The New Year’s Day fixture at St Mary’s sees ninth place Southampton host a Chelsea side two points of the top of the division.

The Saints have slipped somewhat in recent weeks, losing five and winning just one of their last eight league games – losing 2-1 to Everton last time out.

Dani Osvaldo faces a late fitness test ahead of the game after missing Sunday’s match through illness, though Morgan Schneiderlin returns after a one-game suspension.

Rickie Lambert is 8.5 (15/2) with Bet Victor to open the scoring, while Jay Rodriguez is a 9.0 (8/1) chance with the same firm.

The home win is available at a generous 4.0 (3/1) with a variety of firms, with Chelsea a 2.1 (11/10) shot with Ladbrokes. The draw is widely available at a price of 3.6 (13/5).

The visitors go in to the game on the back of their 2-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon – a result which kept the pressure on second place Manchester City and league leaders Arsenal.

Ramires is set to return after missing out at the weekend through suspension, and could replace international teammate David Luiz who picked up his fifth booking of the season last time out while Frank Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic both miss out after picking up injuries in the same game.

Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Torres are each priced at 7.5 (13/2) with Paddy Power to get the first goal of the game, while top scorer Eden Hazard can be backed at 9.0 (8/1) with a number of firms.

The Blues ran out 3-1 winners when the sides met at Stamford Bridge in December, while it was the South Coast side who were victorious in last season’s corresponding fixture.

There have been at least three goals in the last seven meetings between the sides, with five of those games boasting over 3.5 goals.

With that in mind, you may want to take advantage of Bet Victor’s generous offer of 3.5 (5/2) for there to be at least four goals scored this time around, while Coral offer 7.0 (6/1) for a home win with both teams to score.