Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League Boxing Day clash between Chelsea and Bournemouth.

So Christmas is out of the way, the roast dinners have been finished (mostly), the wrapping paper is now a pile in the recycling bin, and now it's time to get back to what really matters - the football!

Stamford Bridge plays host to South Coast side Bournemouth today in what promises to be an enthralling clash between arguably the most complete, dominant side in the league this season, and an exciting, plucky side punching well above their weight and managed by one of the best young bosses in the English game.

Antonio Conte's charges had a bit of a stuttering start to the campaign but after everything clicked together they've been unstoppable - they're looking to win their 12th game on the trot today, and if they do, they will be just one victory away from equalling the Premier League's all-time winning streak record.

Bournemouth cannot be ruled out, however - they're sitting in a very decent 10th place and have pulled off a number of surprising results this season such as the heroic win over Liverpool - not to mention the Cherries left Stamford Bridge with all three points last season.

Without further ado, here are the team news for today's match at the Bridge...

CHELSEA STARTING XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill (c), Moses, Fabregas, Matic, Alonso, Willian, Hazard, Pedro

BOURNEMOUTH STARTING XI: Boruc, Adam Smith, Francis (c), Cook, Daniels, Brad Smith, Arter, Surman, Gosling, Wilshere, King

CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Ivanovic, Aina, Zouma, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Batshuayi

BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Federici, Mings, Fraser, Stanislas, Afobe, Ibe, Wilson

The big news for Chelsea is that two of their most important players are missing today. Both Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante are suspended for today's game, having picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season in the Blues' last game, the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace.

As a result, Antonio Conte is forced to make two changes, with Cesc Fabregas and Pedro drafted into the starting XI. Those are the only two changes today for the hosts.

Eddie Howe, meanwhile, makes three changes to the starting line-up that lost 3-1 to Southampton last time around. Nathan Ake is ineligible to play against his parent club, while Marc Pugh drops out of the squad and Callum Wilson makes the bench.

In their place come in Brad Smith, Andrew Surman and Dan Gosling as the Cherries bid to leave Stamford Bridge with three points for the second consecutive season.

Although Chelsea have been nigh on unplayable for the last couple of months, today could prove a huge test, given how crucial Costa and Kante have been to the Blues' sensational 11-match-winning run.

The Spain striker has been in great form this season, bagging his 13th goal of the campaign at Selhurst Park, while Kante, with his 89 percent passing completion rate and average of three tackles and interceptions per game, is proving as indispensable in midfield to Chelsea as Claude Makelele was a decade ago.

With neither of them in action today, it will be interesting to see whether Fabregas and Pedro can prove seamless replacements - and whether Chelsea's winning momentum can persist - or whether the Cherries will be able to exploit their absence.

Just under half an hour until kickoff at Stamford Bridge, and the players are warming up on the pitch. Very chilly in West London today.

Chelsea have reason to be positive today regardless of Costa and Kante's absences - every other time they've been top of the Premier League at Christmas, they've gone on to win it.

Just over a year ago, on December 5 to be exact, Bournemouth became the first promoted side to beat Chelsea at home since Charlton in April 2001, thanks to Glenn Murray's 82nd-minute header. Twelve days later, after losing nine out of sixteen league games, Mourinho's second tenure at Stamford Bridge came to an end, with the Blues languishing close to the drop zone.

Now, Chelsea are undoubtedly favourites for the title this season, well ahead at the top of the table, and are on the brink of setting a new club record for consecutive wins should they see off their opponents today.

Both sides are also Boxing Day football experts. Chelsea haven't lost a league game on December 26 since being beaten 4-2 by Charlton in 2003, while the Cherries are unbeaten in each of their last six league games played on the day after Christmas, conceding just one goal in the process.

The Blues' recent form against Bournemouth is impressive despite last season's loss at Stamford Bridge - they have won five of their previous seven games in all competitions against the Cherries.

Eddie Howe is in confident mood ahead of kickoff. He told Sky Sports News: "It should help us that we won here before. If you have done it once, you can do it again. Results like [the 4-3 win against Liverpool] just reaffirm the idea that we can beat anybody. We proved that last year beating Chelsea and Manchester United in a short space of time."

Antonio Conte, meanwhile, gave BBC Sport an interview that can only be described as Mourinho-esque, relating to the shock of the festive football period that is missing from the leagues on the continent: "In this period, we're used to going on holiday for a week. You have to celebrate Christmas with the family. It's not important where you stay, but it's important to stay together with your family. I don't like to buy gifts. I don't like this. My wife does this. She is a fantastic person. I don't like going to the shops. My wife spends the right money, not a lot of money."

