Chelsea will hope to get back on track this weekend, as they face a trip to Southampton in the Premier League but it’ll be a difficult one.
Thomas Tuchel’s men have had a torrid time of things since the turn of the month, losing both of their games in April in a crushing manner.
Ending a run of 12 wins in 13 outings with a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Brentford, the Blues have most recently fallen to a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Mark Lawrenson’s Verdict
Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson reckons Southampton will be “awkward” opponents for Chelsea at St Mary’s this weekend.
Lawrenson reckons Tuchel will get a reaction from his Chelsea players on the south coast, with the BBC pundit predicting a 2-1 win for the Blues at St Mary’s.
In his weekly predictions feature for the BBC website, he said: “It’s been a bad week for Chelsea, who have conceded seven goals in two home defeats, against Brentford and Real Madrid. I don’t think anyone expected that, especially the 4-1 loss to the Bees.
“I am expecting a reaction from Thomas Tuchel’s side, though. Southampton are awkward opponents but Chelsea have a point to prove.”
Southampton Poor Form
Saints will be looking to end a run of five games without a win in all competitions, having lost four games in a row prior to the international break before ending the losing streak with a point at Leeds United last time out.
And Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said that was important for his side to end the losing sequence, with games to come at home against Chelsea and Arsenal in their next two matches in the Premier League.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he said: “I think it was important in the last game against Leeds that we took something there. It was good that we showed a reaction. Take something there is okay for the team.
I think we had good chances to win it, but in the end it was a tight game. And now we have two big teams at home at our ground and we’ve shown this season that we can play good games there and this is what we want to do.”