When Chelsea hit 5-1 in Southampton in the reverse game in December in December, the conversation for a potential title tilt was widespread.
Sangs from “We have our Chelsea back” echoed from the end of the away when Enzo Maresca’s team bragged for victory on the south coast and held step with the league leaders Liverpool.
In West London the mood has changed two months and the mood has changed drastically. The blues are preparing for the reversal device on Tuesday evening to stop the putrefaction. They lost four of their previous five in all competitions, won three games in 2025 and are seventh place in the Premier League table.
Maresca was undoubtedly hindered by injuries, and Chelsea’s current absences forced the tang to change at the weekend, which achieved a certain reward in the 2-2 defeat on Saturday.
So the blues could take place to visit Southampton.
GK: Filip Jorgensen – His mistake on Saturday was directly from the Robert Sanchez Playbook and Chelsea cost a point, but Maresca suggested that they stay with Jorgensen on Tuesday evening.
RB: Malo Gusto – At best, it was a mixed campaign for the French full-back, some of which questioned whether the role he plays in Italian setup is ideal for a player in his profile. He often appears in the last third, but has only one goal post in the league.
CB: Tosin Adarabioyo – Trevoh Chalobah will miss a back injury, so Tosin, who arrived in Villa Park in the first half, should begin on Tuesday.
CB: Levi Colwill – This season the Englishman stood a main support in the heart of Chelsea’s defense, but he endured an error -loaded campaign.
LB: Marc Cucurella – Cucurella, one of the most trustworthy Lieutenants in Maresca, has very little competition for minutes in the left -back after Renato Veiga’s exit in January.
Cm: Moises Caicedo – The midfielder is one of only two Chelsea players who start all 26 Premier League excursions this season. Caicedo might take a break, but the blues options in reserve played little under Maresca in this competition.
Cm: Enzo Fernandez – Chelsea’s scorer on Saturday, Fernandez, was able to fall into a deeper role against the saints with Reece James. The last time the skipper lasted 90 minutes.
RW: Cole Palmer – It was a mighty frustrating evening in the West Midlands for Palmer, which has now disappeared six games without a single goal post. He misses Jackson.
Am: Christopher Nkunku – Chelsea needs more from Nkunku, who simply did not cut the mustard in the Premier League up to this point. After a hard trip on Saturday, Maresca should keep trust in the extremely talented French.
LW: Jadon Sancho – For Sancho it was an inconspicuous start of 2025 that could be called back to the XI after the bank’s exception to the villa.
ST: Pedro Neto – Neto’s use as a central outlet paid off dividends in the first half on Saturday, and it looks as if the Portuguese international Chelsea’s is the best hope of alleviating Jackson’s absence.