Southampton vs. Chelsea: Odds, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info

Southampton are the next side that will be tasked with stopping Maurizio Sarri's impressive Chelsea side in the Premier League in 2018-19.

The Blues travel to St Mary's on the back of two successive league draws, although they performed well in the 1-1 against Liverpool last time out in the top flight. In Eden Hazard, they have the division's top scorer and, arguably, its best player.

Saints are still languishing near the bottom of the Premier League table, with just one win from their seven games. They did, however, earn a penalty-shootout win over Everton on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup.

With Liverpool hosting Manchester City later in the day, Chelsea can go temporarily top with a win on the south coast.

Date: Sunday, October 7

Time: 2:15 p.m. (BST), 9:15 a.m. (ET)

TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), NBC Sports (U.S.)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), NBC Sports App (U.S.)

Odds

Southampton win (9-2)

Draw (11-4)

Chelsea win (31-50)

Odds according to OddsShark.

Saints Out to Halt Red-Hot Hazard 

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

Based on the evidence of recent weeks, Southampton are going to find Hazard too difficult to handle.

He made major contributions in Chelsea's back-to-back matches against Liverpool, netting a brilliant individual goal to see the Blues past the Reds in the Carabao Cup before capping off a slick team move in the Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge.

Per Sky Sports Premier League, this has been his best start to a campaign during his time in England:

It's not just the goals that make Hazard so special, though. He is so difficult to contain when he's in possession because of his touch, awareness and change of pace regardless of the attention paid to him from opposition defenders.

The man himself recently conceded that he's aware of just how highly football fans rate him:

Southampton will have plenty of defensive work to do on Sunday, as Sarri's side will arrive on the south coast with a plan to dominate the ball.

That means there will be a physical toll placed on the midfield and defence, especially after an intense game against Everton on Tuesday. Manager Mark Hughes will be pleased that he appears to have found a reliable centre-forward in the form of Danny Ings, though.

The on-loan Liverpool man was on the scoresheet at Goodison Park, continuing his bright beginning to the season. He already has four goals for the campaign.

However, as Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore noted after Southampton's loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers recently, Saints have struggled to get the better of the top sides in the division:

It's hard to see that changing on Sunday. Chelsea will be faced with a deep-sitting opponent and may have to be patient. But in Jorginho, they have the player to control the game and, in Hazard, a forward who can unpick locks.

For the Blues, putting pressure on both City and Liverpool is imperative ahead of the international break. Expect Chelsea to turn on the style as a result.

Prediction:Southampton 0-2 Chelsea