Chelsea slip up against Southampton

Leaders Chelsea and in-form Manchester United suffered post-Christmas hangovers in the Premier League on Sunday, both dropping points to teams gunning for a place in the top four.



Chelsea were held 1-1 at fourth-place Southampton, meaning Manchester City could cut their lead to a point with victory over second-bottom Burnley later on Sunday, while United drew 0-0 at Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea were bidding to open up a provisional three-point lead, but fell behind in the 17th minute at St Mary’s when Dusan Tadic freed Sadio Mane, who coolly headed the ball forwards before lobbing Thibaut Courtois.

Eden Hazard equalised in first-half injury time, scampering onto Cesc Fabregas’s pass down the left wing and cutting inside two defenders before firing home with his right foot.

But despite sending on Willian, Didier Drogba and Loic Remy in the second half, Jose Mourinho’s side were unable to find a winner, two days on from their classy 2-0 win over West Ham United.

The closest they came was a shot from Hazard that flashed wide, while Fabregas was contentiously booked for diving when he went down in the Southampton box after apparently being caught by 19-year-old Matthew Targett.

Southampton had to see out the closing stages with 10 men after midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin was sent off for two bookable offences, but they held on for a draw that left them three points below third-place United.