Enzo Maresca said that his Chelsea side are "not ready" to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League title this season despite their recent form.

The Blues put on an impressive display last time out by putting three past Aston Villa on Sunday, with Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer all on target.

They have now lost just one of their last 14 home games in the Premier League (W9 D4), while their 10 total league home wins in 2024 is their most at Stamford Bridge in a calendar year since 2021 (also 10).

Chelsea’s latest win moved them up to third in the standings, but ahead of facing lowly Southampton on Wednesday, Maresca tempered expectations for the campaign last week.

"I do not agree with that. We are not ready to compete with Liverpool, Arsenal and City for many reasons. Because we win today, I am not going to change my idea. We are not ready for that," he said.

"The good thing is we are improving. Soon, hopefully, we can be there. On the other hand, there was a team that was fantastic. I consider [Unai] Emery a top manager; he's won trophies everywhere and is doing something fantastic at Villa.

"For sure, we need to improve many things. We can attack better, we can defend better, but for me, what we need is that you need to live moments to get better."

A big three points. #CFC | #CHEAVL pic.twitter.com/H0CfkyieUf

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 1, 2024

Russell Martin, meanwhile, believes his fringe Southampton players are ready to step up amid several key absentees for the visit of Chelsea.

The Saints ended a run of nine straight away Premier League defeats by drawing 1-1 with south coast rivals Brighton last Friday, avoiding a loss away from home in a top-flight game despite conceding the opening goal for the first time since January 2023.

However, that vital point came with a price, with Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tyler Dibling picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season, meaning they will miss the game.

But Martin insisted that the players ready to make their mark in midweek have his full trust, as they aim to close the gap on the sides above them at the bottom of the table.

"We are probably without our five most consistent players, so we have to tweak and adapt. Am I kicking myself for playing three of our best players and getting a point away at Brighton? Absolutely not," Martin said.

"Ryan Manning coming in from being not even on the bench and doing really well is an example. We have a big squad, but we knew all season we'd need everyone.

“You can go from being not on the bench to starting and that's it. We have trust in the players coming in and trust in the shape because they have done it before."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southampton – Adam Armstrong

With the absence of some of their key players, Armstrong will be key for the Saints on Wednesday. He has scored in each of his last three home appearances in all competitions.

The last player to score in four in a row at St Mary’s with Saints as a top-flight side was Charlie Austin between September and October 2016.

Chelsea – Nicolas Jackson

Jackson has opened the scoring inside 10 minutes in four different Premier League games in 2024, the most of any player this year, with only Chris Wood (seven) scoring the first goal in more top-flight games than the Chelsea striker (six) overall so far this season.

He has been involved in eight goals in his last eight away Premier League appearances for Chelsea (six goals, two assists), while he has four goals and an assist in seven games against newly promoted clubs.

4 - Nicolas Jackson has opened the scoring inside 10 minutes in four different Premier League games in 2024; the most of any player this year. Urgency. pic.twitter.com/vxxRhf6IXL

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 1, 2024

MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA WIN

Chelsea have won six of their last eight away Premier League matches (D1 L1), as many as they had in their previous 22 on the road (D5 L11). Indeed, since the start of May, no side has won more away points than the Blues in the competition (19).

They have also only won more top-flight away games against Tottenham (15) than they have against Southampton (14), while of team’s they’ve faced 20+ times on the road in the competition, their highest goals-per-game ratio is also against the Saints (1.9 – 45 goals in 24 games).

Maresca’s side have also been impressive in attack. They haven’t failed to score in any of their last 18 Premier League away games against Southampton, since a 1-0 loss in December 1997 under Ruud Gullit.

Southampton, however, have won their last two Premier League games against Chelsea, as many as in their previous 18 (D5 L11). They last won three consecutive league games against the Blues between 1979 and 1985.

But since enjoying a 10-game unbeaten run at St Mary’s in the Premier League between October 2021 and February 2022 (W5 D5), Southampton have won just four of their last 31 home games in the competition (D6 L21).

They have also lost six of their last eight midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League games (W2), losing each of the last three without scoring.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Southampton – 15.9%

Draw – 19.8%

Chelsea – 64.2%