Chelsea will be bidding to avoid ending a 40-year streak when they square off against Southampton on Tuesday evening.
The Blues are currently on their worst run of form since the arrival of Enzo Maresca, prevailing in just three of their last 12 matches in all competitions.
As a result of Saturday's 2-1 reverse to Aston Villa, Chelsea have dropped down to seventh position in the Premier League table.
On a positive note for the West Londoners, they are unbeaten in their most recent four fixtures at Stamford Bridge ahead of playing host to the top-flight's bottom-placed club.
Nevertheless, Chelsea are at risk of ending a 40-year streak as they prepare to take on Ivan Juric's outfit.
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What streak is at risk?
When these two teams last met at Stamford Bridge in February 2023, Southampton prevailed 1-0 courtesy of a James Ward-Prowse effort at the end of the first half.
Should the South-coast outfit team emerge victorious on Tuesday, it would represent the first time since 1985 that they have won consecutive league encounters at Stamford Bridge.
Southampton can claim to have enjoyed plenty of success in this fixture since the start of 2019, earning three wins and three draws in 11 matches when they have largely been regarded as overwhelming underdogs.
Furthermore, they have lost just once on their most recent six visits to Stamford Bridge, the only defeat coming by a 3-1 scoreline in October 2021 when Chelsea required two goals in the 84th and 89th minutes respectively.
That said, Chelsea did cruise to a 5-1 success at St Mary's when the teams last met in December, Southampton then having Russell Martin in charge.
Meanwhile, a 10-match undefeated streak has been put together in evening Premier League fixtures at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea winning on nine occasions.
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Any hope for Southampton?
Since December 22, Southampton have only accumulated five points fewer than Chelsea in the Premier League, picking up four points compared to their upcoming opponents' nine across 10 matches.
However, Southampton have lost their most recent six evening Premier League games at a time when Chelsea have netted in all but one of their last 25 Premier League fixtures at Stamford Bridge.
Southampton will take encouragement from Chelsea keeping just one clean sheet in their last 13 top-flight encounters at their home ground. A total of 15 goals have been conceded in 12 such games during 2024-25.
Darren Plant
