Afternoon all. Don't you just love the festive period?! Forty-eight hours after these two sides played on Boxing Day, they are back in action at the St Mary's Stadium. A win is vital for both sides, so let's hope that the game lives up to expectations.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal may have not made any changes to his starting lineup for his side's ongoing clash at Tottenham Hotspur, but we are expecting alterations from both bosses here. The team news will be with us very shortly.

And that teams news is indeed with us. We'll start with the hosting Saints...

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster; Targett, Yoshida, Fonte, Alderweireld; Schneiderlin, Wanyama; Davis, Mane, Tadic; Pelle,

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: K Davis, Gardos, Long, Ward-Prowse, Isgrove, Reed, McCarthy

So, Ronald Koeman has made four alterations to his starting lineup, one of which has seen Dusan Tadic come back into the fold. However, most notably, Matt Targett has been handed his first Premier League start. The 19-hear-old left-back is highly rated down on the South Coast and is seen by many as a long term replacement for Luke Shaw, who left for Manchester United in the summer. Captain Jose Fonte and Victor Wanyama have also come back into the side, with Ryan Bertrand among those to have dropped out.

And now for visiting Chelsea...

CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Luis; Matic, Mikel; Schurrle, Fabregas, Hazard; Costa

CHELSEA SUBS: Cech, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Willian, Remy, Drogba

And there are three changes from Jose Mourinho, who has bolstered his midfield with the selection of John Obi Mikel at the expense of Oscar. Elsewhere, Willian's place has gone to German international Andre Schurrle, while Filipe Luis has come in at left-back for Cesar Azpilicueta. Aside from that, the likes of John Terry, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and leading goalscorer Diego Costa all start.

The headline teams news, though, is the fact that Southampton's Targett is making his first ever Premier League start. Moments ago, he spoke to the club's official Twitter page: "I'm a bit nervous but I'm really looking forward to it. I got told a couple of weeks ago that Ryan couldn't play, so it's my opportunity to impress today. It will be a massive test playing against world class players, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge."

His manager, Koeman, has also been speaking. Here is some of what the Saints boss has had to say: "We know we play against a very strong team. The challenge is to be ourselves.

"We have to have the spirit and the belief in a good result. The victory against #CPFC gave the players the confidence. We need people in the midfield. I think that's the key today, to stop the movements and ball possession of Chelsea."

And staying with Southampton just for now, rather than start their warm-up out on the pitch, the starting lineup has been loosening up on some exercise bikes for some reason!

Meanwhile, in the Chelsea camp, Mourinho has been full of praise for the job carried out by his opposite number on the South Coast:

"I know Ronald well, we worked together. We worked together in Barcelona on Mr Van Gaal's coaching staff so we were colleagues," said the Portuguese. I know that he's a good coach and has a good mentality and I know the football principles he defends and he likes. So for me, when I saw him get his hands on a Pochettino team, I thought he was the right guy to do it."

Of course, it is indeed a fantastic job that Koeman has done. Most people were expecting a season of struggle following a mass summer exodus of players and coaching staff. However, his signings have hit the ground running and as it stands, they are fourth.

A word of caution ahead of this encounter, though. Southampton's six defeats this season have come against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Burnley. Five of those teams are sides that you'd expect to be challenging for the top four or maybe even the title. It suggests that the Saints have problems picking up results against the better sides and they certainly don't come much better right now than Chelsea.

HEAD TO HEAD: Of the 93 meetings between these two sides, Chelsea have won 38 times, with the Saints coming out on top on 29 occasions. Perhaps more worryingly for the home team, though, of the last 11 encounters between these clubs in all competitions, they have won just one.

Following their exploits on the exercise bikes, the Saints players are now out on the pitch!

STATS! Here are two reasons for optimism for those of a Southampton persuasion:

1. The Saints have kept six clean sheets in their last nine Premier League matches at the St Mary's Stadium.

2. Graziano Pelle has scored seven goals in his last eight Premier League games at the St Mary's Stadium.

And a further interesting statistic is that these two sides have met six times between Christmas and New Year's Day on six occasions, with two wins apiece.

