Chelsea have moved into second place in the Premier League table with a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
The opening goal for Maurizio Sarri's side did not arrive until the closing quarter as Pedro sent a low shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards.
A sharp finish from Eden Hazard doubled Chelsea's advantage to give the Blues a fourth successive victory in the top flight and in the process, end Bournemouth's undefeated start to the campaign.
Find out how all of the action unfolded in West London courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Chelsea and Bournemouth. Both teams head into this fixture having put together a three-game unbeaten streak in the top flight, but who will extend their record this afternoon? Let's take a look at the two starting lineups...
CHELSEA XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Jorginho, Kovacic, Kante; Willian, Hazard, Morata
CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Christensen, Zappacosta, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Pedro, Giroud
BOURNEMOUTH XI: Begovic; Francis, Ake, S.Cook; Smith, Gosling, Lerma, Rico; King, Fraser, Wilson
BOURNEMOUTH SUBSTITUTES: Boruc, Mings, Surman, L.Cook, Ibe, Brooks, Mousset
Let's start with the home side as Maurizio Sarri opts to make just the one change from the team which edged past Newcastle United last weekend. Willian has been restored to the starting lineup with Pedro dropping down to the substitutes' bench.
It means that Alvaro Morata has retained his place in the team. The Spaniard was ineffective during the game in the North-East, but Sarri has decided to keep faith with the Spaniard with Olivier Giroud having to make do with a spot among the replacements.
Sarri had the option to bring in either Ross Barkley or Ruben Loftus-Cheek at the expense of the more defensive-minded Mateo Kovacic, but the Italian has indicated that he is a big fan of the Serbian playing alongside ball-retainer Jorginho.
As expected, the back four remains the same with Andreas Christensen staying on the bench and Gary Cahill still not involved in an 18-man squad under Sarri.
As far as Bournemouth are concerned, Eddie Howe has decided on a change of formation for the trip to Stamford Bridge. The Cherries are going to go with three at the back, rather than their usual 4-4-2 strategy.
The main team news is the inclusion of two of Howe's summer signings with Diego Rico and Jefferson Lerma both making their first starts in the Premier League. It is quite the introduction to life in the top flight.
Simon Francis has also been drafted back into the starting lineup. Adam Smith - who usually features at full-back - misses out through suspension after being sent off for two yellow cards against Everton.
Charlie Daniels and Andrew Surman have both dropped out of the team, and so has David Brooks. The latter two feature on the bench with Daniels not involved. Lewis Cook also has to remain patient as far as waiting for his first start of the season is concerned.
RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at the King Power Stadium and Liverpool have held on to register a 2-1 victory over Leicester City. It was not plain sailing for the Merseyside giants but Jurgen Klopp's team record their fourth successive win of the new campaign. Click here to read our on-the-whistle match report.
Liverpool now sit three points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of the rest of the games this weekend. Chelsea can go above them with a four-goal victory this afternoon. Leicester remain in seventh place.
Back to this match now and Chelsea head into this game looking to win a fourth successive fixture and if they do so, they will extend their tally of achieving such a feat in the Premier League to six occasions.
When Chelsea have put together such a run, they usually go on to win the title. the Premier League trophy has been lifted on four of the five times that they have recorded 12 points from four outings in August and September.
Hazard showed last week that he was back in full flow and the Belgian playmaker has already netted five goals in league games against Bournemouth.
However, the Blues' star man is looking to improve on a period at home where he has only netted twice in 17 league matches. Surely that has to improve at some point?!
Let's turn our attention to Bournemouth now who are looking to put together a four-game unbeaten run at the start of a season for the first time since 1998! Bournemouth were in the old Division Two back then.
As far as their form in the Premier League is concerned, the South-coast outfit are looking to make it six games without defeat, which stretches back to the closing weeks of last season.
This game also provides Bournemouth with an opportunity to register three successive Premier League away wins for the first time in their history.
PREDICTION! Bournemouth have made a bright start to the season and will feel confident of avoiding a relegation battle. Chelsea have also, as they so often do under a new manager, made a winning start and will see this as the perfect chance to keep their momentum going into the international break, which they should achieve fairly comfortably. We are going for a 3-1 scoreline.
