Southampton vs Chelsea LIVE: Eden Hazard, Ross Barkley and Alvaro Morata secure comfortable victory

Re-live the latest from the Premier League fixture at St Mary’s Stadium

Eden Hazard was again influential for Chelsea (REUTERS)

Southampton, who are yet to win at home this season, welcome unbeaten Chelsea to St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon.

Mark Hughes’ side are yet to impress this season, their solitary win coming at Crystal Palace before the international break, though they will be buoyed by their penalty shoot-out win at Everton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

Chelsea are in third place coming into the weekend’s action, and beat Hungarian champions Vidi in the Europa League on Thursday; the Blues can go top with a win before Liverpool play Manchester City later on in the day.

What time does it start?

Southampton vs Chelsea kicks off at 2:15pm (BST) on Sunday 7^th October.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports’ Main Event and Premier League channels from 1:00pm.

Sky Sports subscribers can also watch the game via the SkyGo app.

Highlights will be shown at 10:30pm on BBC One.

It’s a big game for…

Mark Hughes: The Saints boss has won just once at St Mary’s since taking charge last March, and will want a strong home performance against a team he has lost a Premier league record 19 games against as a manager. Southampton only escaped relegation in the final few weeks of last season, and need to make St Mary’s a formidable place for visiting teams once again - they’re currently only three points above the drop zone.

Mark Hughes has won only once since taking over in March (Getty)

Weird /best stat…

14: Southampton have only won one of their last 14 home league matches, a run which goes back to November 2017.

Remember when…

Although Southampton have lost their last six matches against Chelsea in all competitions, the Saints stunned the then-champions at Stamford Bridge as goals from Steven Davis, Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle clinched a 3-1 victory in October 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWelNSSGI-Y

Player to watch…

Olivier Giroud: The 32-year-old striker has history against Southampton in his brief Chelsea career. The Blues were 2-0 down in last season’s fixture, but the introduction of the Frenchman changed the game. He scored twice, and once in the FA Cup semi-final tie a week later. Since then, Giroud has nailed down the lone striker role, ahead of the misfiring Alvaro Morata, and despite not scoring yet in the Premier League this season, his link-up play with Eden Hazard has played a massive part in the Belgian’s terrific form.

Olivier Giroud is yet to score this season (Getty)

Past three-meetings…

Chelsea 2 (Giroud, Morata) Southampton 0, FA Cup Semi-Final, April 2018

Southampton 2 (Tadic, Bednarek) Chelsea 3 (Giroud 2, Hazard), Premier League, April 2018

Chelsea 1 (Alonso) Southampton 0, Premier League, December 2017

Form guide…

Southampton: WWDLLD

Chelsea: WWDWDW

Odds…

Southampton to win: 5/1

Chelsea to win: 3/5

Draw: 3/1

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

Key Points

• Southampton 0-3 Chelsea
• Eden Hazard opens the scoring with first-half effort
• Ross Barkley finishes neat free-kick move
• Alvaro Morata seals victory with injury-time goal
• Chelsea top of the league with Liverpool and Manchester City yet to play

[7 October 2018 10:31 · Jack Watson]

Hello!

Good afternoon and welcome to the Independent's live coverage of Southampton vs Chelsea. 

Stay tuned for all the build-up ahead of the clash at St Mary's, including team news from around 1:15.

[7 October 2018 12:32 · Jack Watson]

'I'm finally being coached'

Ross Barkley believes the managers he played under at Goodison Park were more focused on results than player development

[7 October 2018 13:15 · Jack Watson]

Team news

[7 October 2018 14:01 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

15 minutes until kick-off at St Mary's on an action-packed Super Sunday.

Arsenal have jumped above Chelsea with their 5-1 win at Craven Cottage - can Maurizio Sarri's side move back up the table? They go top with a win.

[7 October 2018 14:13 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

On to the pitch come the players, flanked by impressive flamethrowers.

Five-at-the-back for Southampton - how will they cope with Chelsea's attacking threats?

[7 October 2018 14:16 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Chelsea in their change strip with rather vibrant orange socks kick the game off.

Craig Pawson is the referee for this mid-afternoon meeting.

[7 October 2018 14:18 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

1 minute

Mark Hughes has lost his last six games against Chelsea - worrying for Saints fans...

The three centre-halves were impressive in his side's win against Everton in midweek, but Chelsea are obviously a far bigger test. Cedric Soares may be key at right wing-back - he'll have to be alert defensively to try to prevent Eden Hazard causing havoc.

[7 October 2018 14:20 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

3 minutes

Southampton the brighter of the two teams in the game's infancy, but unable to force a chance yet and now Chelsea have a longer spell in possession.

[7 October 2018 14:22 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

5 minutes

Chelsea win a corner - Southampton are vulnerable from set-pieces..

Crucial touch from Alex McCarthy. David Luiz was poised to head home from Willian's deep in swinger were it not for the goal-keeper's acrobatic palm away.

[7 October 2018 14:24 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

7 minutes

Jan Bednarek does superbly to block from Eden Hazard twice, firstly on his left foot, then on his right.

Willian's effort then deflects off of Wesley Hoedt and flicks the bar on its way out for a corner. Chelsea firmly on top now.