A reminder, in case you needed one...

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Here come the teams. The Blues led out by a very focused looking John Terry. A whole game of football coming your way very soon.

There's been plenty of protest around the Premier League grounds this afternoon in regards to the price of football tickets. Saints fans are joining in the "Twenty is plenty" campaign. 

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Mark Lawrenson thinks this match will end in a 2-1 Chelsea win. "Because they are at home, and because Southampton are not back at the level they reached last season, I am going to go for a Chelsea win," says our football expert.

Take on Lawro - and football fans from across the world - by having your say in all of this weekend's fixtures in our football predictor game.

Simon Brotherton
BBC Match of the Day commentator at Stamford Bridge

Image source, Rex Features

"This is a potentially awkward fixture for struggling Chelsea against a side who certainly look more together defensively.

"One more goal and the champions will already have conceded 15, the same number as in the whole of Jose Mourinho's debut season in 2004-05. In contrast, Southampton are unbeaten away in the league.

"Chelsea fans sang 'we want our captain back' following Tuesday's Champions League defeat. John Terry was an unused substitute again but was playing when Saints last won at Chelsea way back in 2002. His pace was questioned even back then.

"Terry's leadership qualities have never been in doubt, though, and Chelsea could certainly use some of that at the moment."

Image source, AFP

Not only has it been another tough week on the pitch for Chelsea, but matters remain bad off it as well. Ex-Blues doctor Eva Carneiro has revealed she was "at no stage" asked to testify by the Football Association over alleged derogatory remarks by Jose Mourinho.

Speaking in the news conference before today's match, Mourinho did not wish to discuss the controversy over Carneiro.

"For the last two months I did not open my mouth and I will keep like this. One day I will speak, and I will choose that day," he said.

Southampton make one change to the side that beat Swansea last week, with midfielder Oriol Romeu coming in for James Ward-Prowse to face his former club.

Southampton starting XI: Stekelenburg, Cedric Soares, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand, Romeu, Wanyama, Mane, Steven Davis, Tadic, Pelle. 

Subs: Kelvin Davis, Yoshida, Long, Rodriguez, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi.

Image source, BBC Sport

And these are the Southampton players looking to throw another huge spanner into the Chelsea works and claim a first away win in 11 attempts - a run matched only by Newcastle in the current top-flight...

John Terry is back in the centre of defence for Chelsea, taking the place of Kurt Zouma. Under-fire Branislav Ivanovic retains his place at right-back. Ramires is in for Nemanja Matic, while Willian takes Pedro's place. Radamel Falcao starts up front, with Loic Remy dropping to the bench.

Chelsea starting XI: Begovic, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Fabregas, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Falcao.

Subs: Zouma, Baba, Pedro, Remy, Matic, Blackman, Loftus-Cheek.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Reuters

Jose Mourinho is no fool. He knows how big this game is. And I'm sure he would have chosen a different opponent to face in such circumstances. 

Southampton are no pushover, having drawn all three of their away games in the league this season and keeping clean sheets in four of their six away games in all competitions.

Here is the magic formula (or formation, even) that Jose feels will unlock that precious win...

Image source, AP

So, it is official. This is the worst period of Jose Mourinho's career. A 2-2 draw at Newcastle last weekend left the champions with eight points from their first seven league games, which they followed with a 2-1 loss at Porto in the Champions League.

Sensing the chance to rub salt in the wound, Manchester City have just hammered Newcastle 6-1 to go 10 points clear of the Blues. To say that victory today is a must is the sort of understatement only a fool would fail to spot.