Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. This contest centres all around one man, of course - the Blues' former manager Jose Mourinho, who spent seven years in this part of West London across two stints and won an array of silverware to justify his self-proclaimed tag as the Special One.

It is easy to forget that there are actually three Premier League points on the line this afternoon - and big ones they are, too! Chelsea and United are separated by just two points heading into this huge showdown at Stamford Bridge, with both teams aiming to qualify for the Champions League at the very least but also challenge for the title in their respective managers' first season at the helm.

TEAM NEWS!

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

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind; Herrera, Fellaini; Lingard, Pogba, Rashford; Ibrahimovic

We will start by looking at the visiting side, which shows just the one change from last time out in the league - Jesse Lingard coming in for Ashley Young. Plenty of talk about Mourinho going ultra-defensive in that goalless draw at Anfield six days ago, but that solitary alteration can surely be seen as a positive, as a defensive winger - one with experience of playing wing-back - is replaced by a more out-and-out attacker in Lingard.

Chris Smalling was a doubt for this game after being taken off midway through the comfortable win over Fenerbahce on Thursday, but he is deemed fit enough to start again from the off this afternoon. Eric Bailly, a player who has adapted well to the demands of English football, starts alongside him in the heart of defence, while Antonio Valencia - reportedly concerned about his future at Old Trafford - and Daley Blind occupy the full-back berths.

Mourinho has seemingly opted to retain record signing Paul Pogba in a more attacking midfield position, just off lone striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who has failed to find the net with any of his last 26 shots. That, incredibly, coming after a previous run of four goals from his first 15 shots as a United player - he will be desperate to find his scoring touch once again following a barren run in front of goal in the league.

Marcus Rashford does not look quite as threatening when positioned out wide as he does through the middle but, unless Mourinho is about to pull off a huge surprise and shift Ibrahimovic to the flank, then that is where the youngster will start again today. The returning Lingard starts on the other flank in a likely 4-2-3-1, with Ander Herrera - the star player against Liverpool - retaining his place alongside the battling Marouane Fellaini in front of the back four.

As for Chelsea, boss Conte has gone with an unchanged starting lineup from the side that comfortably saw off champions Leicester City eight days ago. No real surprises there, meaning the Italian has stuck with the 3-4-3 formation that has served the Blues so well over their last two matches - wins over Hull City and the Foxes. The only real issue with that is the fact skipper John Terry is made to watch on from the bench, but he will no doubt be ready should he be called upon at any point.

Willian and Oscar had also been knocking on the door for recalls to the Chelsea XI, having returned to training this week after compassionate leave, but Conte has gone with Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso as wing-backs once again, joined by Nemanja Matic and N'Golo Kante who will be more reserved in the midfield engine room. The Italian's decision has perhaps been made all the more easier by the layoffs for Cesc Fabregas and Branislav Ivanovic, who will both struggle to get into this team even when fully fit.

If this is indeed a 3-4-3 from the Blues, much like it has been of late, then Pedro and Eden Hazard will flank an in-form Diego Costa. The Spaniard has now had a hand in 50 goals for Chelsea in the Premier League - 39 of his own and a further 11 coming through assists for his teammates. Incredibly, that has come from just 62 games since arriving from Atletico Madrid a couple of summers back, and it is fair to say that Costa is now back to his hungry best thanks to a real strong start to this campaign in front of goal.

It will likely be a big afternoon ahead of Nemanja Matic and N'Golo Kante in that four-man midfield - or five-man when in a more defensive structure - although in Matic's case he is now given licence to get far more involved in play high up the field, as his three assists in eight games this season goes to show. That is compared to just two in 33 last term, showing the importance of Kante alongside him, who has himself found himself positioned further up the pitch since Chelsea reverted to this Italian-like set-up under Conte.

Just the one change made by Jose Mourinho for this afternoon's return to Stamford Bridge, as he brings Jesse Lingard in for Ashley Young from last week's point at Anfield. Opposite number Antonio Conte has stuck with an unchanged XI, meanwhile, which is not surprising when seeing the manner in which Chelsea took apart Leicester in their last outing - the second win on the bounce in this new-and-improved tactical system.

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BENCH WATCH!

CHELSEA XI: Begovic, Aina, Terry, Chalobah, Oscar, Willian, Batshuayi

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: Romero, Darmian, Rojo, Carrick, Mata, Young, Martial

Still no Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the United matchday squad, despite his return to fitness recently. Is the Armenian being made to pay for a poor 45-minute showing against Manchester City last month, or is Mourinho just looking for the right moment to bed him back into the side? Wayne Rooney is also absent, as expected, having picked up an injury in training this week. Chelsea have their skipper on the bench, meanwhile, with John Terry joining returning duo Willian and Oscar among the back-ups.

