Chelsea face Southampton at the Stamford Bridge on Sunday looking to bounce back following their elimination from the Champions League at the hand of PSG in midweek. The Saints meanwhile need to pick up points in order to keep up pace with the rest of the pack for the top four places, having led most of them for much of the season.
The two sides drew 1-1 at St Mary’s earlier in the season as Eden Hazard cancelled out Sadio Mane’s opener. The duo will be heavily involved again on Sunday and form part of the three key battles which will decide the outcome. We take a look.
Eden Hazard vs Nathaniel Clyne
Eden Hazard has been one Chelsea’s best player this season and unlike the likes of Costa and Fabregas, the Belgian has continued to impress barely showing signs of tailing off as the season progresses. He headed in the winner against West Ham while also converting a penalty in the 2-2 draw with PSG. He will be up against Clyne on Southampton’s right with the England international enjoying a solid season at right back. Hazard has average 8.03 per whoscored.com, the highest amongst all Chelsea players and has 10 goals and 6 assists to his name. Clyne will have to be on the top of his game if he is to prevent Hazard from adding to his tally.
Cesc Fabregas vs Morgan Schneiderlin
Even though he tops the charts with 15 assists in the Premier League, Fabregas hasn’t registered one since the 5-0 win over Swansea almost 3 months ago. There have been talks of burning out due to the lack of rotation early on, and it was evident against PSG as it has been in recent weeks that Chelsea’s fitness levels have been dropping alarmingly. Fabregas has suffered too, and he is unlikely to find much joy against Schneiderlin who is surely destined for greater things. He has been one of the star players of a spirited Saint’s side and will be looking to impose himself against the likes of Fabregas in midfield in order to not give the Spaniard much breathing space.
Sadio Mane vs Branislav Ivanovic
Mane tends to score important goals. Since the back end of last year, he has netted against Chelsea, Arsenal before scoring the only goals in his side’s last two wins over QPR and Crystal Palace. Confronting him would be Ivanovic at right back who has a tendency to push up quite high, allowing huge spaces available to be exploited behind him. As in December, Mane would be a major threat to Chelsea on the break.