Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion.

After a Saturday which included new Premier League leaders and the defending champions returning to form in emphatic fashion, we begin a bumper day of action with two of the in-form sides in English football. It's no surprise to see Chelsea come under that bracket but it is for West Brom, who not so long ago were tipped to sack head coach Tony Pulis.

We will talk more about Chelsea later but let's start our coverage with a few words about the West Midlands side, who find themselves competing for a top-six place in the table. After 10 games, they had won just two of their matches in the league and went into their latest batch of games with one win in nine. However, the 2-1 win away at Leicester City has sparked a run of the form where they have thrashed Burnley, earned a point away at Hull City and comfortably got the better of Watford. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are all to come in December but for now, they can say they have the springboard to really put themselves amongst it in the chase of a Europa League spot.

Anyway, without further ado, let's get cracking with the team news. Have Chelsea reverted back to their tried-and-trusted team or has Cesc Fabregas retained his place?

CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Diego Costa, Hazard

CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Begovic, Aina, Ivanovic, Chalobah, Fabregas, Willian, Batshuayi

WEST BROMWICH ALBION XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Yacob, Fletcher; Brunt, Morrison, Phillips; Rondon

WEST BROMWICH ALBION SUBSTITUTES: Palmer; Olsson, Robson-Kanu, Gardner, McClean, Galloway, Chadli

Just the one alteration by Antonio Conte and it doesn't really come as a surprise as he opts to bring Nemanja Matic back into the team at the first opportunity. It is slightly harsh on Fabregas, who played his part in Chelsea's superb 3-1 win away at Manchester City last weekend, but Matic is a vital cog in the Blues' 3-4-3 formation so it was expected that Conte would turn to the Serbian enforcer. Pedro and Diego Costa both feature in attack after recovering from knocks picked up at the Etihad Stadium.

As for West Brom, Pulis decides to go with the same starting lineup for the fifth match in a row. It means the likes of Craig Gardner, Nacer Chadli and James McClean are left on the bench but with the visitors firing on all cylinders, there was little point in Pulis risking any disruption without any injuries or suspensions forcing his hand.

We've touched upon Matic's impact in this Chelsea team but he now does more than tackled, pass and try a rare 30-yard missile on goal. He is now chipping in with assists on a regular basis and from his 13 Premier League starts, he has set up six goals, which is an outstanding return from any player, never mind a defensively-minded player. Maybe it's the N'Golo Kante effect or maybe Conte trusts him to make a contribution all over the pitch. Either way, it's paying off.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's contest represents the 136th time in which these two teams have met in a competitive fixture, which Chelsea claiming 58 victories in comparison to 42 wins for the Baggies. West Brom don't normally have a lot of success at Stamford Bridge - their last triumph there came in 1983 - but they have recorded draws on two of their last four visits.

The most recent match between the two teams took place in January where West Brom showed strong resolve to return to the West Midlands with a 2-2 draw. It came at a time when Chelsea had not long appointed Guus Hiddink on an interim basis but this was still another mixed performance from Chelsea, who at the time were defending champions. They are a completely different side now but West Brom will have fond memories from that evening and it could give them confidence this afternoon.

As we've mentioned, it's a bumper day of Premier League action which continues with Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur at the conclusion of this match. West Brom will be hoping for a draw in that one - it's been a while since they've had any interest in a game like that!

That is then followed by Liverpool's encounter with West Ham United. With Liverpool looking to keep pace with Chelsea and Arsenal, and West Ham needing a result to move out of the relegation zone, that could be quite a tasty contest!

I take more from the fact that it's sunny in England on December 11 than I do from Eden Hazard warming up in this video. Craziness!

Warm ups underway here at the Bridge... https://t.co/zEps9Gowik — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 11, 2016

Before we make our prediction, we can't go through this build-up without mentioning Diego Costa. The Spaniard is used to receiving criticism left, right and centre and after avoiding being sent off twice in the opening games of this season, it appeared that he would face another year of a love-hate relationship with pretty much everyone. However, he has probably been the player of the season so far. Alexis Sanchez has been in scintillating form for Arsenal in recent weeks but Costa is having a hand in everything for Chelsea. He's contributed 11 goals and numerous assists during the club's 14 games in the league while he has also avoided a fifth yellow card for a couple of months. Whatever Conte is saying to him in training, the controversial Spanish international is listening and that hasn't always been the case.

We've got less than 15 minutes until kickoff at Stamford Bridge but that's more than enough time for you to feast your eyes on our Stat Centre. Not only can you take a look at an ever-changing Premier League table, all you West Brom fans can screenshot the impressive stats that your team are producing at the moment.

PREDICTION! While we credit West Brom for their recent run, we cannot look past Chelsea this afternoon. We think West Brom will continue their recent scoring form and find the back of the net at Stamford Bridge but Chelsea should have enough to overpower them in the final third. The Blues to run out 4-1 winners.

The tams have made their way out at Stamford Bridge. This one will be ready tog in just a few minutes.

The first of four matches on this Sunday afternoon is underway.

As you would expect, plenty of Chelsea probing and possession during these opening exchanges but West Brom are sitting deep when the Blues have the ball. The wingers are dropping in to help the full-backs.

It has to be said, West Brom have settled better there. Rondon saw Courtois save a header after getting in front of Luiz, although he was later ruled offside, while Brunt got into a similar position before sending his header over. Pulis is a man with a plan.

Good response from Chelsea, who have started hounding down their opponents when they have the ball. I think they could find it tough to find space in the final third, however. This West Brom lineup is very structured.

SHOT! More good play from West Brom with Dawson poking the ball to Phillips on the edge of the penalty area. He is too eager to get his shot away, though, and he sends a half-volley over the crossbar.

