Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League encounter between Hull City and Chelsea at the KC Stadium. We should have some team news through for you shortly...

HULL: McGregor; Chester, Bruce, Davies, Elmohamady, Figueroa; Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore, Boyd; Sagbo

HULL SUBS: Harper, Rosenior, Faye, Quinn, Koren, Graham, Fryatt

Hull boss Steve Bruce has made eight changes to his starting lineup following last weekend's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in the FA Cup third round. Curtis Davies, Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore and Yannick Sagbo are among those who are recalled. Meanwhile, Danny Graham is among the substitutes for the Tigers.

CHELSEA: Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Ramires, David Luiz; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Torres

CHELSEA SUBS: Schwarzer, Essien, Mata, Mikel, Schurrle, Eto'o, Bertrand

Jose Mourinho has made four changes to his starting XI after last weekend's 2-0 victory over Derby County in the FA Cup. Petr Cech, John Terry, Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres all return for the Blues. Juan Mata and Samuel Eto'o are among those on the bench.

Make no mistake, today is a big day for Chelsea as they have the chance to go top of the table. The Blues are currently two points behind Arsenal, but a win this afternoon will see them leapfrog the Gunners, who play Aston Villa on Monday night.

However, they know they are in for a test against a Hull side who have suffered only two defeats in their last six games. Steve Bruce has got the Tigers looking organised and tough to beat this season, and the visitors will need to show plenty of mettle, and possibly patience, if they are to come away with the points.

Well done to @GaryJCahill who makes his 50th @premierleague start today! #CFC pic.twitter.com/YGWqJDWL1R — Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) January 11, 2014

RECENT FORM:

HULL: LWLDDD
CHELSEA: WWWDWL

This weekend's fixtures in the Premier League are the reverse of the opening weekend of the campaign, which saw Chelsea earn a 2-0 win over Hull at Stamford Bridge. Oscar and Frank Lampard got the goals that day in what was very much a game of two halves. The Blues were rampant during the opening 45 minutes, but the visitors fought back after the break to leave West London with their heads held high.

That said, Steve Bruce will want his players to leave the KC Stadium with more than just credit today. The Tigers can consolidate their place in midtable with a victory today, something that Bruce will be desperate for his team to do as they look to secure their status in the top flight.

HEAD TO HEAD: As expected, Chelsea have the dominant record when it comes to past meetings between these sides. The Blues have won 23 times out of 34 matches, while Hull have come out on top four times. For those who consider their maths a bit dodgy, that means there have been seven draws.

Hull's last victory over Chelsea came back in 1988 when the sides were in the old Second Division. Since then, the West-London outfit have won six out of eight games.

REFEREE WATCH: The official for today's match at the KC Stadium is Mark Clattenburg.

Just under 20 minutes to go until kickoff and it's a bright and breezy day in Hull. Not too bad in the way of conditions.

Here's a seagull's-eye view of the players warming up. #CFC pic.twitter.com/c5DL1Y1gUf — Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) January 11, 2014

PREDICTION TIME: So, how do you see this one going? We here at Sports Mole can see it being a tight affair between the sides, but we believe that Chelsea will come away with the points thanks to a 2-0 win.

Just under 10 minutes until this one gets underway. The players should be filtering out from the respective changing rooms and into the tunnel any moment now.

1 - Steve Bruce has won just one of his previous 18 clashes with Chelsea in the Premier League as a manager (D5 L12). Bonus.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 11, 2014

Here come the players out of the tunnel and onto the pitch at the KC Stadium. Kickoff is just moments away.

KICKOFF! Right, the pre-match handshakes have been done and it will be Chelsea to get us underway. Here we go!

Chelsea have started brightly in the opening stages, forcing an early corner that comes to nothing. Hull haven't seen too much of the ball, but they're looking organised when they need to be.

The hosts are enjoying a bit more possession now as they look to ease their way into this match. However, it's Chelsea who are posing more of a threat in attack. Torres in particular has been lively during the first few minutes.

