Team News: Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Timo Werner start for Chelsea against Southampton

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Timo Werner have been handed starts for Chelsea against Southampton in Saturday's Premier League fixture.

On the back of Wednesday's 3-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League, head coach Thomas Tuchel was always likely to make several changes to his first XI for the game at St Mary's.

In total, as many as four alterations have been made, with Loftus-Cheek seemingly featuring in a three-man midfield and Werner taking his place in the attack.

With Reece James only among the replacements and Cesar Azpilicueta not in the squad, it appears that Andreas Christensen will line up at right-back with Marcos Alonso on the opposite flank.

Mateo Kovacic also returns to take the place of Jorginho, with the Italian and Saul Niguez being selected on the substitutes' bench.

Romelu Lukaku misses out with a minor injury, but Hakim Ziyech has been deemed fit enough to be named in reserve.

Southampton: Forster; Livramento, Bednarek, Salisu, Walker-Peters; Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Elyounoussi; Adams, Armstrong Subs: Caballero, Stephens, Valery, Perraud, Diallo, Smallbone, Walcott, Redmond, Tella

Chelsea: Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger, Alonso; Kovacic, Kante, Loftus-Cheek; Mount, Havertz, Werner Subs: Arrizabalaga, James, Chalobah, Sarr, Barkley, Jorginho, Saul, Pulisic, Ziyech