Enzo Maresca will face a new challenge as he tests his squad rotation strategy for the first time this season. So far, all of our Premier League games (13 in total) have been played on weekends, while midweek games have been reserved for non-Premier League competitions such as the League Cup and UEFA Conference League. This allowed Maresca to use his “A” lineups for the former and “B” lineups for the latter.
However, with a midweek Premier League match against Southampton, who may currently be the worst team in the league, Maresca must carefully manage his team selection to avoid falling into the classic trap of complacency after a strong performance. It’s a delicate situation, both in terms of competitiveness and perception, as well as managing workload.
The Saints earned promotion through playoffs last season, but their return to the Premier League has been difficult with only one win and five points in 13 games, placing them at the bottom of the table, six points away from safety. Despite this, Maresca acknowledges that Southampton have put up a good fight against some of the top teams, including a close match against Liverpool in their last home game which ended in a 3-2 win for the Reds. Southampton had an extra day of rest, having played on Friday and earning a draw against Brighton.
This could work in their favor as they have a long list of injuries and suspensions, including key players Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tyler-Jay Dibling, and Flynn Downes. Harwood-Bellis and Downes have been crucial to manager Russell Martin’s setup, leading the team in minutes played, while Dibling is their top attacking player. Their absence, along with the injuries to other key players such as Aaron Ramsdale, Gavin Bazunu, Jan Bednarek, Adam Lallana, Paul Onuachu, Ross Stewart, and Will Smallbone, will provide a challenge for Southampton. Furthermore, Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu is ineligible for this game. This leaves Southampton with either veteran Alex McCarthy or lower-league player Joe Lumley as their goalkeepers.
Despite Chelsea good injury record this season, they currently have Reece James and Wesley Fofana, who have been frequent visitors to the treatment room, adding to their list of missed games due to hamstring injuries. Maresca is taking this game seriously and expects his players to do the same, regardless of who is selected for the starting lineup. He believes this will be the toughest game of the season so far and that his team must be prepared for a tough battle against a brave Southampton side who are known for their possession-based style of play, which is similar to our own.
