LIVE BLOG:

90+4min - FULL TIME: Chelsea 0 - 0 Southampton. Chelsea huffed and puffed, but couldn’t blow the Southampton defence down.

90+4min - Jack Stephens comes on for Nathan Redmond.

90+1min - Calls for a penalty as Shane Long seems to have pushed Marcos Alonso inside the area.

88min - The industrious Stuart Armstrong is replaced by Charlie Austin.

86min - Chelsea simply can’t seem to break the Saints’ defence down. Yoshida tackles Kante excellently, as the midfielder threatened to run into the penalty area and let fly. The veteran center-back has come a long way since Demba Ba’s Chelsea debut.

77min - Fabregas’ impact on proceedings is palpable. He turns a Southampton attack into a Chelsea counter at the drop of a hat, releasing Loftus-Cheek who squared the ball to Morata. Unfortunately, the striker’s left-footed shot is tame.

74min - Rudiger’s name is the first Chelsea name in the referee’s book, after he clatters Shane Long.

70min - MORATA HAS SC.. never mind, it’s offside. It was the result of a good bit of interplay involving Hazard and Fabregas, whose pass put Morata in a good position to score.

67min - Ross Barkley hasn’t had a great evening, he’s replaced by Cesc Fabregas.

66min - Shane Long pounces on a loose ball to release Stuart Armstrong in the area, but David Luiz averts the danger with a last-ditch tackle.

65min - Jorginho tries his hand (foot?) from distance but it doesn’t cause Gunn any problems.

60min - Former Chelsea man, Oriol Romeu strikes the ball well with a left-footed volley from distance but it’s straight at Kepa.

59min - David Luiz aims a through-ball at Hazard but Gunn is quick off his line and collects before Hazard can bring it down.

58min - Barkley distributes the ball to Hazard on the left. Hazard cuts inside past two defenders in the area and shoots at Gunn but the ‘keeper saves comfortably.

56min - Loftus-Cheek gets the better of Vestergaard and fires in a cross but it’s only met by Yoshida.

55min - Chelsea’s attacking impetus in the first ten minutes of this half has mostly been attempted crosses and long balls from defence, with nothing coming of them.

46min - Armstrong has a crack from distance. It’s curling wide but Kepa pushes it away from goal, and out for a corner.

HT: Southampton have made a tactical change, Shane Long replacing Danny Ings up front.

45+1min - The whistle calls an end to a half that’s seen Chelsea test Angus Gunn a couple of times, but nothing more. Southampton’s high-pressing game has been effective.

39min - Barkley passes it to Morata in the right side of the area but the striker’s attempt on goal from close range is deflected away by Yan Valery.

36min - Willian has picked up a knock, and is replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Those winger options are depleting fast..

33min - Angus Gunn is finally tested, as Eden Hazard tests him from close range following a long ball by Rudiger. Gunn stands his ground and does not let the ball past.

24min - Willian, found in the area, cuts inside and shoots from a good position but it’s blocked by Maya Yoshida.

13min - First attempt for Southampton, Cedric’s cross from the left is met by the head of Danny Ings but it goes over.

12min - Willian’s turn to put Hazard through on goal but the outcome is the same, Angus Gunn rushes out of the area to get there first and clear.

11min - Best chance of the game so far, as Azpilicueta lobs a ball into the box from deep. Morata is in more space than he thinks, but scuffs his header.

8min - A Marcos Alonso free-kick can only hit the wall and subsequently above the goal

3min - Hazard shows great vision to thread through an angled ball to Willian but Angus Gunn reaches it just before the Chelsea winger.

0min - Morata and Hazard kick things off at Stamford Bridge.

---

New year, renewed spirits, and (hopefully) another win in the cards tonight.

Let’s do this!

---

Chelsea starting lineup (4-3-3):

Arrizabalaga | Azpilicueta (c), Rüdiger, David Luiz, Alonso | Kanté, Jorginho, Barkley | Willian, Morata, Hazard

Substitutes from: Caballero, Christensen, Zappacosta, Ampadu, Emerson, Fàbregas, Loftus-Cheek

Southampton starting lineup (3-4-3?):

Gunn | Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard | Cédric, Romeu (c), Ward-Prowse, Valery | Armstrong, Ings, Redmond

Substitutes from: McCarthy, Stephens, Ramsay, Slattery, Elyounoussi, Long, Austin

---

Date / Time: Wednesday, January 2, 2019, 19:45 GMT; 2:45on EST; 1:15am IST (next day)
Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6

On TV: none (UK); NBCSN (USA); Star Sports Select 2 (India); elsewhere
Streaming online: NBC Sports Live (USA); Hotstar (India); Chelsea TV (audio commentary only; int’l); Fubo TV (affiliate link — USA only)

---

A reminder that posting links to illegal streaming services (i.e. anything that isn’t the two listed here), is against community guidelines and can result in a ban. Thank you and be excellent to each other.