The first proper effort of the game comes from Hull as Elmohamady tries his luck from about 25 yards. It's not a bad shot, but Cech is there to get down low and gather the ball.

Chelsea are doing plenty of probing at the moment, but they're struggling to pick holes in the Hull defence. The hosts have been very solid so far as Oscar, Hazard and Willian try to provide some inspiration. Torres has a crack at goal from a tight angle, though he can only slam his shot wide.

The visitors continue to show patience in their build-up play, but they're still finding it difficult to get through Hull. No frustration for Chelsea yet, but Jose Mourinho will want his players to show a bit more spark.

Steve Bruce is down on the touchline, casting his eye over the game. However, the Hull boss is likely to be pleased with what he's seen from his players so far. The Tigers have been lively both in and out of possession.

It's just not happening for Chelsea at the moment. They're seeing a lot of the ball, particularly in wide positions, but they're not doing anything meaningful with it. Maybe they would have more luck playing narrowly, with Hazard, Oscar and Willian pulling the strings behind Torres.

Chelsea threaten through Hazard down the left as the Belgian jinks past Chester before laying the ball off to Oscar on the edge of the box. However, the Brazilian takes too long to decide what to do and is dispossessed by Boyd.

SAVE! Cech has to get down low to keep the ball out of the net following a decent drive from Livermore. The midfielder took aim from the edge of the penalty area, but the Chelsea shotstopper was there to push the danger away.

CHANCE! What an opportunity for Hull to take the lead! Terry uncharacteristically gave the ball away inside his own penalty area, allowing Sagbo a crack at goal. The Hull striker hit a ferocious shot across Cech, but it just went narrowly wide of the post.

Hull have certainly been buoyed by that chance for Sagbo. There's a bit more of a buzz in the stands now at the KC Stadium. Meanwhile, Chelsea are still huffing and puffing to no avail. Jose Mourinho isn't looking best pleased down on the touchline.

Something of a half-chance for Chelsea as McGregor flaps at Willian's free kick, but the hosts just about get away with it. That won't exactly instill the Hull defence with confidence.

SAVE! McGregor now comes to Hull's rescue to keep out Oscar! Hazard squared the ball to his teammate, who had all the time in the world inside the box. However, McGregor got down low to pull off a brilliant reaction save to deny the Chelsea playmaker.

It's all very end to end at the moment as the game flows one way then the other. It will be Hull who are happier right now though as they continue to hold Chelsea. The Blues are still looking a bit sluggish when they move forward.

Oh dear. Hull get a free kick in a good position out wide, but Huddlestone's shot/cross flies high and wide of the goal. The Chelsea fans enjoyed that. Five minutes of normal time left in this first half.

A bit of a contentious moment inside the Hull box as Hazard goes to ground, though referee Mark Clattenburg is having none of it. It's the right decision as well because Hazard went down far too easily there.

CHANCE! Luiz does better with his free kick than Huddlestone did with his as McGregor is forced to push the ball out for a corner, which comes to nothing.

Just the one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

Mark Clattenburg blows the half-time whistle as the teams head down the tunnel with no goals between them. Chelsea were well below par during that first half, though they did enjoy a couple of decent chances in front of goal. Meanwhile, Hull are likely to be happy with how they've kept the visitors at bay.

"Well this hasn't been very good." pic.twitter.com/HpNbyQfSYQ

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 11, 2014

Steve Bruce will be telling his players to keep snapping at Chelsea's heels for the second half following their determined display in the first. The Tigers showed plenty of hustle and bustle while creating one or two openings in the final third.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that Chelsea changing room. Jose Mourinho is probably not very happy at all with what he saw from his side during that first half. They looked sluggish and uninspired in attack, but the Portuguese has plenty of talent on the bench to call on after the break. Juan Mata, Andre Schurrle and Samuel Eto'o are all there waiting to enter the action.

As we get ready to start the second half, you can find Sports Mole's concise half-time report from the KC Stadium right here.

PHOTO Petr Cech is half way to his 150th #BPL clean sheet. Hull City 0-0 Chelsea at half-time pic.twitter.com/1dShOAAunE

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 11, 2014

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The players are back out and it will be Hull to get us going again.