So a huge afternoon of football ahead at Stamford Bridge in a fixture that has been given even more of an edge thanks to Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese won seven titles during his time in West London, spanning across to separate spells, including three Premier League crowns. Mourinho was sacked last December just seven months on from lifting his latest top-flight crown, with his side one point above the drop zone after a run of nine defeats from their opening 16 games.

Plenty of focus has been on Mourinho, inevitably, over the past few days, particularly after that stalemate at Liverpool on Monday night. The style of play may have been bland, with a six-man defence at times when the two wingers tucked back into the backline, but there is no denying that a draw against an in-form Reds side on their own soil is a positive result in the long term. That followed a 1-1 draw with Stoke City, though, which was quite the opposite - a real disappointment despite their dominance.

It is hard to remember now but United did in fact win their first four games under Mourinho; a run that includes victory over Leicester in the annual curtain-raiser of the Community Shield. Like today's opponents, though, the Red Devils soon hit a sticky patch and lost three games in a week across two competitions. That was Mourinho's first 'crisis' as United boss, leading to some serious questions, but the 4-1 victory over Leicester soon after did give him a welcome respite from the criticism.

Again, though, it has very much been a mixed spell since - draws against Stoke and Liverpool followed up by a more comfortable win over Fenerbahce. That triumph over the Turkish giants in midweek did at last give some hope that United are beginning to find some attacking rhythm, coming at the perfect time just three days on from the bland stalemate on Merseyside. It was far from a vintage display from the Red Devils, despite the margin of victory, with two of their goals coming via the penalty spot in quick succession.

That game did give Pogba a chance to get some more minutes under his belt, which proved to be an inspired choice by Mourinho as the Frenchman performed well and got on the scoresheet twice. It means that United are now in the midst of a strong unbeaten run, coming at this most difficult of times; games against Liverpool, Fenerbahce, Chelsea and Man City all coming in the space of nine days. Mourinho said it himself recently - momentum will come soon, but right now it is a case of grinding out results against tough opponents and settling on a starting lineup.

United head into this game on the back of two draws in the Premier League - they last went three-in-a-row in October 2010. The bad news for those travelling supporters inside Stamford Bridge this afternoon is that the Red Devils are without a win in the capital since May 2015 when beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park. It remains to be seen what exactly a good result would be this afternoon, but surely another point would be welcomed as long as their is a tad more attacking impetus shown.

All eyes very much on Jose Mourinho this afternoon, as he takes his Manchester United side to former club Chelsea. The Portuguese revealed on the eve of this match that he was indeed sacked by the Blues last year, rather than reaching a mutual agreement - he wanted to stay, presumably, or receive his payout in full - while also claiming that he has no hard feelings towards Roman Abramovich & Co. A chance of redemption this afternoon, nonetheless, with three big points on the line.

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DID YOU KNOW? On the topic of Jose Mourinho, he has returned to Stamford Bridge in the opposition dugout once more when helping Inter Milan to a 1-0 win here in the Champions League. Things are slightly different this time around considering the manner of his latest exit, coupled with the fact that he is of course now managing a direct Premier League rival. The Portuguese has also faced off against Antonio Conte once before - a 1-1 draw between Inter and Atalanta in 2009; a game in which both managers were absent due to a touchline ban.

Chelsea head into this match slightly better positioned in fifth place, but their season has very much been split into sections so far. There was the bright start when winning three out of three in the league, albeit with some fortune thanks to late goals in two of those, but that was followed up by a run of three without victory. That run started with a 2-2 draw at Swansea City in a match that the Blues tried their best to throw away, before costly defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool in successive matches.

In hindsight that 3-0 defeat to Arsenal may well have proved to be the best thing to happen to Conte since arriving in London, as he was then pretty much forced to change things around and has settled on this 3-4-3 formation. Wing-backs were always expected under the Italian, who won three Serie A titles at Juventus using that system, but he was reluctant to storm straight in and change things around too quickly. It has certainly worked, though - wins over Hull and, more impressively, Leicester proving that this three-at-the-back attacking system does have its merits.

Most impressively of all has been the two clean sheets, coming after those five goals shipped in games with Liverpool and Arsenal, with both Conte and Mourinho knowing all about the importance of a stable backline to win titles. Call it being defensive minded, yet Mourinho in particular has proved down the years that keeping out goals is more important than scoring them - the anomaly being his La Liga title success with Real Madrid when they broke scoring record on their way to the title. More of the same is now required, like it or not, at Old Trafford.

