Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Wright:, external Fully expecting Southampton to park the bus, as they did in the reverse fixture. Tough afternoon ahead for Chelsea!

Ciff B:, external I'm betting, on average, six Chelsea players to surround the ref today.

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Image source, Reuters

Bright start by Chelsea. It's as though they have something to prove. Recalled Willian is in the thick of the action and his dangerous pass across the six-yard area is cut out by Jose Fonte before it can do any damage.

Two minutes in and no rolling around on the pitch. And no play acting. There's still a long way to go, of course. First shot in anger from a Blue shirt as Cesar Azpilicueta fires high and wide.

And off we go.

A reminder of today's teams:

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Costa.

Southampton XI: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Davis, Tadic, Mane, Long.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman on choosing striker Shane Long ahead of Graziano Pelle:

"I think Long deserves this opportunity. The way we'd like to play today and how we like to make problems for the Chelsea defenders, with Sadio Mane and Shane we have the possibility to do that. Of course, it's not up to one player how we create opportunities and chances.

"It's always a bad time to face Chelsea - they are the strongest team in the Premier League. They are in good position to win the title."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho on Sky Sports responding to Manchester City's defeat at Burnley:

"It's not big lift. As I was saying, we lost the tie against PSG and had big motivation after that to fight for the Premier League. The reality is independent of the other Premier League results - we have enough motivation to play today and the remaining 10 matches.

On sticking with 10 of the 11 that started against PSG:

"It's a consequence of belief in the group. Players giving a lot since the beginning of season. I'm not like the wind. I have stability and emotion and feelings to players. It was a message I wanted to give to the group. I believe in them and trust this team."

Ken Gorry:, external It's clear Jose Mourinho doesn't trust his squad, relying on the same 13 or 14 players all season.

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Blur's 'Parklife' is booming out of the speakers. The players are on their way out. Five minutes to kick-off.

David Pleat
Former Tottenham manager on BBC Radio 5 live:

"Chelsea will want to win and win cleanly. It's Chelsea's regular team and they have the footballer of the year elect, in my opinion, in Eden Hazard. Mourinho has a settled team. That back four has hardly changed all season.

"Southampton will be buoyed by what PSG did with 10 men. They showed if you look after the ball - as Southampton can with players like Morgan Schneiderlin - they can hold off Chelsea.

"They have had terrific results against some of the big clubs. But I don't think they will finish in the top four."

Ronald Koeman has responded to Southampton's goal drought by dropping Graziano Pelle for Shane Long. Will it work?

Image source, CHELSEAFC.COM

There's a retro feel about the front cover of Chelsea's matchday programme as the club commemorates its 110th birthday.

Southampton will have to turn back the clock too if they want to leave Stamford Bridge with a win. It is 13 years since two goals by James Beattie helped the Saints produce a vintage 4-2 win at the London venue.

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live

"Players will try to gain any sort of advantage they can, by exploiting all the grey areas. The reward is greater than the risk, and so long as that is the case, players will try to take advantage of that. You have to because the margins of error are so small. Alan Shearer was a magnificent footballer, but every time you touched him his knees collapsed and he went to ground."

Image source, chelseamegastore.com

It's a been a story full of twists and turns but there is still another chapter to be written in Chelsea's 2014-15 book, according to manager Jose Mourinho. While the League Cup chapter has a triumphant ending, the tale of their European adventures makes for sad reading and ends all too suddenly.

But Mourinho is hoping there is a happy ending to Premier League story, saying: "We still have the book to write, we have 11 more matches to finish the book and let's see if the last page of the book is readable. We are a team that wants to win the Premier League and I think our answer is going to be good."

Jay, London: Jose Mourinho has picked the team for today that should have started against PSG. Willian has everything Ramires has, plus he can use the ball. Many of our moves ground to a halt with Ramires on Wednesday.

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Southampton boss Ronald Koeman expects a Chelsea backlash at Stamford Bridge following their Champions League elimination at the hands of Paris St-Germain. Koeman worked with Mourinho at Barcelona when Louis van Gaal was in charge at the Nou Camp and knows how he works.

"He is a good friend and a great coach and a very successful manager," said the 51-year-old Dutchman., external "Our time together at Barcelona was nice. They need a win after the disappointing result but the players and the manager have the experience to cope with that."

It is not all doom and gloom. Chelsea are the only team in the top four divisions in England not to have lost a home league match during 2014-15.

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live

"Jose Mourinho has won the Champions League, he's won titles and cups but he is very defensive first and foremost - that is his style. But they got it wrong, Chelsea, they seemed to freeze the other night. I wonder whether they have over-relied on that special eight or nine players that Mourinho uses every week. Are they a bit tired now? A bit jaded? Loic Remy and Didier Drogba were on the bench against PSG and have hardly had a kick this season. Surely he could have rotated more?"

MOTD2 Extra

On preparing for the Women's World Cup in June and the start of the new Women's Super League season.

England women's international Eniola Aluko: "I'm very excited about the start of season, my team Chelsea have an FA Cup game against Watford next weekend, which we are expected to win, and then we face Notts County in our first Women's Super League the weekend after. You have to build up your performances at club level towards the World Cup and the league is so competitive now that you have to hit the ground running. Yes, in the back of your mind you are wary of being injured, but you have to build your club form through the season."

James, Belfast: The reason Jose Mourinho has done that is he wants those players who let the team down to prove themselves and win for the club.

Jose Mourinho keeps faith with 10 of the players who went out of the Champions League in midweek. Good management, Chelsea fans? Should he have chopped more players?

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