PREDICTION: Five minutes until kickoff and so it's time for me to have a stab at predicting today's result. I think Chelsea might find it tricky to begin with but will soon hit their stride and Bournemouth will not have enough to cope. 3-0 to Chelsea for me.

Gary Cahill and Simon Francis lead their two sides out at Stamford Bridge as the two managers shake hands on the touchline, before the players do the same on the pitch.

KICKOFF! Eden Hazard gets Boxing Day action at Stamford Bridge underway!

The hosts begin brightly but the first real foray comes the way of the visitors as Andrew Surman finds Brad Smith on the left flank but cannot get his cross into the Chelsea box.

Tentative start here as Bournemouth enjoy possession in the Chelsea half, knocking passes around and probing their way into the game, but little penetration as of yet.

Chelsea almost force their way through the Cherries defence as Fabregas plays a quick free kick in behind for Pedro, but the forward's first touch gets ahead of him and Francis puts it behind for a corner.

Willian swings the corner in and Cahill flicks the ball on the near post by Cahill before Boruc claims with ease and the danger is gone.

The hosts win a free kick after King fouls Luiz and from the set piece, Hazard claims and charges forward, but is forced out wide and any potential chance goes begging.

Now Luiz comes right back at King, a tackle on the Cherries player giving the visitors a free kick. Francis delivers it deep and finds Cook, who wins a corner from Alonso, but the set piece comes to nothing.

BOOKING: The first yellow of the game goes to Jack Wilshere, who clatters into the back of Hazard.

CHANCE! Hazard gets into space in a central position, picks up the ball and decides to have a go from 25 yards, but his effort is tame and Boruc claims with ease.

CHANCE! Bournemouth launch forward as Smith gets away down the right flank and curls a cross into the box, but Azpilicueta is there ahead of King - who is a mere tap-in from scoring - to see the ball out of play.

Matic comes forward and skips past one challenge as he makes his way into the Bournemouth box, but Gosling comes across and clears before he can get a shot away.

More incisive play from Chelsea as Fabregas plays the ball to the feet of Hazard, who in turn races forward and tries to thread in to Moses on the right-hand side of the box, but Smith is there to see the ball out of danger.

CHANCE! Pedro finds himself with a great opportunity as he bursts into the box and whips a cross across the face of goal, but Luiz cannot latch onto it at the back post.

We have the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge and it comes the way of Chelsea as Fabregas slips the ball to Pedro in the box and the forward moves into space and curls an effort into the top-left corner of the net!

CHANCE! Almost an instant reply from the Cherries as King cuts the ball back to Smith, who in turn squares a pass along the edge of the area to Wilshere, and the loanee darts past Cahill and forces a save from Courtois for a corner, which ultimately comes to nothing.

Hazard gets to the edge of the area and attempts a rabona-style shot which forces Boruc into a great save, but the referee had blown for a free kick to Bournemouth just before.

CHANCE! Wilshere goes for goal from a free kick after a poor defensive header from Matic, but his shot is just deflected wide for a corner, and from the ensuing set piece Bournemouth shout for a penalty after Smith goes down under pressure from Matic, but nothing is given by ref Mike Jones.

Surman gives the ball away inside his own half and Pedro makes the most of it as he claims, charges forward and plays in Willian, who in turn flicks it in the direction of Hazard, but Francis is there to clear.

CHANCE! Hazard wins a free kick after being brought down by Francis and Fabregas lashes the effort onto the roof of the net. So close to doubling the hosts' lead.

A bit of a lull now in terms of action after a dynamic 15 or so minutes, with little happening besides a tame Cook header into the Chelsea box with nobody to meet it and a deep free kick from Bournemouth which comes to nothing.

Surman caught out in possession again and Willian collects, gets behind Brad Smith and flashes a teasing delivery across the face of goal, but nobody is there to tap it in.

One minute of stoppage time as Wilshere is fouled on the edge of the area, Smith then rifles over and the referee brings the play back to the tackle just outside the box, leading to some unhappy Chelsea players.

Adam Smith smashes the free kick into the wall and the set piece comes to nothing, before the referee calls for half time.

Half time at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea are just ahead, thanks to an impressive Pedro goal in the 24th minute, but Bournemouth have more than held their colour against the runaway Premier League leaders.

Eden Hazard has been the star man for the Blues today, causing no end of trouble with his passing, his movement, his forays forward and even a number of chances, including a cheeky rabona which would not, however, have counted as the referee had blown his whistle.

