No Kante, Barkley and Saul start – expected Chelsea line-up against Southampton

Chelsea face Southampton in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night and boss Thomas Tuchel is certain to make changes for the game at Stamford Bridge.

An obvious change is in goal, where Kepa Arrizabalaga is expected to come in for Edouard Mendy, having featured previously in the competition.


Malang Sarr featured against Aston Villa in the last round and seems likely to be involved again, with Andreas Christensen likely to play rather than Thiago Silva. Trevoh Chalobah, now very much a Premier League player, might be the one to sit this out.

N’Golo Kante is expected to be fit again and there has been speculation that he might play against the Saints.

But with Kante’s fitness needing to be managed carefully, Tuchel might well hold the Frenchman back for this weekend’s game at Newcastle.

Instead, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Saul Niguez could get chances to impress.

Tuchel’s options in attack are limited because of the injuries to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.

Expect Kai Havertz to again be deployed as a centre-forward and Callum Hudson-Odoi to continue in his preferred attacking role.

Hakim Ziyech has not been in good form but seems set to feature again in what might be a good game for him to find some momentum.

Expected Chelsea line-up: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Sarr, Alonso, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Saul, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz, Ziyech.