Southampton FC vs Chelsea predicted team lineup - EFL Cup

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have overcome League Two Newport County 8-0 and Championship Sheffield United on penalties, after a 2-2 draw, with opportunities to rotate in both.

With a crucial clash at Watford on the weekend and coming off the back of a hard-fought affair with Burnley on Saturday, it’s likely Hasenhuttl will name a couple of changes again.

But Saints do typically get deep into cup tournaments, with an FA Cup semi-final last season and a Wembley final in this cup 2016-17.

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Striker Armando Broja, who has scored in both of his first two starts for Saints, is ineligible against his parent side while Jack Stephens remains out with a serious knee injury sustained in September.

Saints scraped past Championship opposition last time in the EFL Cup (Pic: PA)

The only fresh injury concern is Moi Elyounoussi, who is undergoing surgery for broken ligaments in his hand that he picked up while on international duty with Norway – he should be back for the weekend, though.

Finally, skipper James Ward-Prowse is serving the final game of his suspension that he picked up in the league game at Stamford Bridge at the start of October.

Here’s how we think Saints will line up to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge:

Goalkeeper

Fraser Forster played both of the previous rounds and would be unfortunate to lose his cup place to Alex McCarthy, who has performed well in the league.

Fraser Forster was a penalty shootout hero last time out in the EFL Cup (Pic: PA)

Defence

Tino Livramento could be afforded another rest after a great performance midweek, as he’ll be crucial at Watford on Saturday. That means Kyle Walker-Peters – what a replacement – will start at right-back, with Romain Perraud at left-back. Thierry Small could be involved with a first-team matchday squad for the first time since joining from Everton over the summer.

As for the centre-backs, with only three first-teamers to choose from it means Lyanco will get another chance after a shaky start in Sheffield, and I think Hasenhuttl will partner Mohammed Salisu with him for two reasons. One being that Jan Bednarek was poor against Burnley and at fault for the second goal, and Salisu speaks Spanish so will be better able to communicate with Lyanco who is still learning English.

Lyanco will want another chance to prove himself after a difficult start to life for Saints (Pic: Stuart Martin)

Midfield

With no James Ward-Prowse, it’s likely to be the same midfield pairing of Oriol Romeu and Ibrahima Diallo. However, the Daily Echo understands that Will Smallbone is likely to be travelling with the side for the matchday squad and could get a start over Diallo after he completed 90 minutes for the B team last time out.

The tens are a tricky pick. Moussa Djenepo on the left is likely a shoo-in after he was dropped to the bench for the Premier League at the weekend. Stuart Armstrong could start his first game of the season but it would mean dropping the other option, Nathan Tella, to the bench. Hasenhuttl prefers the youngster as a forward but I think he will start as a ten on this occasion with two easy picks at striker.

Nathan Tella has started both EFL Cup games this season (Pic: Stuart Martin)

Attackers

Those two easy picks were both used as substitutes at the weekend and have lost their place to Armando Broja and Nathan Redmond for each of the last two weeks – one through injury at first, to be fair. Che Adams and Adam Armstrong will lead the line, as they did for the start of the season.

Adam Armstrong has been unfortunate not to score since the opening day of the season (Pic: PA)

Full predicted team

Southampton FC predicted team vs Chelsea FC in EFL Cup