Chelsea fans’ preferred lineup against Southampton: Calling Hudson-Odoi! Or Loftus-Cheek?

Chelsea have hit a bump in the road, and while you can’t expect to win each and every high profile game, a win against Southampton should be expected. Of course, underestimating opposition never ends well in the Premier League.

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Two defeats didn’t change the WAGNH community’s opinions much when it comes to formation or the goalkeeper. Édouard Mendy starts in goal ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga (6%), and the 3-4-3 remains the preferred choice ahead of the 3-5-2 (14%) and the 4-2-3-1 (8%).

César Azpilicueta remains at right wing-back due to Reece James’s injury but Ben Chilwell is clearly preferred to Marcos Alonso (23%) on the other side. Trevoh Chalobah (35%) remains the main back-up option in the centre of defense as Antonio Rüdiger, Thiago Silva and Andreas Christensen are picked to start together once more.

It was a close call in midfield, despite N’Golo Kanté’s absence. While Saúl Ñíguez (10%) continues to be out of favour, Ruben Loftus-Cheek (61%) sure gave the favoured pivot of Mateo Kovačić and Jorginho a run for their money. The same can’t be said of Ross Barkley (6%).

(Ed.note: Loftus-Cheek in fact earned more votes than the third forward, Callum Hudson-Odoi (57%), who just barely beat out Kai Havertz (56%). In years past, Loftus-Cheek as a No.10 would be a possibility, though Tuchel has played him as much more of a central midfielder.)

With Kai Havertz dropped for Callum Hudson-Odoi, it’s Timo Werner who joins alongside him to flank Romelu Lukaku, who received more votes than anybody else. Mason Mount (52%) probably would’ve gotten the nod here, but at the time of the voting his status was questionable. Hakim Ziyech (16%) hasn’t done much lately and that was clearly reflected in the votes; Christian Pulisic remains sidelined with injury.

3-4-3 (70%)
Mendy (93%) | Rüdiger (94%), Silva (59%), Christensen (81%) | Chilwell (74%), Jorginho (65%), Kovačić (71%), Azpilicueta (76%) | Werner (66%), Lukaku (95%), Hudson-Odoi (57%)

MY PREFERRED CHOICE

I couldn’t agree more with the choices that were made by the community voting, so my starting eleven is a carbon copy of it. Given that most of our attack appears to be somewhat out of form, freshening things up a bit there sounds like a good idea, and Hudson-Odoi can do exactly that.

COME ON, YOU BLUES!!!

3-4-3
Mendy | Rüdiger, Silva, Christensen | Chilwell, Jorginho, Kovačić, Azpilicueta | Werner, Lukaku, Hudson-Odoi