As far as Southampton are concerned, this man will be a big miss:

PREDICTION: Right, with only a few minutes to go until we are off and running, let's have a stab at predicting the outcome of this contest. The Saints have struggled against the bigger clubs this season and that may well continue today. They will put up a spirited fight no doubt, but Chelsea should have too much quality. 2-0 to the away side, with Costa scoring both.

Right, the players are now out on the pitch at the St Mary's Stadium and the handshakes are taking place. Only a couple of minutes left until the off.

KICKOFF! Hosting Southampton, who will attack from left to right in the first half, get this Premier League encounter on the South Coast started.

Very little to report from the opening exchanges. Southampton have dominated the possession, but they have done very little with it. A strike from distance by Tadic that flew well over the crossbar is the only effort of note.

The first counter-attack from Chelsea as Fonte gifts possession to Hazard, who springs forward. The Belgian picks out Costa, but the Spanish striker is caught in two minds and sees his cross blocked. The resultant corner is cleared. Warning signs for the home side nonetheless.

There's been signs in the last few minutes that Chelsea are starting to find their rhythm. Fabregas has just displayed great footwork inside the area to dance away from two challenges, but his cross is blocked.

CHANCE! But for some fantastic defending from Chelsea skipper John Terry, the Saints would be in front. A Davis corner causes problems to the away side as Mane heads across the face of goal. Courtois is well beaten as Pelle looks to score at the back post, but Terry is on hand to slide in and turn the ball behind.

Talk about going from hero to villain! Moments after he defends brilliantly, Terry makes a real mess of trying to play the offside trap. He pushes up as the last man, but Mane is clearly onside as he races through on to Tadic's lofted through pass. Then, as Courtois approaches, Mane has the presence of mind and composure to lift his effort over the big Belgian goalkeeper and into the net. That's a great finish, it must be said. Southampton lead!

As yet, there has been very little response from Chelsea to that goal. If anything, they looked a little shocked. Going behind is not something they've been used to this season!

Stay optimistic, Chelsea fans:

Aside from Fabregas, who has been very sharp on and off the ball, Chelsea have been lacklustre in an attacking sense. They need more from the likes of Hazard and Schurrle, which in turn will bring Costa into play.

BOOKING! The first caution of the contest goes the way of Chelsea and Matic as the Serbian goes in late on Pelle deep in Southampton territory.

MATCH ACTION! Here's a shot of Mane lobbing Southampton into the lead.

While Chelsea have undoubtedly had more of the possession over the last 10 minutes or so, they've created very little with it. Some of the credit for that must go to Southampton, who have defended brilliantly well so far.

Also a word on young Saints left-back Targett, who has looked comfortable. He's defended well up against Schurrle and also been good with the ball at his feet. It seems that Southampton have yet another youngster capable of playing at the highest level.

Playing poorly and yet Chelsea have equalised - the sign of champions? As two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half are shown, Fabregas dinks a pass through for Hazard out wide on the left. He cuts inside Yoshida and in doing so fashions himself enough space to curl a shot into the bottom corner of Forster's net. That's his first away goal in the Premier League since January and what an important one it could turn out to be.

There goes the whistle for the break and it's a subdued St Mary's Stadium, that is except for the away support, who are now in buoyant mood. Chelsea have been a long way from their best, yet they are level, which will feel like a real sucker-punch for the Saints.

For 45 minutes Southampton barely put a foot wrong and then in stoppage time Hazard pounces. Looking ahead to the second half, it's vital that Koeman doesn't let his players drop their heads. They've got to keep playing how they have been because Chelsea have been below-par, that's for certain. They are still well in this contest.

As for Chelsea, while Mourinho is bound to be frustrated with the performance, that late goal will have lifted his spirits. If his side can move through the gears during the second half, they will fancy their chances of going on to win this contest. To do that, he may take off Schurrle, who has been poor, or even and Mikel and drop Fabregas into a deeper role. The Nigerian has been wasteful on occasions in the centre of the pitch.

