Ba

  • Venue: St Mary’s Stadium
  • Date: Saturday, 5th Jan
  • K/o: 15:00 GMT

Team News

Southampton will be without team captain Adam Lallana for the visit of European Champions Chelsea, the midfielder has been ruled out with a knee injury.

Right-back Nathaniel Clyne and forward Gaston Ramirez are expected to play.

Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez could hand a debut to new signing Demba Ba after the striker completed his move from Newcastle United this week.

John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses will be making their last appearances before traveling to the Arican Cup of Nations, but John Terry (knee) and Petr Cech (groin) are out.

Match Preview

If we’re judging by league standings this season, this one looks like a mismatch; Southampton are flirting dangerously with relegation whilst Chelsea are pushing for Champions League qualification.

But that’s the beauty of the FA Cup, it is a competition where just about anything can happen.

The Saints hold a 100% record over Chelsea in the FA Cup, and are hoping to knock them out of this competition for a fifth time to add to their victory in 1981, though Chelsea are unbeaten in six Premier League games against them and will be looking to notch up a fifth straight win over their rivals.

The big news today revolves around Demba Ba. Will the former Magpies striker make his debut for Chelsea? That’s the question on everyone’s lips this morning.

Blues’ manager Rafa Benitez said of the Senegalese striker:

“He’s fine so he has a chance to play.”

Likely Line-Ups

Southampton

Davis, Fonte, Clyne, Yoshida, Shaw, Puncheon, Ramirez, Schneiderlin, Davis, Cork, Lambert

Chelsea

Turnbull, Cole, Cahill, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, Mata, Hazard, Lampard, Ramires, Ba, Torres

Team News and Statistics as according to the BBC.

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