HEAD TO HEAD! Saturday's encounter represents just the 13th meeting between the two sides, with Chelsea having recorded nine wins in comparison to three for Bournemouth.
Chelsea have won five of the seven matches which have taken place since December 2015, but Bournemouth have shown that they are capable of upsetting the Blues.
Back in January, the Cherries registered a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge with all of the goals being scored in a 16-minute period during the second half.
It's time for the two teams to start making their way out in West London. Both teams are welcomed onto the pitch, and there is a great deal of expectation in all parts of the ground. The Bournemouth faithful fancy another upset today.
KICKOFF: We are underway at Stamford Bridge!
Chelsea start well and get the ball into the Bournemouth final third, but Bournemouth break through Fraser and a low cross into the box almost finds Wilson.
Back come Chelsea who manage to release Azpilicueta down the right flank. It's not clear whether the full-back was looking to cross the ball or shoot but either way, Bournemouth are gifted a goal kick.
It has been an extremely open start to the game. It is probably due to Bournemouth indicating that they are ready to play on the front foot this afternoon. Chelsea are having the better of things so far.
SHOT! Chelsea are attacking whenever they can in an attempt to keep Bournemouth's wing-backs in a defensive position. Azpilicueta and Willian are having plenty of joy down the right. Morata just got a shot away from close range but it was easily saved by Begovic.
SHOT! The home side create another opening soon afterwards with Willian's corner kick finding the head of Rudiger, but the defender headed well over the crossbar.
Chelsea's success over the past few minutes may lead to Howe having second thoughts about this formation. He deserves credit for going bold, but it feels only a matter of time before Chelsea create a clear opportunity in front of goal.
CHANCE! Better from Bournemouth and they manage to create something out of nothing. A long throw found its way to Gosling on the edge of the area, but the midfielder's volley went marginally over Kepa's crossbar.
Willian looks much happier in this formation than under Conte. The Brazilian has been a constant threat over the opening 20 minutes and Rico is struggling to handle him.
YELLOW CARD! A foul on the edge of the area leads to Gosling going into the referee's book. Alonso is all over the set piece but his strike goes into the wall. Still not much for either goalkeeper to do.
This game has been lively since the opening whistle but both teams just can't get a clear shot away on goal. Bournemouth have been second best but will be the happier of the two sides, if that makes sense...
SHOT! Not long ago, Jorginho got involved in the action further forward and was able to tee up Willian. However, the winger's low shot was dragged just wide of the post.
SHOT! Is this the first sign of frustration from Chelsea? Alonso takes it upon himself to shoot from all of 30 yards, but the Spaniard's effort goes well off target. There were better options on for him.
CHANCE! What a chance for Wilson! An outstanding cross from the left arrives at the feet of the striker, who has got in behind the defence, but a half-volley is directed tamely over the crossbar.
YELLOW CARD! Alonso becomes the first Chelsea player to go into the book for a foul on the halfway line. I'm not sure that it warranted a booking, but the referee has evened things up after Gosling's caution earlier in the game.
Bournemouth have certainly come back into this one over the past five to 10 minutes. That opening for Wilson was a big opportunity, but it has only encouraged the visitors to push on.
Not only are Bournemouth posing a threat in behind, they also fancy themselves in the air from set pieces. Howe will be delighted with how his side have grown into this contest.
While we are praising Bournemouth for their performance, we should also point out that Chelsea have had over three quarters of the ball. Chelsea aren't exactly misusing the ball in the final third, but it shows that they are lacking a cutting edge.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Bournemouth
The half-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and we remain on level terms. Both teams have had their moments in the final third but aside from Wilson's chance around the half-hour mark, we have been short on clear-cut opportunities.
Chelsea's best opening went to Willian, who sent a shot wide from distance, while Morata and Rudiger would have hoped to have done better from inside the penalty area. Aside from that, all of Chelsea's patience in the middle third and industry closer to goal has not been rewarded.
Bournemouth have had very little of possession but when they had gained the ball, they have used it effectively. Rico and Lerma have both performed well on their first starts, although Rico could probably do with more help in defensive positions.
