Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage as Newcastle United host Chelsea in the Premier League. Should be a good one, this.

NEWCASTLE: Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon; Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran; Shola Ameobi, Remy

So, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has made three changes to the side that lost in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday as Davide Santon, Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy all come in. Vurnon Anita, Massadio Haidara and Papiss Cisse are those who make way.

NEWCASTLE SUBS: Elliot, Tavernier, Anita, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Ben Arfa, Cisse

CHELSEA: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Lampard; Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Torres

A whopping nine changes for Chelsea following their win over Arsenal in midweek, with David Luiz and Juan Mata the only players who keep their places. That means Petr Cech, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres are among those who return to the starting XI.

CHELSEA SUBS: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Mikel, Willian, Schurrle, Eto'o

Anyway, back to business. There's plenty at stake for both of these sides today: Newcastle can climb into the top half of the table with a win while Chelsea can displace Arsenal at the top of the standings if they make it four league victories in a row.

Chelsea have been in fine form as of late, putting together an unbeaten run of 10 matches in all competitions. During that time the Blues have recorded nine wins. Needless to say, they're the favourites to come away with the points today.

PHOTO Fernando Torres arrives at St James's Park before Newcastle host Chelsea. We're 45 mins from kick-off #NEWCHE pic.twitter.com/bIWNDaUwYv — Premier League (@premierleague) November 2, 2013

In contrast to Chelsea, Newcastle have been in typically unpredictable form as of late. The Magpies have lost four of their last seven matches in all competitions, picking up two wins in that time.

RECENT FORM:

NEWCASTLE: WLWDLL
CHELSEA: WWWWWW

While there hasn't been a great deal to cheer about for the Newcastle faithful in recent weeks, they will have been pleased to see the news this morning that young defender Paul Dummett has signed a new contract at St James' Park. You can read all about that here.

It was mixed fortunes for both of these teams in midweek in the Capital One Cup as Chelsea progressed at the expense of Arsenal, but Newcastle were beaten in extra time by Manchester City. One has to wonder whether the Magpies will be feeling slightly fatigued after playing 120 minutes in their tie.

1 - Chelsea have only lost one of the 15 previous Premier League games that Mata, Oscar and Hazard have all started (W9 D5). Amigos. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 2, 2013

About 20 minutes to go until this one gets away. As expected, there's plenty of buzz around St James' Park ahead of the match. As we'll see in just a moment, Newcastle's recent record against Chelsea is not a bad one...

Chelsea have won 60 of the 146 matches between the teams, with Newcastle coming out on top on 48 occasions. It was the Magpies who earned a dramatic 3-2 victory over Chelsea when they last met back in February.

In fact, the honours have been very even indeed during the last six encounters between Newcastle and Chelsea. Both teams have two wins apiece, while there have been two draws.

PREDICTION TIME: Right, how do we see this one going? Well, you'd be a brave person to rule out Chelsea getting the win, but Newcastle are sure to put up a good fight. That said, the visitors should pick up the points.

The players are in the tunnel, ready to enter the cauldron that is St James' Park. Not long to go now.

The pre-match rituals have been done (including an impeccably observed moment of silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday) and it will be Chelsea to kick us off. Here we go!

It's bee a fairly low-key start to the match, with Chelsea patiently keeping possession. For the record, there's some rain in the air. Could that cause one or two problems for the players out there?

Luiz has Chelsea's first proper effort on goal with a free kick from about 30 yards out, but he hits it well over the crossbar. It wouldn't have counted anyway as Ivanovic was penalised for an infringement in the wall.

Newcastle are really struggling to get hold of the ball at the moment. Chelsea are dominating possession, though they aren't doing a great deal with it. Both managers are down on the touchline, keeping a keen eye on proceedings.

The hosts have been better during the last few minutes, working hard to win the ball in midfield. Remy and Ameobi have had scraps to feed on so far, but the home side look to have finally woken up.

OFF THE WOODWORK! Nearly the opening goal for Chelsea as Terry heads against the crossbar from Mata's corner. The ball was then hooked back in before Newcastle just about cleared the danger. Early warning signs for Newcastle as Chelsea look to make their dominance count.

It only looks like a matter of time before Chelsea get the opening goal here. Jose Mourinho's men are working superbly at the moment, winning the ball back and then using it well. Newcastle are struggling to cope against the superior quality of the opposition.

Newcastle make a rare foray into the final third with Gouffran on the ball, but his attempted pass through to Ameobi has too much on it and goes out of play.

The visitors earn a free kick through Hazard in a decent position out on the left side, though Lampard can only hit it too deep and out of play. Newcastle are showing one or two signs of life now, but Chelsea are still well on top.

Hazard and Mata link to cause some confusion in the Newcastle penalty area, with the former going down under the attention of a couple of defenders. The ball falls to Cole on the left before the defender's low cross is well gathered by Krul.

Oscar of Chelsea is shadowed by Newcastle's Cheick Tiote at St James's Park. It's 0-0 with 20 mins played #NEWCHE pic.twitter.com/MoNWCv2cVt

— Premier League (@premierleague) November 2, 2013

No sign of Chelsea getting frustrated just yet, but they might be a little concerned that they haven't broken the deadlock yet. They've had a couple of decent chances to do so. However, the game remains goalless with just under 20 minutes left in the half.

CHANCE! That could easily have been the opening goal for Chelsea, but for Hazard's poor cross. The Belgian was set free down the right by Mata before looping a cross into the box. The ball was meant for Torres, though it had too much on it.