We've not seen much of Costa or Hazard but they are both involved in Chelsea's latest move. Rather than Hazard, it's Costa who drops the shoulder to glide past Dawson but his cross is cleared by the Baggies.

Chelsea are warming into this now. Hazard and Costa are involved again and play a sharp one-two on the edge of the penalty area but Hazard's attempted pass to Pedro is just off the mark.

SHOT! West Brom come close to an opener and what a goal it would have been. Brunt did well to win possession around 30 yards out and wasted little time in trying his luck from distance. The shot has real venom on it and Courtois looks beaten but the effort goes inches past the post.

BOOKING! Less than a minute later, Brunt goes into the book for a foul on Costa. It's not the greatest of lunges but I'm not sure it warranted a caution.

We are halfway through this first half and we are yet to see Chelsea have a shot on goal. It's been an evenly-matched contest but it's West Brom who are looking to test Courtois. It's still early days but the system which Pulis is using this afternoon looks absolutely spot-on.

CHANCE! Rondon is getting plenty of joy out of Luiz and after dispossessing the Brazilian, he almost gives West Brom the lead. He was able to power into the box and his low shot towards the far corner is a good one, but it just misses the corner. Frustration is starting to build in Stamford Bridge.

SHOT! Chelsea finally have a shot and it almost leads to a goal. Kante tries a long-range strike thaat hits the boot of Pedro, who diverts the ball just inches past the post. Foster wasn't getting to it if it was on target.

BOOKING! Dawson gives the ball away and McAuley tries to help his teammate out by challenging Hazard. Unfortunately, he's late and it's deserved booking. Hazard looks in some distress here.

From the resulting free kick, Luiz steps up to send a 35-yard free kick on goal but he gets it all wrong and it goes several yards over the crossbar. That's his worst set piece since his return to Chelsea, surely.

Hazard looks to have recovered from that ankle knock as he glides past the defender but after cutting inside onto his right foot, he blazed over the bar.

Chelsea are improving but they still aren't creating the opportunities that are going to trouble Foster. A cross from Pedro was just aimed towards Costa, but it had to be perfect and it wasn't, with Yacob easing Costa out of the header.

SHOT! Luiz is getting nearer but again, that had little chance of beating Foster. The Brazilian's 30-yard set piece is comfortably held by the goalkeeper.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and it's no surprise that we remain goalless. Chelsea have had the majority of possession but they've barely created anything. As for West Brom, they have come close on two occasions and deserve to be on level terms at the very least.

Chelsea get us back underway for the second half. No changes from either side. That may change, especially in Chelsea's case, pretty soon.

BOOKING! Chelsea dominate possession during the first three minutes of the first half but when the move breaks down, Kante takes out Dawson and it's a definite yellow.

BOOKING! Dawson is the next man to go into the book for an off-the-ball tug on Costa. The referee must have been advised by one of his assistants on that one.

It's been very stop-start since the restart, which suits West Brom down to the ground. I have to say, the Baggies have been excellent so far. It's not always attractive but all of this side are doing their jobs perfectly.

BOOKING! West Brom pick up yet another yellow card, this time for Yacob who pulls back Kante on the touchline.

This could be a big blow to West Brom. Evans has gone down clutching his calf and it looks debatable whether he will be able to continue. Olsson is being readied but Evans is getting a second go to see if he can play on.

Dawson is very lucky to remain on the pitch here. Dawson mis-times a challenge on Costa on the edge of the penalty area and based on the referee's previous decisions, it looks a routine booking. However, nothing more is given.

SHOT! From the resulting free kick, Luiz's shot is deflected towards the corner but Foster is able to tip it wide. The referee, remarkably, gives a goal kick which is a shocking decision!

SUBSTITUTION! Here comes the first alteration for Chelsea, with Willian replacing Pedro.

The change was supposed to instigate a Chelsea resurgence but they are living dangerously at the back. Cahill has just had to make two goal-saving blocks inside the penalty area. West Brom are still well in this. Don't think they are just looking for a point.

SHOT! Chelsea continue to probe but they still can't create anything significant inside the West Brom box. Matic just tried his luck from 25 yards but he dragged his effort well wide of the post.

Ball after ball is being sent into the West Brom box but Costa and co aren't getting a sniff. It's going to take something special to break down the Baggies defence. Time for another change.

SUBSTITUTION! Conte makes his second alteration and it's Cesc Fabregas who replaces Moses. I'm not sure who plays where now but it's a change up from Chelsea.

Oh my word, this is a sensational goal from Costa. The striker dispossessed Dawson on the touchline and after cutting inside onto his left foot, he found the top corner from an acute angle. That's his 12th of the season.

SUBSTITUTIONS! West Brom have introduced McClean and Chadli, with Morrison and Phillips making way. Ivanovic has replaced Hazard for the Blues.

West Brom need to push more men forward now but that's inevitably going to leave more space for Chelsea to break. I feel there's another goal in this one.

SUBSTITUTION! Final change for West Brom as Hal Robson-Kanu takes the place of Brunt.

SHOT! While West Brom are pressing, Chelsea still want a second goal and Alonso goes close with a rasping attempt from 25 yards. Four minutes to go.

CHANCE! Costa does excellently to control a throw-in before crossing for Fabregas but the midfielder is unable to find the back of the net after being put under pressure by Dawson.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea have comfortably held on to record a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion. The Baggies probably deserve a point based on their performance in open play but Costa's individual goal has proven to be the difference. This is Chelsea's ninth win in a row and they now go three points clear of Arsenal.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game but we hope that you can stick around for the match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, which gets underway in just under 15 minutes time. Goodbye for now.