Jack Wilshere, meanwhile, has been impressive for Bournemouth, pulling the strings in midfield and not fearing tackles, which saw him pick up the game's only booking so far. The Cherries have shown a lot of promise and are still well in it ahead of the second half.

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The opening half in numbers...#CHEBOU pic.twitter.com/vAz7Cj6VxD — AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) 26 December 2016

As it stands, Chelsea are nine points clear of second-placed Liverpool, who don't play until tomorrow.

KICKOFF: Bournemouth get the second half started at Stamford Bridge.

PENALTY! Chelsea win a spot kick after Hazard gets brought down in the box by Francis! The Belgian steps up himself...

Hazard, arguably the finest player on the pitch today, grabs himself a goal from the penalty spot, coolly slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner for his 50th Premier League strike, and Chelsea are two to the good.

CHANCE! Chelsea are enjoying this now as they keep coming forward - Willian sends a pass towards Alonso on the left-hand side of the box, but Adam Smith puts him under pressure at the crucial moment and his effort sails well over.

CHANCE! Yet more questions asked from Hazard which the Cherries have no answer to - the Belgian runs at Francis, who stands off him and allows him the space to get a shot away, but the effort is just wide of the far post and too far ahead of Pedro, who can't connect.

Willian flashes a cross across the goalmouth and Boruc manages to pounce on it just in time, though he does collide with Pedro, but it's deemed unintentional.

CHANCE! Willian is released into the box and he darts past two tackles before getting a shot away from a tight angle, but Boruc is equal to it.

CHANCE! Hazard heavily involved yet again as he plays a short corner, collects the ball back again and crosses into the D where Moses stands, the latter connecting with a volley and firing just wide.

BOOKING: Second yellow of the game and the first for Chelsea as Pedro brings Arter down and earns himself a booking for his troubles - he will now miss his side's next game against Stoke City on New Year's Eve.

CHANCE! More turning of the screw from the Blues as Hazard sets off Pedro through the middle of the park, rounding his marker before rifling just wide of the post.

SUBSTITUTIONS: It's a double change for Bournemouth as Benik Afobe and Junior Stanislas replace King and Surman.

PENALTY CALL! Chelsea want another spot kick as Hazard fires a shot into the arm of Gosling from point-blank range in the area, but the ref is unmoved.

We have a brief stoppage in play as Cahill and Francis bump heads as the Chelsea corner is delivered. Both are fine though.

CHANCE! Bournemouth come so close to halving the deficit as Wilshere splits the Chelsea defence open with a through-ball to Afobe in the box, but Courtois is out quickly and keeps his effort out.

CHANCE! But here come Chelsea as Moses dispossesses Gosling in the Bournemouth half and finds Hazard, who darts into the right side of the box, but the Belgian drills a left-footed effort go just wide of the far post.

SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make another change as Jordon Ibe replaces Brad Smith.

Hazard tries to find Pedro at the top of the box, but Wilshere is ahead of him to see the ball away.

Now this could be trouble. Wilshere goes down in a heap and receives medical attention, seemingly for cramp. His side have already made all three substitutions.

SUBSTITUTION: Now Chelsea make their first switch of the game as Willian makes way for Nathaniel Chalobah.

Five minutes left and Chelsea are well in control of this game as Hazard squares the ball to Moses, who skews his effort and slices the ball wide.

Little to report about in the last few minutes as it appears that both sides have accepted the result and are conserving energy.

SUBSTITUTION: Change number two for Chelsea as Moses is replaced by Ola Aina.

Three minutes added on here at Stamford Bridge - most likely will be viewed as a formality by both sides.

A late flurry of activity as Pedro gets his second of the game, and Chelsea's third, after charging down the middle and letting rip with a shot that takes a deflection off Cook and Arter on the way through and beats Boruc in the goal. Moments later, Michy Batshuayi comes on for Hazard, but he has little time to do anything because the full-time whistle blows!

So that's that then - Chelsea cruise to an ultimately straightforward victory against Bournemouth by three goals to nil - the Cherries gave it a great go but the Blues ultimately had too much quality, with Eden Hazard in particularly inspired form.

The result sees Antonio Conte's charges establish a nine-point lead over second-placed Liverpool, in addition to claiming their 12th straight win - a new club record. As for Bournemouth, they slip to 13th in the table.

Well folks, that's all we have time for here at Stamford Bridge but stay with Sports Mole as we bring you match reports, reaction and all the latest news from all the big Boxing Day football action! Thanks for following and, until next time, goodbye!