Chelsea has the opportunity to pull within one point of the top of the Premier League table as they travel to Southampton live at 12:00 E.T. live on NBC or live online at NBCSports.com.
The Blues had a three-match winning streak snapped last time out, but are still within striking distance of the top thanks to upset losses across the Premier League map this weekend.
WATCH LIVE: Southampton vs. Chelsea live online at NBCSports.com.
Chelsea is without Cesc Fabregas for the third straight match due to injury, while Kurt Zouma nears a return from his knee injury but is still sidelined today. The Blues also start Pedro and Marco Alonso, with both Willian and Oscar on the bench still not at full fitness.
The Saints come into this match in great league form, unbeated in Premier League play dating back to a September 10th loss to Arsenal, a run of six matches. Charlie Austin starts up front having scored six goals in his last seven appearances. Jay Rodriguez is not available due to a concussion, as his injury problems continue. Sofiane Boufal is on the bench despite starting and scoring midweek in the cup win over Chelsea.
Southampton has struggled to keep the Blues out in recent history, failing to keep a clean sheet in the last 13 matches between these two teams. They do, however, have the joint-second best defensive record in the Premier League this season, having conceded just eight goals in nine matches thanks to continuity at the back. Both central defenders in Jose Fonte and Virgil van Dijk have played every minute this season since the opening match.
LINEUPS
Southampton: Forster; Martina, Van Dijk, Fonte, Bertrand, Romeu, Clasie; Davis, Tadic, Redmond; Austin.
Subs: Taylor, McQueen, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Yoshida, Boufal, Olomola.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Costa, Hazard.
Subs: Begovic, Terry, Ivanovic, Oscar, Willian, Batshuyai, Chalobah.