Southampton vs Chelsea LIVE: Olivier Giroud’s double inspires Blues fightback to snatch victory from Saints
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Southampton take on Chelsea needing a win to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone.
But they will host the league champions without defender Jack Stephens, who begins a three-game ban for lashing out at Jack Wilshere last week. Steven Davis is also out with an Achilles problem.
Meanwhile Chelsea remain without defenders David Luiz and Ethan Ampadu, but Ross Barkley is available.
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Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Southampton vs Chelsea.
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Southampton vs Chelsea - last five meetings
- Chelsea 1-0 Southampton, December 2017
- Chelsea 4-2 Southampton, April 2017
- Southampton 0-2 Chelsea, October 2016
- Southampton 1-2 Chelsea, February 2016
- Chelsea 1-3 Southampton, October 2015
What has Antonio Conte been saying this week?
Chelsea's title defence this season has been meek to say the least and earlier this week boss Antonio Conte said everybody at the club is to blame.
“It’s difficult now to explain the reasons why we’re struggling in this way this season. There are many reasons. But now’s not the place or moment to speak about this. The only thing we can do is try to finish in the best possible way. For sure, we made a lot of mistakes this season. When I talk about a lot of mistakes, I involve me, my staff, the players and the club. For sure, we must reflect at the end of the season.
“If we don’t qualify for the Champions League, it means we have to divide the fault, also with the players. We must be ready to share the responsibility. I’m the first to take my responsibility. Then there is the club. Then there is the players. In football, but in every job, it’s right to be in this way. We must be frustrated. Me, my staff, the players and the club, for this season. You start the season with great expectations. Instead we have struggled a lot, for many reasons.”
Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier has pinpointed two games in the run-in that he expects his former club to pick up points from:
"It's difficult to see where the points are coming. The Bournemouth home game and the Swansea away games are big ones. "
Pre-match quotes from Antonio Conte
On the need for his side to be more ruthless in front of goal: "The most important thing is to try and make many chances to score and be more clinical.
"This season we are not so clinical. In football you win if you score."
On how important today's game is ahead of next weekend's FA Cup semi-final against Saints: "I think we must be focused on the league and then we have another game away to Burnley in midweek and then we will think about the FA Cup."
Quotes from Sky Sports
Pre-match quotes from Mark Hughes
"I think we've shown improvement since I've come here. Against Arsenal last time out we showed good intent and good understanding of what we were trying to do.
"We want to build on that, clearly. We're looking to improve the levels of confidence that we have.
"Antonio has gone with a really strong XI so they will test us but we've got to be ready."
Quotes from Sky Sports
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