What will Southampton's starting line-up be against Chelsea?
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Nathan Jones was relieved of his duties as Southampton manager last weekend, after Saints were beaten 2-1 at home by ten-man Wolverhampton Wanderers, after taking the lead. They sit firmly at the bottom-of-the-table.
Jesse Marsch was reported to be set to take over at St Mary’s but a deal for the American appears to have fallen through with Ruben Selles, first-team coach, set to take the reigns for this weekend’s trip to Chelsea.
Given that, it is difficult to predict what a Selles’ likely eleven will be but what is known is that supporters do not like the back three that Jones attempted to implement and what has been reported is that neither did the players.
If Selles does revert to a back four then, in front of Gavin Bazunu, Romain Perraud and Kyle Walker-Peters are likely to be the full-backs at left and right back respectively. In the heart of their defence, Mohammed Salisu and Armel Bella-Kotchap should link up for a partnership that was impressive earlier on in the campaign with Jan Bednarek, following his embarrassing own goal last weekend, dropped.
Duje Caleta-Car and Lyanco will likely move ahead of Bednarek in the pecking order, too, with the Polish defender only being recalled from Aston Villa in January to offer defensive depth as Jones planned for the back three.
Walker-Peters’ availability is in doubt, though, due to a recent injury but the former Spurs man does have January signing James Bree and Ainsley Maitland-Niles as potential right-back cover with Tino Livramento still out injured due to a long-term injury, as is Juan Larios.
In midfield, Romeo Lavia has returned from injury and should form a partnership with James Ward-Prowse in the middle of the pitch with Carlos Alcaraz offering some creativity ahead of those two. Ibrahima Diallo offers midfield cover to those three.
Southampton’s January transfer business was impressive, especially in attack with Mislav Orsic, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Paul Onuachu all coming in to strengthen their front line. Mohamed Elyounoussi, Sekou Mara, Theo Walcott, Adam Armstrong, Stuart Armstrong, Che Adams and Samuel Edozie offer some depth but whether there is strength in depth is still up in the air.
Alternatively to switching to the 4-3-3 with Sulemana, Onuachu and Orsic forming a new front three, Selles may be tempted to be cautious and go with the back three against a Chelsea side set to dominate the possession and territory.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Bazunu; Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Salisu; Walker-Peters, Ward-Prowse, Lavia Alcaraz, Perraud; Onuachu, Sulemana
UNAVAILABLE: Livramento (Injured), Larios (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: McCarthy (Fitness), Walker-Peters (Fitness), Adams (Injured)
