Chelsea will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways this weekend when they travel to Southampton following back-to-back defeats. But ex-Cobham graduate Tino Livramento will be looking to prove a point to his former side.
A shock 4-1 defeat to Brentford on Saturday was followed by a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid, both at Stamford Bridge. It points to Thomas Tuchel's usually rock-solid defence hitting a rocky patch at the worse possible time with plenty of season-defining games on the horizon.
Southampton once again find themselves with little to play for as we enter the home straight of the Premier League season. Ralph Hassenhutl's side sits in 12th place, comfortably clear of relegation but cut adrift from European competition. There is no doubt his side will be eager to prove themselves against Chelsea, however.
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The Saints have benefited from the west Londoners this season. The summer transfer window saw Armando Broja and Dynel Simeu arrive from Stamford Bridge alongside Livramento. But it is the right-back, who left on a permanent deal, who perhaps took the biggest risk.
"Yes of course he was highly rated," Tuchel said of Livramento back in October ahead of the sides' first meeting. "We did everything to keep him here, to show him his future and his possibilities to compete for a position in our team.
"He decided to go, that was his decision and you sometimes have to accept. There are not hard feelings because we can show him possibilities and then it is on the player. He was of course competing with Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta on the right wing-back position. I think it was an ideal position to fight because the group wasn’t too big.
"There was a big chance for him to make it all the way. He decided to go and it’s fair enough, we wish him all the best. We saw the potential, he decided to go another way and fight for a place at Southampton."
Livramento has been a favourite of Hassenhutl's this season, starting whenever he has been fit and providing a goal and two assists in the Premier League. But Chelsea will have the chance to re-sign the 19-year-old from the summer of 2023 for £38 million. But how would he feel about returning?
“Maybe one day, but I'm just enjoying my football at the moment at Southampton, that's where my head's at right now," Livramento said ahead of the last meeting between the clubs. "[I am] Just trying to pick up as many points as possible and improving individually."
