Chelsea vs Southampton. Prediction and Betting Tips for 2022-23 English Premier League (February 18, 2023).

The start of Graham Potter's career at Chelsea can hardly be called successful, especially considering that his team's performance at this stage of the tournament is the worst since the 2015/16 season. However, a four-game unbeaten run suggests some kind of progress. In the past month, the club has signed players for £300 million. Now Potter must build a team, and that task requires time and patience.

Earlier this week, the Blues travelled to Dortmund, where they lost the first Champions League playoff game 0-1. They will be looking to bounce back and get a home win in the upcoming game. Currently, Chelsea are in 10th place with 31 points. 

Sterling, Pulisic, Mendy, Kante, and Broja will not play this weekend.

The stakes are much higher for Southampton, who are fighting for survival in the Premier League after a frankly poor, bordering on absurd, 94-day tenure at the helm of the team by Nathan Jones, which left the Saints at the bottom of the table. Jesse Marsch was expected to take charge this week, but negotiations were interrupted, leaving Soton without a manager before their trip to the capital.

Whoever becomes the coach will have to patch up the holes in the team's defense. The Saints have only once kept a clean sheet in the last 28 matches, conceding ten goals in five away games in the Premier League. After 22 rounds, the guests have four wins and three draws, which corresponds to 15 points and the 20th position in the standings.

Walker-Peters, McCarthy, Livramento, and Larios will not take the field.