Ross forward, Saul mobile
When the team line-ups were announced, with a similar defensive shape and personnel selected as in the Carabao Cup game against Villa, there were good reasons to think it would be two-man attack again.
On that occasion Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner were paired up front but although Ziyech was in the side again this time, with Kai Havertz rather than injured Werner, Ross Barkley was also in the forward line, him and Ziyech playing mostly wider and slightly deeper than Havertz.
Barkley played five key passes leading to an attempt on goal, the most, with Havertz supplying four.
Havertz had five attempts at goal (three on target including the goal), matched by Southampton’s Adam Armstrong although only one of his was accurate.
With Barkley pushed forward, Mateo Kovacic and Saul were the central midfield pair, with the Spaniard roving more during his first full Chelsea game than Kovacic who occupied the centre ground.