Chelsea host Southampton FC tomorrow afternoon winners of their past two Premier League games, but also feeling the pressure of a mounting injury problem. The win at Crystal Palace came with a price as striker Olivier Giroud was the latest player added to the unavailable for selection list after he left the pitch at Selhurst Park on crutches.
That list also includes Pedro (hamstring injury), Cesc Fabregas (neck injury), Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Danny Drinkwater and Callum Hudson-Odoi. The full extent of Giroud’s ankle injury is not known at this time.
“In the last few days we were a but unlucky. Yesterday in 10 minutes we had three injuries, Fabregas and Drinkwater, then Giroud and we were already without Pedro and (Hudson-Odoi),” Sarri said on the weekend.
“We are in trouble because, in January, we have to play every three days. Fabregas has a neck problem. The injury was in the last five minutes of training, so I’m not sure whether he has to rest for two or 10 days. I will have a meeting with the doctor this evening.”
In flipping over to the visitors, who now sit in the final safety slot by virtue of goal differential tie-breaker, Ryan Bertrand is a doubt for the chance to face his former club due to a minor back injury. Elsewhere, Cedric Soares is a doubt due to an issue with his calf.
Michael Obafemi could be missing as well (a knock). The Saints Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is the only player from either side who is suspended for this match.
Southampton at Chelsea FC FYIs
Kick-off: 3:00 pm (BST), 11:00 am (EST) Wednesday January 2, Stamford Bridge
Google Result Probability: Chelsea win- 76%, Draw 16%, Southampton win- 8%
Odds via Bet Fair: Chelsea 1/4, draw 11/2 Southampton 12/1
Chelsea Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Prediction: Chelsea 2, Southampton 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.