Southampton FC predicted team vs Chelsea in Premier League

Ralph Hasenhuttl and co have remained positive after displaying what they believe to be some impressive early performances, picking up points from Manchester United and City, as well as West Ham.

Thomas Tuchel has turned Chelsea into European Champions and among the Premier League title favourites, particularly with the return of striker Romelu Lukaku.

Defender Jack Stephens was a big miss at the back against Wolves, despite only conceding a handful of chances, and Saints will likely have to go on without him until the new year.

Read more 

• Stuart Armstrong could return from injury to face Chelsea
• Ralph Hasenhuttl: Chelsea want to bounce back from losses
• Has Ralph given the reasoning behind Nathan Tella's limited gametime?

Theo Walcott has been back in training for over a week and could well be available for selection, while Stuart Armstrong may get his first minutes of the season from the bench after the boss revealed he too had been in training.

Using past teams and press conference reveals, here’s how we think Hasenhuttl will line up:

Goalkeeper

There are no signs of Alex McCarthy’s tenure as number one coming to an end anytime soon.

Alex McCarthy has conceded just once in the last three Premier League matches

Defence

Jan Bednarek and Mohamed Salisu are bankers in the absence of Jack Stephens, and while Lyanco is still getting up to speed. Tino Livramento has started every game of the Premier League season, but I think one change may see Romain Perraud enter the fold at left-back over Kyle Walker-Peters.

Romain Perraud (left) has found himself benched behind Kyle Walker-Peters

Midfield

It’s likely that Hasenhuttl will revert to his more conservative 4-1-4-1 – particularly as the 4-2-2-2 was poor against Wolves – like he did with success against Man City. This will see Oriol Romeu in a deeper defensive midfield position, protecting the back four.

I then envisage James Ward-Prowse having Ibrahima Diallo as his partner, after the youngster got his first Saints goal last week at Sheffield United. This would give Saints three solid centre-midfielders to try and win that battle vs Chelsea.

As the wingers, Nathan Redmond’s run of games could end and Moussa Djenepo, despite a poor substitute performance, will be restored to the starting team, with Moi Elyounoussi again on the right. Ideally, Stuart Armstrong can fill in one of these positions but after such a lengthy layoff it would likely be from the subs bench.

It would be a first start of the Premier League season for Ibrahima Diallo (Pic: PA)

Attack

With room for only one forward in this setup, Adam Armstrong could maintain his run of starting every Premier League game. Armando Broja isn’t eligible to play against his parent side, so it’s a straight tossup between Armstrong and Che Adams, who I actually thought played better on Sunday.

Adam Armstrong hasn't netted since the opening day of the season

Full team

Formation: 4-1-4-1. Southampton predicted team vs Chelsea.