STAT! This sums up Chelsea's display in that first half:

RESTART! As Chelsea get the second half underway, Mourinho has made a change and as predicted, it's Schurrle that comes off. He's been replaced by Brazilian playmaker Willian.

It's been a positive start to the half from Chelsea, who probably have their manager's words ringing in their ears. It's an important part of the match because if they were to score again soon, Southampton could crumble.

BOOKING! Awful decision from referee Anthony Taylor, who has booked Fabregas for diving inside the Southampton area. The Chelsea playmaker is adamant that he was tripped by young full-back Targett and replays show that it was indeed the case. Poor from the referee, who has basically accused the Chelsea player of cheating.

BOOKING! Now a caution goes the way of Yoshida, although on this occasion the match official is correct to brandish the yellow card. The defender made no connection with the ball as he hauled down Hazard.

SOUTHAMPTON SUB: Having struggled with injuries of late, Tadic is taken off by Koeman, with youngster James Ward-Prowse coming on in his place. It means that Davis will take up a role on the left, with Ward-Prowse filling in centrally.

CHANCE! Real invention from Fabregas as he scoops a pass into the Southampton penalty area for Hazard, who controls the ball on his chest. He then swivels and shoots almost all in one motion, but the ball flies a yard wide of the target. That's a good effort from the Belgian.

SOUTHAMPTON SUB: Another change for Southampton and it's a wise one. Already on a booking and up against the lively Hazard, Yoshida has come off, with Gardos taking his place.

More great football from Chelsea as Fabregas and Luis exchanges passes, before Costa is freed. The striker bulldoozes his way into the area, but his shot is well blocked by Gardos. The away side are starting to turn the screw, that's for sure.

Chelsea may have been poor in the first half, but they've more than made up for that after the restart. They have Southampton pegged back inside their own penalty area - they can't get out! To their credit, they are at least defending well and seem brilliantly organised.

BOOKING! Schneiderlin has decided that the best way to shackle Hazard is to foul him! As a result, the Frenchman has been booked.

CHELSEA SUB: An attacking alteration for Chelsea as Mikel trudges off to be replaced by Didier Drogba. It's likely to mean that Fabregas will play slightly deeper alongside Matic, with Drogba joining Costa in attack.

Oh dear! What an opening for Chelsea. Ward-Prowse passes the ball back towards his goalkeeper without looking, but he doesn't notice Costa lurking. However, he gets lucky because as the Chelsea striker turns towards goal, he slips and the danger is cleared.

SOUTHAMPTON SUB: Final change of the contest for the home side as Shane Long takes the place of Davis.

You have to hand it to Southampton, they have defended so well today. Considering that they have been pegged back well inside their own for most of the second half, Forster has not been called into action too often, such has been the standard of the defending.

All of a sudden, Southampton are trying to win the game! It's they that are piling on the pressure, having won a couple of corners. It's set up for an entertaining finale on the South Coast.

But now the Saints will probably settle for a point! Fabregas is away down the left flank and having weighed up his options, Schneiderlin opts to cynically bring down the Chelsea midfielder. It's a second booking for the Saints midfielder. Moments later, Chelsea take off Costa and bring on Loic Remy.

Can Southampton hold on? They have four minutes of stoppage time to do so.

Poor from Chelsea left-back Luis as he overhits a cross out for a goal kick. Time is running out for the Blues.

BOOKING! Pelle gets a booking for fouling Willian on the left flank and Chelsea have a free kick. This will be the game's final piece of action...

Southampton hold on and it's hard to begrudge them their point. They played well in the first half and then defended fantastically well after the restart. For Chelsea, it's two points dropped at the top as Manchester City set about closing the gap to a point. - they currently lead 2-0 against Burnley.

That is all we have time for from the St Mary's Stadium. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and be sure to stick with Sports Mole over the next couple of hours for reaction, analysis and player ratings from all of today's Premier League encounters. Until next time, goodbye.