Luis has an early opportunity for Chelsea at the start of the second half, but the Brazilian slices his effort out for a goal kick. Cue sarcastic cheers from the Hull fans.

CHANCE! That's more like it from Chelsea as Hazards bobs and weaves inside the Hull box before seeing his shot deflected wide for a corner. However, the hosts do just about enough to clear the danger.

SAVE! Chelsea win a free kick on the edge of the box following a handball by Bruce, which Luiz steps up to take. The Brazilian manages to get it up and over the wall, but McGregor is there to bat the shot away. Chelsea look almost a different team at the start of this second half as they push Hull further and further back.

Chelsea make the breakthrough as Eden Hazard fires past McGregor in the Hull goal! The Belgian went passed a couple of players on the edge of the box before shooting low into the bottom corner. That was fine strike from Hazard.

You have to say that Chelsea deserve their lead judging by their second-half performance. They've been a lot brighter following the restart. The passing and movement has been much improved.

Willian tries his luck from an outrageously tight angle with a free kick, but he can only shoot wide of the far post. Not quite sure what he was trying there as he had plenty of teammates waiting in the middle.

8 - @hazardeden10 has been involved in eight goals (five goals, three assists) in his last eight @premierleague appearances. Threat. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 11, 2014

Willian has another crack at goal, this time from about 25 yards after working himself a little bit of space. It's not a bad effort, but it's tame enough for McGregor to let it drift wide of his right-hand post.

YELLOW CARD: The first booking of the day goes the way of Chelsea's Gary Cahill following a deliberate handball. Huddlestone takes the resulting free kick, but he can only whip the ball over the crossbar.

SUBSTITUTION: Hull make a change now as Robert Koren enters the action in place of David Meyler. One wouldn't be surprised if Chelsea bring on some fresh legs sooner rather than later.

YELLOW CARD: Another booking now as Jake Livermore is cautioned by referee Mark Clattenburg for clipping Fernando Torres from behind. That looked to be harsh on the Hull midfielder. Just under 20 minutes left to play at the KC Stadium.

Chelsea are still looking like the dominant side, but Hull will certainly feel like they're still in this match. They're battling hard for the ball in midfield, though there's not a great deal in the way of clear-cut chances in the final third.

Promising football from Hull as Boyd does well to get a cross in from the left side. However, Cole gets his head to the ball before Elmohamady can pull the trigger at the back post. Chelsea then go up the other end before Davies blocks Oscar's goal-bound effort.

SUBSTITUTION: Hull make another change now as Matty Fryatt replaces James Chester. Just over 10 minutes left to play. Can Hull find an equaliser?

SUBSTITUTION: Chelsea's turn to shake things up here as Jon Obi Mikel comes on for Oscar. It hasn't been the Brazilian's best afternoon in a blue shirt.

YELLOW CARD: Hull's Maynor Figueroa goes into the book after chopping down Hazard from behind. The Belgian went to ground screaming in pain there, but he looks to be okay to continue.

SUBSTITUTION: A third and final change for Hull sees George Boyd replaced by Stephen Quinn. Time is running out for the hosts if they want to get something out of this match.

It's all a bit end-to-end once more at the moment as the game heads into the final minutes of normal time. Large gaps are starting to appear over the pitch, though that could benefit Chelsea more than Hull.

And that is that. Chelsea are heading to the top of the Premier League table as Fernando Torres doubles their lead. The Spaniard made a trademark run at the Hull defence before dragging the ball to the left and hitting it across McGregor and into the net. Vintage stuff from Torres.

SUBSTITUTION: Another swap for Chelsea now as Michael Essien takes the place of Ramires.

The fourth official indicates that there will be a minimum of three minutes added time.

The full-time whistle goes and Chelsea leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a 2-0 win over Hull City. Eden Hazard got the visitors on their way in the 55th minute before Fernando Torres wrapped up the points late on.

Anyway, that's all from me but don't forget that you can follow live text coverage from each of today's other five Premier League games right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!