With the Blues having faced Aston Villa three days ago and a trip to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to come this Sunday, Maresca has decided to utilise the talent at his disposal as he introduces several fresh faces into the starting XI for tonight's 7.30pm GMT kick-off.

Filip Jorgensen makes his Premier League debut and is likely to be protected by a back four of Malo Gusto, Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi and Marc Cucurella. Gusto makes his 50th Chelsea appearance.

Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are expected to feature in deeper midfield roles, with Cole Palmer, Joao Felix and Noni Madueke supporting Christopher Nkunku up front.

The talented Blues bench includes former Saint Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and Nicolas Jackson.

Chelsea's starting XI: Jorgensen; Gusto, Disasi, Tosin, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez (c); Madueke, Palmer, Joao Felix; Nkunku

Substitutes: Sanchez, Badiashile, Colwill, Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall, Lavia, Neto, Sancho, Jackson

Southampton starting XI: Lumley; Walker-Peters, Bree, Stephens, Wood, Manning; Fernandes, Aribo; Armstrong, Archer, Fraser

Substitutes: McCarthy, Edwards, Sugawara, Diaz, Sulemana, Taylor, Cornet, Amo-Ameyaw, O'Brien-Whitmarsh.