No European football this season has proved to be a real bonus for Conte, who now has a whole week between most Premier League fixtures to drill this tactical system into his players. Rotation is also less of an issue, which is not so great for those academy players, but Conte does seem far more willing to throw in youngsters - all three of his replacements last weekend coming through Chelsea's own youth system. The Blues are in action this midweek, though, as they take on West Ham United in a blockbuster EFL Cup clash in East London.

Keeping a clean sheet this afternoon will likely be key to picking up victory, but Chelsea have not got three on the bounce without conceding in the Premier League since April 2015. That came at a time when the Blues were storming their way to the Premier League title under Mourinho, accused of being the 'most boring champions ever', yet seven months on from that the Portuguese was out of work. It is no longer a fortress here at Stamford Bridge but three wins from four this term in the league proves that they are going the right way about changing that.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 10 league and cup games against Manchester United, though half of those have ended all square. The Red Devils' only win at Stamford Bridge in the last 14 years came in October 2012, while victory for the Blues today will make it 50 in this fixture in all competitions. One more aspect to keep an eye on - four of the last six meetings here has seen a player sent off; Nemanja Vidic being the last in 2014.

So plenty to keep an eye out for this afternoon, then, including the whole hype surrounding Mourinho's return to West London. It is worth remembering that Premier League points are up for grabs today, which takes on even more prominence following Man City's draw at home to Southampton a little earlier. Chelsea can move one point behind the chasing pack with victory; United into the top four with a win of their own.

Chelsea have an impressive recent run against Manchester United in all competitions, going 10 league and cup games without tasting a defeat. Just the one loss here in the past 14 years, too, so history suggests that Manchester United require something special to leave West London with three points today. Both sides are now out on the pitch, with kickoff just moments away.

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KICKOFF! We are up and running at Stamford Bridge! Draws for Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Arsenal this weekend, each of whom are right in the mix at the summit, so a real chance for these two teams to capitalise.

Chelsea lead after just 30 seconds at Stamford Bridge - incredible! Considering how well they were drilled defensively last week, this is a shocking goal for the Red Devils to concede. Blind failed to track his man and a ball around the back was latched on to by Pedro, who had the simple task of rounding a stranded De Gea and rolling the ball home.

The Blues dominating possession since edging ahead from the game's first attacking move, but United now finally venturing forward through Lingard who is dispossessed in the box. Mourinho stunned by that early Pedro strike, just 30 seconds in.

Well that goal is officially going down as 30 seconds into the match - the fastest in the English top flight this season and only the sixth Man United have conceded inside the opening minute of a Premier League game.

CHANCE! A great cross from Valencia on the right leaves Ibrahimovic one-on-one with Azpilicueta in the air - only one winner, surely? The United man did indeed leap highest, but his header across goal looped over the bar when he should have been scoring.

That Ibrahimovic chance does at least show that United are now growing into things. No chance of 'parking the bus', as the expression goes, with the Red Devils now forced to attack in search of a leveller over the next 80 minutes.

SHOT! Pedro should have been flagged for offside, with the officials missing that one, and from that attack Costa won his side a corner. It was a pre-arranged one; the ball being worked to Hazard just inside the box to shoot wide completely unmarked.

Pedro was actually booked for his celebration inside the opening minutes - a shocker of a decision but one that officials have to give. Chelsea looking very bright when they get bodies forward, while United are nowhere near as solid as they were six days ago.

The game has yet to truly settle into a rhythm, which is great for the neutral compared to that borefest at Anfield to round off last weekend's fixtures. Moses finds Costa who is so close to picking out Hazard with a back-heel.

United win themselves a corner which Pogba does well to win. The Frenchman could no generate enough power to test Courtois and the ball rather trickled through to the Chelsea stopper in the end. Red Devils giving a better account of themselves now.

Chelsea have themselves a second goal of the afternoon, courtesy of a Gary Cahill strike from close range. Pogba's header just moments ago ran right through to Courtois, but on this occasion the second ball was met by a player in blue as Cahill blasted past De Gea and the man on the line.

That second goal is unlikely to be the last of the game. Chelsea just saw a two-on-two break collapse following a disappointing final pass, while up the other end Rashford's side-footed attempt was blocked aside.

