Chelsea’s struggles in 2025 continued at the weekend as another promising start ended in disappointment.
Despite taking an early lead against Aston Villa, defensive lapses once again proved costly, leading to a 2-1 defeat. That result only added to the mounting pressure on Enzo Maresca, whose side has now lost three of their last four Premier League matches. Hopes of securing a UEFA Champions League spot are slipping away, and a response is desperately needed.
There may be no better opportunity for Chelsea to bounce back than this upcoming fixture against Southampton. The Saints remain rooted to the bottom of the table, and Chelsea already dismantled them 5-1 in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Maresca will be hoping for a similarly dominant performance to lift the mood at Stamford Bridge.
History suggests Chelsea have little to worry about when facing teams in Southampton’s position. The Blues have won 11 of their last 14 Premier League matches against sides sitting bottom of the table at the start of the round. Additionally, their record against teams currently in the lower half of the standings has been strong, with six victories in seven meetings this season against clubs in 15th place or lower.
Southampton, meanwhile, saw their miserable campaign take another blow last weekend as Brighton ran out comfortable 4-0 winners at St Mary’s. That result left the Saints with just nine points from 26 matches, and with time running out, their chances of avoiding relegation are fading fast. A return to the Championship looks increasingly inevitable.
Sitting 13 points adrift of safety ahead of this match, Southampton need something special to keep their slim survival hopes alive. However, there is a small piece of history within reach. After edging past Ipswich 2-1 in their last away match, the Saints have the chance to win back-to-back away Premier League fixtures for the first time since June 2020.
Adding further motivation, Southampton’s last visit to Stamford Bridge ended in a 1-0 victory. However, repeating that feat will be a huge challenge, as they have not won successive league matches at Chelsea since 1985. Given their current form, they will need a massive improvement to pull off another upset.
For Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez remains a key figure. The midfielder was on the scoresheet against Villa, though that goal came in rare losing circumstances for him. Before that match, every time he had found the net for either Chelsea or Benfica, his team had avoided defeat. Maresca will hope his contributions in midfield lead to a more positive outcome this time.
On the other side, Joe Aribo could be one to watch for Southampton. The midfielder scored in the reverse fixture and has netted three league goals this season, all of them arriving before the 30th minute. If Southampton are to trouble Chelsea, a fast start could be crucial.
One notable trend at Stamford Bridge this season has been the number of high-scoring encounters. Chelsea’s last ten home matches across all competitions have averaged over four goals per game. With Southampton’s defensive frailties and Chelsea’s inconsistency at the back, another goal-filled contest could be on the cards.
With their European hopes fading, Chelsea cannot afford any more slip-ups. A convincing performance is needed not just to secure three points but also to restore some confidence. Southampton, on the other hand, are fighting for pride at this stage, and any positive result would be a rare bright spot in an otherwise dismal campaign.
Maresca will demand a response from his players, while Southampton’s struggles mean they arrive with little to lose. If Chelsea can rediscover their attacking fluency, this could be a straightforward evening in front of their home supporters. However, if their defensive issues persist, Southampton might sense an opportunity to cause an upset.
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