With the Blues taking on Aston Villa three days ago and a trip to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur looming this Sunday, Maresca has decided to utilize the talent at his disposal by introducing several new faces into the starting XI for today’s 7.30pm kick-off Clock GMT brings. out of.

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, while Cole Palmer, Joao Felix and Noni Madueke will support Christopher Nkunku in attack.

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

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

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

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