CHANCE! United are so disjointed at the back at the moment, as Chelsea close in on a third. Blind, rested on Thursday night, is caught out by Pedro who is in behind and with time and space on his side. He looks up but sees his cutback stopped by De Gea, with the loose ball running clear - just!

SAVES! We have seen games like this between the Premier League big boys so often this season - explosive first halves full of goals. Costa spins and sees his shot saved by De Gea, while up the other end Courtois was needed to deny both Lingard and Herrera. What a game!

YELLOW CARD! Bailly is shown a yellow for pulling back on Costa, who was looking to burst in behind. Two goals in the opening third of this game but we could have seen four or five. United with chances yet it is Chelsea who look far more dominant.

Just waiting for this game to slow down, because it continues to be all-out attack at Stamford Bridge pretty much. The next goal in the match really will be vital - a lifeline for United if they find it; game over if they don't.

Mourinho may be pondering a first-half change, but more likely - as witnessed against Man City last month - he will wait until the break. Similarities between that game and this one, though the Red Devils did pull one back prior to the interval against their rivals.

Chelsea' front three looking very fluid at the moment, much in the style of Liverpool's. Pedro causing damage and both Hazard and Costa also sprinting around the attacking third. United, meanwhile, have just a stationary Ibrahimovic.

A good spell from United now, as they are being allowed to knock the ball around on the edge of Chelsea's box. It is eventually worked to Valencia who is in plenty of space, but his cross is helped on before a red shirt could meet it.

United definitely looking brighter in attack now, as Pogba so nearly picks out the peeling run of Rashford. Mourinho may be tempted to play the Englishman through the middle, but that would mean a switch in formation.

Mourinho watching on from the sidelines as Hazard receives some treatment. Might just be a case of seeing the half through now as far as the Portuguese is concerned, with changes to surely come at the midway point.

YELLOW CARD! An absolute shocker of a challenge from Luiz on Fellaini. The Brazilian goes in boot high and meets his opponent's knee clean on, earning a yellow from the referee when a red would have been more suitable.

Herrera constantly being left exposed in front of the United back four in these opening 45 minutes; Fellaini playing in a far more advanced roll just off Ibrahimovic. It was Herrera who unleashed potentially the last shot of the half, which was blocked aside.

Chelsea take a two-goal lead into the break, which is well deserved on the balance of things but United did have chances of their own. On the whole it was a hugely entertaining first half, in what has been a complete contrast to the bland affair we saw at Anfield six days ago.

United have just the one win here in the past 14 years, remember, and their afternoon got off to the worst of starts when Pedro latched on to a Marcos Alonso pass around the back and simply rounded a stranded David de Gea to open the scoring. The Red Devils, so solid defensively six days ago at Anfield, were looking disjointed at the back throughout the opening 45 minutes as the hosts created chance after chance.

That Pedro strike summed up United's problems at the back, with Daley Blind losing his man and Chris Smalling also switching off just 30 seconds in - the quickest goal of the season so far and just the sixth the visitors have conceded inside the opening minute in their Premier League history. Chelsea nearly had a second when, from a well-worked set-piece routine, Eden Hazard was picked out completely unmarked just inside the box and blasted a yard or so wide. There was a second 21 minutes in, however, when Gary Cahill blasted the ball over the line after it fell nicely into his path from a deflected corner into the box.

The Blues' fluid front three in this now-favoured 3-4-3 formation were causing all sorts of problems as the half wore on - Pedro shaking Blind off the ball and seeing his cutback well blocked by De Gea, before Costa was denied on the spin by his Spain international teammate. United did have chances of their own, though, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic outjumping Cesar Azpilicueta only to loop his header over the bar, while Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard - in for Ashley Young in the only change by either side today - were denied by Thibaut Courtois in quick succession.

As good as Chelsea looked in attack the visitors were often the victims of their own undoing, as Marouane Fellaini was shoved high up the pitch which left Herrera often stranded on his own in front of the back four. That is likely to be where we see some strengthening at the break by Mourinho, who does have options available from the bench - namely Michael Carrick.

CHELSEA XI: Begovic, Aina, Terry, Chalobah, Oscar, Willian, Batshuayi

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: Romero, Darmian, Rojo, Carrick, Mata, Young, Martial

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RESTART! We are back under way at Stamford Bridge, where there is news of one change. Manchester United have brought on Juan Mata for Marouane Fellaini, who was poor in the first half. Rashford now paired with Ibrahimovic in a 4-4-2.

A shot from the edge of the box takes a couple of deflections and falls into the path of Costa, who picks out the top corner. The Spaniard was quite clearly offside, though, and the flag was up before he opted to take on the shot.

