Image source, @MCFC

Manchester City on Twitter:, external A few last-minute stretches in the tunnel before pre-match drills begin for the lads.

If Chelsea were a cricketer, they'd be a scratchy opening batsman at present - they can't quite seem to get going. Southampton? They're the classy opening bowler who dominates with the new ball. Foxing their opponents with their gameplan.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at St Mary's

"Southampton are working so hard to deny Chelsea space and so far goalkeeper Fraser Forster has been well protected. Cesc Fabregas has shown some superb footwork but on more than one occasion he has been unable to release the ball because Southampton's work-rate in constantly reducing the options available."

Dion Dublin
BBC Final Score

"United had four good opportunities to score today. You can't afford to drop points when you have so many good chances and that is what they did today."

Former Southampton manager Dave Merrington on BBC Radio Solent: "It's an absolute cracker and Southampton are looking every bit as good as Chelsea this afternoon. I think they have been absolutely superb today, every player is up for this one and Chelsea have got a really tough game ahead."

Garth Crooks
BBC Sport pundit on Final Score

"It is very early days. There is a lot of football left to play. On the evidence of what I've seen so far, Southampton have started this game in the same vein that saw them demolish Crystal Palace. Nathaniel Clyne recently told me that Ronald Koeman has a way of instilling belief in his players to make them believe they can beat anyone and that certainly looks to be the case today."

Chelsea try to pass their way through, but they continually run into a red and white coloured cul-de-sac. Southampton are well organised - to the extent that Chelsea have not had a single shot on goal in the first 30 minutes.

Shrewsbury will look to cement their place at the top of the League Two table when they host second-placed Wycombe. The Shrews are only ahead by a plus-one goal difference and the Chairboys head into the clash at Greenhous Meadow unbeaten in their last five league games.

Burton Albion, who are level with the top two on 43 points, can capitalise on any slip up with victory at 13th placed Accrington Stanley, but may have to do so without leading scorer Alex MacDonald, who has a knee problem.

At the bottom, 23rd-placed Tranmere can avoid being cut adrift in the relegation zone if they can secure only their fifth win of the season when they welcome 19th-placed Northampton Town to Prenton Park. The visitors have striker Ivan Toney, who has seven goals for the season, suspended for the trip up north.

Interim boss Dean Saunders will take charge of Crawley for the trip to fellow strugglers Colchester United after John Gregory stepped down to undergo major open heart surgery. Crawley are 21st in League One having won just five games this term but can welcome back top scorer Izale McLeod against a side second from bottom in the league and without a home win since October.

At the top, leaders Bristol City travel to 18th-placed Gillingham having lost two of their last three games away from home. The Gills beat Colchester 2-1 on Boxing Day but have lost match-winning goalscorer Bradley Dack to a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Bradford boss Phil Parkinson will be seeking to extend his side's unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions to cement fifth place with victory over eight-placed Notts County, who were beaten 1-0 at home by MK Dons on Boxing Day.

Bournemouth can extend their lead at the top of the Championship with an away victory over a Millwall side that were beaten 6-1 at Norwich on Boxing Day. The Lions are on a poor run of form having won only one of their last nine games, while Eddie Howe's Bournemouth have won 10 of their last 13 games in the Championship - cruising to a 6-1 victory at Blackpool in their last away fixture.

With Ipswich and Derby not in action until Tuesday, it is up to fourth-placed Middlesbrough to keep the pressure on the Cherries. Aitor Karanka's side head into Sunday's clash with eighth-placed Blackburn off the back of a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest but Rovers have a good record at home, winning four of their last five games at Ewood Park.

Elsewhere, Norwich head to Reading looking to avenge their 2-1 defeat at Carrow Road in November, when they were booed off by their fans. However, Neil Adams' side have hit form since then, taking 10 points from the 12 available, and could move back into the top six with victory at a Reading side languishing in 17th place.

Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas appear to have switched their focus to attacking down the Chelsea right. A small victory for Saints right-back Toby Alderweireld?

Four points clear with more than half the season gone. That will be Bournemouth's situation at the top of the Championship if they beat Millwall away today.

Time to take them seriously as prospective Premier League players?

This is how the lower divisions are looking today...

We're 25 minutes in and the stats say Chelsea are the better team. The scoreline says something else.

Image source, Opta

Al Mamun Russell:, external Chelsea are not invincible. Newcastle have already proved it. But Mourinho will surely work out something during the break.

Rob Millward:, external John Obi Mikel losing it yet again. When will Jose learn he is nowhere near Chelsea quality?

Scotty:, external Southampton win, Arsenal win and the top of the league gets a little tighter!

"There's only one Ronald Koeman," sing the Southampton fans. The Saints manager responds with a small clap of acknowledgement. All very pleasant.

Image source, @sunderlandafc

Sunderland on Twitter: , external Connor Wickham heads straight back into the starting XI v Aston Villa this afternoon #hawaythelads

Sheelagh: Where are all the people saying that John Terry is as good as he was 10 years ago now? He's just been shown for what he really is, slow.

Join the conversation on Twitter using #bbcfootball,, external send us a text on 81111 (UK only), or drop us a line on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

BBC Final Score

Final Score is getting under way now at the top of this page and on the Red Button. Host Jason Mohammad is joined by analyst Garth Crooks and former Aston Villa forward Dion Dublin as they bring you the latest scores from Sunday's Premier League and Football League fixtures.