Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup which saw the Blues lose on penalties against Jose Mourinho’s Spurs.

However, Lampard’s boys bounced back well against Crystal Palace just before the international break and will be hoping to do so again against the Sains this afternoon.

Today’s opponents will certainly put up a fight, with the South-coast side making a decent start to their 2020/21 campaign and will be hoping for a result today.

Here we predict Chelsea’s starting XI…

Goalkeeper:

For all their stellar summer signings, the goalkeeper position has been most talked about at Stamford Bridge this campaign. Lampard has reacted to Kepa’s poor performances and signed Edouard Mendy from Ligue 1 side Rennes. However his new goalkeeper sustained an injury playing for his country Sengal, meaning Lampard will most likely play Willy Caballero in net.

Defenders:

New signing Ben Chilwell was unable to play for England last week. but is thought to be fit again for selection. Right back Reece James for his country mid week and will be expected to retain his starting place at Stamford Bridge. That leave Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen to start at centre back, with the latter desperate to prove himself, following his rocky start to Chelsea’s campaign.

Midfielders:

Lampard has some key decisions to make in the midfield with players starting to return from injury. The Blues now have Christian Pulisic and summer signing Hakim Ziyech available for selection from the start, giving Lampard a good problem to have. We expect to see both N’golo Kante and Jorginho in the defensive positions with Kai Havertz ahead of them.

Forwards:

Attacking midfield players and forwards are almost interchangeable in this Chelsea system, with so many options available to the ex England international. Timo Werner will be expected to play at the heart of the attack, with Mason Mount one side and Christian Pulisic given his first start of the season.

Predicted XI: Caballero, James, Zouma, Christensen, Chilwell, Kante, Jorginho, Havertz, Mount, Pulisic, Werner