A slower tempo to the start of this second half which is perfect for Chelsea. A United goal and it is game on once again, so they will be keen to stop the end-to-end feel to the game with one eye on the clock.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Mourinho makes a second change of the afternoon, which this time is forced on him. Rojo is on for the injured Bailly, so just one more attacking alteration now available to him - not ideal when chasing a goal.

A really slow start to this second half on the whole, with neither side able to fire away a shot on target so far. Chelsea able to sit back and they sprung a counter - 4 vs. 2 at one point - which ultimately came to nothing as Hazard's shot is blocked.

The Red Devils still pushing high up the pitch as they look to find some sustained pressure. Chelsea allowing them to do that knowing that they will get chances on the break. Conte still has all three changes available to him.

SAVE! Lingard starting to have more of a say on the game now in midfield, with his shot - which had plenty of power behind it - pushed aside by Courtois. First on-target attempt of the second half in West London.

Openings proving to be far harder to come by in this second half. Chelsea struggling to find any real rhythm, so Conte may be thinking about turning to one of - or indeed both - Oscar and Willian. Half-hour left to play at The Bridge.

That should do it! Chelsea have done plenty of sitting back in this second half, without looking all that troubled, but it is they who have the key third goal in the match. Matic slipped the ball through for Hazard, who superbly tucked the ball past De Gea when one-on-one.

That is assist number four of the season for Matic, incidentally, in his first nine games. That is compared to two assists in 33 outings last term for the Serbian, who is being given far more of a licence to get forward now.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Anthony Martial is on for Lingard, in a change that many expected to be made a little earlier than this - game over now. Marcos Alonso has just been shown a yellow so he needs to be careful.

Very much game over now at Stamford Bridge, with even a United goal doing little to change the end result. Just a case of Chelsea remaining professional over these next 20 minutes, with three changes still available to make.

Absolutely superb from Kante, who has just scored a goal that makes you wonder quite why he has only previously managed one before this! More poor play from United in midfield, which allowed Kante to waltz his way through, get the beating of Smalling and delicately place the ball past De Gea.

SAVE! Another poor showing from Ibrahimovic, it must be said, as he directs a shot well over the bar from inside the box. Not the easiest of chances, but he probably should have used his head from there. Up the other end, De Gea saves from Costa.

YELLOW CARD! A poor challenge from a frustrated Pogba sees him become the latest to enter the referee's book. United need to focus on not conceding another, rather than scoring themselves, in the remaining minutes.

CHELSEA SUB! Willian and Batshuayi are both introduced for Hazard and Costa, soon after Chalobah was brought on in place of Pedro. All three changes made by both managers, then, with a little over 10 minutes to go.

SAVE! Big stop from Courtois to deny Ibrahimovic a goal to end his scoring drought in the Premier League. All the noise being made by the home fans now, as the visiting section of the ground begins to empty.

The game could have been different had Luiz seen red in the first half, of course, but that is the only blemish on this Chelsea win. A horror return to Stamford Bridge for Mourinho, with Conte eight minutes from his biggest win in charge of the Blues.

Chelsea looking to hold on for that clean sheet now to make it three in a row - something they have not managed in the Premier League for some 18 months. Mourinho was in charge then, at a time when he was guiding the Blues to the title... how times change.

United still without a league win in London since April 2015, meanwhile, which is starting to get a little concerning now. Mourinho will need to get his players seriously into shape in time for the visit of Man City in the EFL Cup in midweek.

Moses is the latest to waltz his way through a sea of bodies, before seeing his shot blocked aside from 10 yards out. Just two minutes left to play, with United's fans - now making plenty of noise - waiting to hear that final whistle.

SAVE! Antonio Conte is urging home supporters to start making some noise, with United fans the ones doing so at the moment. It has seemed to work, as the Blues respond by firing in a shot via Chalobah's boot. Easy stop for De Gea.

We are two minutes into three added on at Stamford Bridge; neither side truly looking like adding to the scoring. A real horror afternoon for United and returning boss Mourinho, while for Chelsea it is now three wins from three and no goals conceded.

The full-time whistle sounds at Stamford Bridge, where the result just seemed inevitable right from the moment Pedro opened the scoring 30 seconds in. That was the fastest goal in the Premier League so far this season, with three more strikes arriving over the following 90 minutes - Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante all registering on a day to forget for Jose Mourinho.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from West London, but be sure to stick around for plenty of reaction from both camps over the next hour or so. An on-the-whistle match report can also be found by clicking here. Thanks for joining!