Follow live coverage as Southampton face Chelsea today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Southampton FC 1 - 3 Chelsea FC
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:21Felix comes close to netting another goal for Chelsea. Madueke is again afforded time and space to deliver a cross and he picks out Felix at the back post and the forward can't convert the chance from close-range.
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:20Caicedo tries a long-range strike but the shot deflects off his own team-mate and Lumley comfortable collects the ball.
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:17Five minutes to be added on at the end of this first half.
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:16That is an excellent tackle from Wood to deny Nkunku who had raced into the penalty area and looked to be getting a shot away on goal.
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:15Manning is down following a late tackle from Madueke and the hosts are slowing this game down and trying to take the sting out of proceedings.
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:10The referee is going across to the VAR monitor to check for a possible red card for violent conduct after Cucurella went down after a challenge from Stephens.
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:10Red Card Jack Stephens
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:08That could have been four for Chelsea. Fernandez digs out a cross and Nkunku rises highest to head an effort on goal which goes inches over the crossbar.
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:05Assist João Félix Sequeira
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:04Nice turn from Archer on the left flank to get away from a defender and the forward goes alone and gets a shot off on goal which is well blocked.
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:02Palmer wins a free-kick around 25 yards out on goal which Fernandez takes. The Southampton wall does its job and blocks the effort.
Southampton vs Chelsea
20:00Chelsea starting to find their groove in attack now and Palmer is increasingly getting on the ball and becoming more influential in this match.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:59Chelsea's second corner of the match nearly yields another goal. Adarabioyo is the defender this time to get a header on goal but his effort hits the crossbar. A let off for Saints.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:57That would have been a brilliant goal from Chelsea. The Blues break from a Southampton corner and Felix plays a fine pass to find Palmer and the forward takes an excellent touch before firing an effort off the post.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:55Good save from Lumley! The goalkeeper smothers Madueke's shot before getting down well to keep out Palmer's effort. That was better play from the visitors and the first time we have seen Palmer have time and space on the ball in this match.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:51Southampton have made nine errors leading to opposition goals in the Premier League this season, four more than any other side. Those errors need to be eradicated if the Saints have any chance of staying up.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:49Assist Chukwunonso Tristan Madueke
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:47Southampton continuing to press forward and Armstrong should have done better and picked out a team-mate when given the time and space on the left flank. Chelsea being forced to defend here.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:46Southampton have scored in their last five Premier League home games and the timing of that goal was most welcome after the early breakthrough for Chelsea.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:41Assist Kyle Leonardus Walker-Peters
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:39Assist Enzo Jeremías Fernández
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:38Goal Axel Wilson Arthur Disasi Mhakinis Belho
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:38Southampton have made the brighter start here, the hosts are keeping the ball well and Chelsea are yet to get into their rhythm.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:35Big chance for Saints. The flag does go up but Jorgensen is required to keep out Aribo's close-range effort, who should have scored. Positive start though from the home side.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:32Chelsea get the game started at St Mary’s. The hosts are looking for their second win of the season whilst the visitors can go second with a win.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:31The teams are out on the pitch and kick-off is just moments away.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:27Manager Enzo Maresca has decided to make seven changes from Chelsea’s victory over Aston Villa. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen makes his first Premier League start as Sanchez drops to the bench. The only enforced change is in defence as Wesley Fofana misses out through a hamstring injury. Jackson, who has eight goals this season, must also make do with a place on the bench.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:21CHELSEA SUBS: Robert Sanchez, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Pedro Neto, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga, Romeo Lavia.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:21CHELSEA LINE-UP (4-3-3): Filip Jorgensen; Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi, Malo Gusto; Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Joao Felix; Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:16Manager Russel Martin makes four changes from the side that drew with Brighton with three enforced as Tyler Dibling, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Flynn Downes all serve suspensions after picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season. Lumley does retain his place in goal ahead of McCarthy.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:16SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Samuel Amo-Ameyaw, Ben Brereton Diaz, Maxwell Cornet, Ronnie Edwards, Alex McCarthy, Joe O’Brien Whitmarsh, Yukinari Sugawara, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Charlie Taylor.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:11SOUTHAMPTON LINE-UP (5-4-1): Joe Lumley; James Bree, Ryan Manning, Jack Stephens, Nathan Wood, Kyle Walker-Peters; Cameron Archer, Joe Aribo, Mateus Fernandes, Ryan Fraser; Adam Armstrong.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:11Chelsea travel to Southampton unbeaten in five Premier League games and level on points with second placed Arsenal. The Blues impressively swatted aside Aston Villa 3-0 last time out but suggestions that they could be title challengers were quickly put to bed by manager Enzo Maresca. Chelsea though are in a position to pounce if Liverpool do let up their scintillating form. Three points against the league’s bottom side is therefore a must but Southampton gave Liverpool a run for their money just a fortnight ago so victory on the south coast is not a foregone conclusion.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:06Southampton picked up an impressive point at Brighton last time out, but the Saints are beginning to be cut adrift at the bottom of the Premier League table. The Saints are six points off safety after just one win from their first 13 Premier League games. The visit of Chelsea to St Mary’s doesn’t seem a timely one but in their last Premier League campaign Southampton did do the double over the Blues, and they have lost just two of their last seven head-to-heads. Any optimism is welcome right now for Saints who need to start winning games quickly.
Southampton vs Chelsea
19:01Hello and welcome to this live text commentary of Southampton against Chelsea in the Premier League.
Southampton vs Chelsea
17:30Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
