Blues a mess without Mendy and Silva

NO Edouard Mendy and no Thiago Silva equals no chance for Chelsea. No chance of them winning the league in this most open of seasons. No chance of them even finishing in the top four.

A big statement, yes, especially considering the firepower available to Frank Lampard up front. With Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, however, and minus Silva’s leadership, Chelsea are a mess. They were light years away here from the unit that thumped four goals past Crystal Palace before the international break.

Despite being 2- 0 down after 28 minutes thanks to Timo Werner’s double on Saturday, Southampton should still have won and it says a great deal that their boss Ralph Hasenhuttl was unhappy with a point.

Blues manager Lampard had to once again leap to the defence of Kepa, left, who was playing in goal due to Mendy’s injury.

“The important thing is my players, if they are in difficult moments, I’m with them,” said Lampard after his keeper’s latest mishap led to the second Saints goal by Che Adams.

Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard also struck for Saints while Kai Havertz hit Chelsea’s other goal. “One of the huge things in football is confidence,” said Lampard. “And Kepa needs to be supported in that way. He knows that behind the scenes because of the way I speak to him.

“Last year there were some tough moments for him but we kept trying to find the right solutions. That’s my job.”

Lampard’s next task could be to recall Willy Caballero in goal for tomorrow’s Champions League tie at home to Sevilla.