Southampton vs Chelsea: Preview and Prediction

In this festive period its a clash of former mates at St Mary's Stadium when Southampton meets the table toppers Chelsea on December 28.

With Jose Mourinho coming to St. Mary's on Sunday, it was important that Southampton got a positive result at Selhurst Park on Boxing Day, and they did just that.

On the other side Chelsea are confident of continuing their hot form and stay on top of the table.

Mourinho worked alongside current Saints boss Koeman as part of Louis van Gaal's coaching staff at Barcelona in the late 1990s, and the Portuguese has voiced praise for his Dutch counterpart ahead of their first Premier League meeting.

"We worked together in Barcelona in Mr. Van Gaal's coaching staff so we were colleagues," the Chelsea manager told the club's official website

"Ronald was obviously a big player for Barcelona, but he left and I was already a member of the technical staff before he arrived back. I had stability and I think we helped each other and we were not there for anything other than helping Mr Van Gaal because he was the boss, and I think we did our work quite well.

"So I know Ronald well, I know he is a good coach with a good mentality and I know the football principles he likes so when I saw him take over [Mauricio] Pochettino's team, I thought he was the right guy to do it.

"Southampton lost some good players but they were very clinical in their choices [for replacements], so they have a good squad, a very good coach and they are playing well. "They are getting results and they are the kind of team that in this moment has no pressure as relegation is very far away and the title is not for them. So they are in a fantastic situation to play beautiful football like they are doing."

Koeman and Southamton are well aware of the opponents and their qualities and it will be a complete entertainer when these two meets on Sunday. Both of the teams have quality defenders in the country where Chelsea's centre-backs (John Terry and Gary Cahill) and Saints' full-backs (Nathaniel Clyne and Bertrand) and those could be the key players for both sides.

Regarding the attack Southampton striker Graziano Pelle may find it difficult to go past Terry and co. with Courtois as the keeper.

The three players who Saints must keep quiet are Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard. Eden Hazard along with Diego Costa upfront who is having one of the best season ever will be pretty confident of netting goals in ease.

“I believe in our way of playing and not to change the system, we try to do it our way,” said Koeman.

“We are dreaming a little bit now because we have a great position in the league,” he said. “We had a difficult time after some defeats. We have now won two in a row, that’s important, game by game to do our best and what we like to do: play attractive football, offensive football.

And go for it. But that means every game, not because our opponent is Chelsea or Manchester City. No, we go for it. That’s football and if you don’t go for it, stay home.”

On paper, it sounds like an impossible job for Koeman, but having turned his own team's form round, Southampton can go into this game with a level of confidence and the fact that they have already been written off means they can play with no pressure.

If Saints can play the current system to the best of their ability the result is not a foregone conclusion and Mourinho isn't foolish enough to think that it is.

To be in the top four will be a great achievement for a side like Southampton and they will fight for it. Same is the case for Chelsea, if they can win on Sunday they stays at top of the Barclays Premier League table. It will be an entertainer at St Mary's Stadium when these two teams meet against each other and will be a great conclusion to the calendar year .