8' Werner tries to break past Salisu down the left flank, but the defender holds firm to win possession.
6' CHANCE! James has acres of room down the right flank and he floats a cross towards Alonso in the left inside channel. The Spaniard lines up a strike on the volley, but he slices his effort wide of the right post.
3' James sends a ball forward aiming for the run of Werner, but the ball skips off the surface and into the hands of McCarthy.
1' We're underway at St Mary's Stadium.
Southampton have lost their last five home league games against Chelsea, their longest losing run against a specific opponent in their league history.
Chelsea have made four changes to their side from their win over Newcastle United. Mendy replaces Kepa between the posts, while Zouma gets the nod to start in the back three in place of Christensen. James and Kante also return to the side as Hudson-Odoi and Jorginho join Kepa and Christensen on the bench.
Southampton have made two changes from their defeat to Wolves last time out. Both are enforced as Kyle Walker-Peters and Stuart Armstrong are missing due to injury. Salisu, who replaced Walker-Peters last week, comes into the starting line-up at right-back. Djenepo gets the call to start on the right wing in place of Armstrong.
CHELSEA SUBS: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Andreas Christensen, Jorginho, Olivier Giroud, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Billy Gilmour, Emerson.
CHELSEA (3-4-3): Edouard Mendy; Cesar Azpilicueta, Kurt Zouma, Antonio Rudiger; Reece James, N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Marcos Alonso; Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Timo Werner.
SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Jack Stephens, Che Adams, Nathan Tella, Kayne Ramsey, Daniel N'Lundulu, Fraser Forster, Will Ferry, Alexandre Jankewitz, Kgagelo Chauke.
SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Alex McCarthy, Mohammed Salisu, Jan Bednarek, Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand; Moussa Djenepo, James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu, Takumi Minamino; Danny Ings, Nathan Redmond.
Chelsea are back in form after reeling off five wins in a row under Tuchel. The Blues have surged back into contention for a Champions League place, although they cannot afford to rest on their laurels. They beat Newcastle United 2-0 last time out to move into fourth place in the table and have a real opportunity to press home their form against the struggling Saints.
The Saints are under pressure after losing their sixth-straight Premier League game on the bounce last time out against Wolves. Ralph Hasenhuttl's men are under litle threat of relegation, but he will be determined to guide his side out of their dire run sooner rather than later. However, Southampton face a challenge to rectify matters amid an improving Chelsea side under Thomas Tuchel.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary's Stadium.