Cech is forced into what is his first proper save of the match to deny Cabaye. The French midfielder tried his luck from distance, but the Chelsea shotstopper got down well to hold the ball.

Newcastle are currently enjoying their best spell of the match. The Magpies aren't doing much to threaten the Chelsea goal, though they are keeping the ball better and stringing together a few good passes.

OFF THE LINE! It's the same combination for Chelsea as Terry gets on the end of a Mata corner, but this time the defender's header is cleared off the line by Santon.

Five minutes of normal time left in that half and it's suddenly all become a bit end to end. Despite Chelsea looking the more dangerous, Newcastle are threatening on the counter-attack a bit more.

YELLOW CARD: The first booking of the match goes to Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko for a clumsy challenge on Ivanovic. No complaints there.

One minute added time...

Referee Lee Mason blows the half-time whistle and it's goalless between Newcastle and Chelsea at the break. The visitors were dominant in that opening 45 minutes but they were unable to make the breakthrough. Meanwhile, Newcastle have rode their luck but remain in the contest.

The best chances of that first half both fell to John Terry, who saw one header come back off the crossbar before another was cleared off the line.

100% - John Terry completed 100% of his passes (42) and won 100% of his duels (6) in the first-half today. Leader.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 2, 2013

Both teams have players on the bench who can change the game, with Chelsea in particular boasting a wealth of talent including Willian, Andre Schurrle and Samuel Eto'o. Will Jose Mourinho shake things up early in the second half?

The players are back out and it will be Newcastle to kick us off for the second half. No changes for either side just yet.

It's been a lively opening to the second half, with both teams fighting hard for possession. Cabaye had the chance to whip a good ball into the box moments ago, but his cross was a woeful one that failed to get past the first man.

SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle make the first change of the match as Cheick Tiote comes off for Vurnon Anita.

Hazard is down receiving treatment at the moment after landing awkwardly on his ankle. The Belgian looks to be okay though. It could easily be argued that he's been Chelsea's brightest player so far today.

Chelsea look like they're ready to make a change shortly as Samuel Eto'o warms up on the touchline. Meanwhile, Cech keeps out Sissoko's low cross with a fine save. Newcastle, suddenly, are knocking on the door.

CHANCE! What a glorious opportunity for Newcastle as Remy gets on the end of Ameobi's knockdown, but his effort is a tame one that goes straight at Cech from about six yards.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Chelsea make their first changes as Samuel Eto'o and Willian replace Fernando Torres and Juan Mata. Newcastle also make a swap, with Papiss Cisse coming on for Shola Ameobi.

17 - Fernando Torres managed just 17 touches of the ball in this game, fewer than any of the 21 other starters so far. Starved.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 2, 2013

SAVE! Another fine stop from Cech, this time denying Gouffran. The French forward cut in on his right foot before hitting a low, hard drive towards goal. However, the goalkeeper got down well to push the ball away. Newcastle are very much dominating this game now.

We have the opening goal and it's Newcastle who break the deadlock! Cabaye's whipped free kick found the head of Gouffran, who made no mistake nodding past Cech. A simple goal, but it has been coming.

SUBSTITUTION: A final change for Chelsea sees Andre Schurrle on for Frank Lampard.

For all of Chelsea's dominance, they have failed to make it count. Newcastle made theirs count, though, and that's the difference.

Great challenge from Terry to deny Remy after good link-up play from the Newcastle striker and Sissoko. Remy burst into the box before getting a shot away, but the Chelsea skipper was there to make the block. It's 100mph stuff at the moment.

YELLOW CARD: Referee Lee Mason brings play back and books David Luiz for clipping the heels of Remy. Maybe a bit harsh, that one.

YELLOW CARD: Ramires is the latest Chelsea player to go into the book, this time for bringing down Remy. The Brazilian refused to go to referee Lee Mason there, showing something of a petulant streak.

CHANCES! How have Chelsea not equalised? They had players lining up in the box there, but the Newcastle defence stood firm to block about three or four shots before getting rid of the danger. Incredible.

You get the feeling that it's going to be a Chelsea onslaught in the final 10 minutes as they go in search of a leveller. Can Newcastle withstand the siege? Hold onto your hats.

SUBSTITUTION: A final change for Newcastle sees goalscorer Yoan Gouffran replaced by Gabriel Obertan.

CHANCE! Nearly a second for Newcastle as Remy heads over from Sissoko's cross. The striker really should have done better there, even though he had Luiz breathing down his neck.

WIDE! Now it's Chelsea who come close to finding the net as Hazard shoots wide from just inside the area. An inch or two to the left and that could well have been nestling in the corner. Krul was beaten.

Game, set and match Newcastle! That's surely it for the hosts as Remy fires a wonderful first-time finish past Cech. It was Anita who played the ball into the striker, who pulled the trigger from around the penalty spot to make it 2-0.

Five minutes added time...

Eto'o shoots well over the bar for Chelsea, who are looking pretty desperate right now. Just a few minutes remaining until this one is done and dusted.

The full-time whistle goes and Newcastle United have a 2-0 win over Chelsea thanks to goals from Yoan Gouffran and Loic Remy. They had to ride their luck at times, but the Magpies were superb in the second half and come away with the points. Defeat for Chelsea means that Jose Mourinho's side have missed the chance to go to the top of the Premier League table.

Anyway, that's all from me for now but don't forget that we have live text coverage of all today's games in the Premier League right here on Sports Mole. So, have a look around and see what takes your fancy. Thank you for your company and enjoy the rest of your afternoon. Goodbye!