Marcos Alonso, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic and Timo Werner all come in with Cesar Azpilicueta, Reece James, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic all making way.Romelu Lukaku, rated a doubt for this game, is not on the bench and neither is Azpilicueta, the skipper missing due to Covid. N’Golo Kante will captain the side.

Southampton are without on-loan Chelsea striker Armando Broja. They bring Adam Armstrong in up front with Stuart Armstrong also in the side in two changes from their draw at Leeds last time out.

Chelsea: Mendy; Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Loftus-Cheek, Kante (c), Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Havertz, Werner.Subs: Kepa, James, Chalobah, Sarr, Barkley, Jorginho, Saul, Pulisic, Ziyech.

Southampton: Forster; Livramento, Bednarek, Salisu, Walker-Peters, Ward-Prowse (c), Romeu, S Armstrong, Elyounoussi, A Armstrong, Adams.Subs: Caballero, Stephens, Valery, Perraud, Diallo, Smallbone, Walcott, Redmond, Tella.

The referee is Kevin Friend