KICKOFF: Bournemouth get us back underway.
KICKOFF: Bournemouth get us back underway.
We are yet to mention Hazard in this game and the reason is because he is being prevented from having any kind of success in the final third. The Belgian playmaker was twice just frustrated by some strong Bournemouth defending.
There are already a few grumbles from the Chelsea supporters. They are beginning to feel that their side are under-performing. Hazard and Morata need to get more involved.
Chelsea begin to probe again but Lerma and Gosling are sitting that deep that they are practically fourth and fifth centre-backs when their side do not have the ball.
CHANCE! More of the same from Chelsea and some clever play from Hazard eventually leads to Alonso being teed up around 16 yards from goal. The left-back's first-time effort is a good one, but Begovic deals with the danger down to his left.
YELLOW CARD! Kante goes into the book for taking down Wilson. Again, it is a harsh booking for the Blues but at least the referee has been consistent.
CHANCE! Bournemouth should be ahead. Rico's inswinging corner is flicked on to Ake who is waiting around three yards out, but the defender sends a half-volley over the crossbar! What an opportunity to net against his former club.
The Chelsea supporters continue to sound frustrated. The Blues have not performed that badly, but the chances are not arriving with regularity and Bournemouth are becoming more and more ambitious at the other end.
SUBSTITUTION! Sarri has seen enough. Giroud is on for Morata.
Giroud has already won more aerial balls than Morata. On the second occasion, a header was sent well wide of Begovic's post.
SUBSTITUTION! A second change for Chelsea in quick succession sees Pedro replace Willian.
SHOT! Chelsea fail to clear a long throw and the ball falls to Lerma on the edge of the area. However, the midfielder sends a volley well over the crossbar.
This is a bit controversial. Alonso - already on a yellow card - deliberately prevents Bournemouth from taking a quick throw but the referee opts against a second caution. Bournemouth are fuming.
YELLOW CARD! Lerma goes into the book for a cynical trip on Hazard as the Chelsea player moved towards the penalty area.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Bournemouth (Pedro)
Chelsea take the lead! Pedro plays a sharp one-two with Giroud on the edge of the penalty area and after receiving the ball back, the Spaniard proceeds to curl a low shot into the bottom corner from around 18 yards out. That has changed the mood at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are now content with playing keep ball in the middle of the pitch, waiting for Bournemouth to step out and chase possession. Expect the visitors to make changes in the near future.
CHANCE! Fraser gets the chance to run at the Chelsea defence down the left-hand side but the Scotland international sends his effort well wide of the far post.
Rico is living dangerously here. Hazard tried to drift inside in order to get a shot away, and the winger is clearly shoved by the left-back. However, the Belgian stayed on his feet, effectively saving the Bournemouth player.
SUBSTITUTION! A third switch for Chelsea sees Loftus-Cheek replace Kovacic.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Bournemouth are also making alterations, with Smith being replaced by Ibe and Mousset coming on for King.
This is where Bournemouth will look to flood the final third, and Chelsea are now having to deal with balls being whipped into the area. Bournemouth are now playing with a back four.
CHANCE! Loftus-Cheek has impressed since being introduced from the bench, and the England international does well in threading a pass through to Pedro. However, the Spaniard's low effort is too close to Begovic.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth (Eden Hazard)
Game over. Alonso once again finds himself in an attacking position and the left-back does well to pick out the run of Hazard, who collects the pass and drills a low shot into the far corner from 10 yards.
SUBSTITUTION! A tired-looking Lerma is replaced by Lewis Cook.
SHOT! Fraser very nearly gets Bournemouth back in this match. The winger sent an inswinging shot heading towards the far top corner from 20 yards, and Kepa has to watch the ball go just wide.
There will be four minutes of added-on time.
We are simply going through the motions now. Chelsea have not been at their best but it is job done.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth
The full-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea have continued their 100% record with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth, who suffer their first defeat of the season. Neither team were at their best, but it is the Blues who have prevailed in West London and now sit in second place in the table.
That will be all from Sports Mole's live coverage of this game. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
