Chelsea dropped two points in their bid for a Champions League return as Southampton saw out a stalemate at Stamford Bridge.
Eden Hazard was twice denied by Saints goalkeeper Angus Gunn and Alvaro Morata had a strike ruled out for offside as the Blues' lack of attacking precision was evident once more in the goalless draw.
Chelsea reached the turn of the year in fourth place, five points clear of Arsenal, but the Gunners' win over Fulham on New Year's Day, plus the stubbornness of relegation-threatened Saints, cut their advantage to three points. Re-live the action below
Preview
What time does it start?
Chelsea vs Southampton kicks off at 7:45pm (GMT)
Where can I watch it?
The match will not be shown live on TV or online in the UK.
Independent Sport will provide you with updates of the action via our live blog.
Player to watch…
Eden Hazard: The Belgian midfielder is on fire for Chelsea with four goals in his last five matches. The fans will be praying that he stays amidst uncertainty surrounding his contract. His new role as a false nine has him involved in nearly every attack and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he runs riot in the middle tonight.
Form guide…
- Chelsea: WWLWWL
- Southampton: LLWWLL
Odds…
- Chelsea to win: 27/100
- Southampton to win: 21/2
- Draw: 24/5
Prediction:
Chelsea 2-0 Southampton: Southampton got off to a good start under Hassenhuttl but the results have dipped and they’ve been poor since. Chelsea looked calm and composed against Crystal Palace on Sunday so I feel they’ll win this one relatively comfortably at home.
