Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League clash between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge. We should have some team news through for you shortly...

What a game this promises to be. Chelsea have the chance to move four points clear at the top of the table this afternoon, but standing in their way is an Everton side that is in the hunt for European qualification.

EVERTON: Howard; Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Coleman; Barry, McCarthy, Pienaar, Osman, Mirallas; Traore

EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Hibbert, McGeady, Deulofeu, Naismith, Barkley, Stones

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has made two changes to his side following their win over Swansea City in the FA Cup last weekend. Tim Howard returns in goal, while Leon Osman is given the nod in midfield. Joel Robles and Ross Barkley are the players who drop to the bench.

CHELSEA: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Lampard, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Eto'o

CHELSEA SUBS: Schwarzer, Cole, Ramires, Torres, Schurrle, Salah, Ba

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho opts to make three changes following last weekend's defeat at Manchester City in the FA Cup. John Terry returns to captain the side, with Frank Lampard and Oscar also recalled.

RECENT FORM:

CHELSEA: WDWWDL
EVERTON: DWLWLW

While Chelsea come into today's match on the back of a defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup, their form in the Premier League has been superb in recent weeks. They're currently unbeaten in their last 11 games, picking up eight wins during that time.

The same can't quite be said of Everton, who have found themselves dropping more points than they would like in recent times. The Toffees have been beaten twice in their previous three games, including that humiliating 4-0 loss to local rivals Liverpool at Anfield. Roberto Martinez will be keen to put things right sooner rather than later.

Today we wish Branislav Ivanovic a very Happy 30th Birthday! #CFC pic.twitter.com/UEEuM5vTXS — Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) February 22, 2014

REFEREE WATCH: The man in the middle for today's game is Lee Probert. The 41-year-old has dished out 12 yellow cards and one red card so far this season.

HEAD TO HEAD: Unsurprisingly, it's Chelsea who hold the better record when it comes to previous meetings between these two teams. They have 61 wins to Everton's 49, while there have been 51 draws.

However, it's been fairly even between these sides in recent years. Chelsea have taken four wins from the last six games compared to Everton's two, and it was the Merseysiders who took the points at Goodison Park back in September courtesy of a 1-0 victory.

When it comes to matches played between these two at Stamford Bridge, Everton last recorded a victory here in 2011 as they knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup on penalties. Can they earn a rare victory in the capital this afternoon?

Chelsea & England star Frank Lampard will make his 572nd Premier League appearance today, joining David James in 2nd place on all-time list. — The FA (@FA) February 22, 2014

PREDICTION TIME: Today's match promises to be a decent encounter, but it's Chelsea who start it as heavy favourites due to their recent form and their dominance at home in the Premier League. With that in mind, we here at Sports Mole can see the hosts beating a determined Everton by the odd goal.

73 - Jose Mourinho's unbeaten home record as a Premier League manager currently stands at 73 games (W57 D16). Stronghold. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 22, 2014

Everton boss Roberto Martinez recently speaking to BBC Sport: "The game we have at the weekend is going to tell us a lot. It's important that as a team we keep working, we keep developing and keep getting stronger, but only when you get in a match against teams that are competing in the Champions League do you get a clear idea how far away you are."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: "It doesn't matter what happened in the past. I think we can beat them because we believe in ourselves and we work hard in the week to be in a good position for the match.

"The table is there. You can look at the table and see how it is. We are top but can be second if Man City win the match they have in hand. If we win we keep the same position. If we don't beat Everton and lose points at home it's never good."

Not long to go now until this one gets underway. The players are starting to emerge in the tunnel, ready to step out onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge. For the record, it's a gloriously sunny day in West London. Great conditions.

KICKOFF! The teams are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be Chelsea to kick us off. Some rather late and dramatic team news regarding Everton as Steven Naismith comes into the starting lineup after Lacina Traore suffered an injury during the warm-up.

It's been a decent start from Chelsea, who are looking to attack Everton early on. The hosts win themselves a couple of corners during the opening stages, but they fail to make anything of them.

CHANCE! Chelsea almost break the deadlock following good work from Willian. The Brazilian surged towards the Everton defence from just inside the opposition half before dragging his shot narrowly wide of the post.

Everton are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment as Chelsea bomb forward at every available opportunity. Willian in particular has been very lively so far. The visitors need to get a footing in this match quickly.

YELLOW CARD: Chelsea midfielder Oscar goes into the book early on after clattering into Naismith with Everton looking to break. No real malice in the challenge, just a bit clumsy from the Brazilian.

This is better from Everton. While they haven't created too many chances in the final third, they're certainly pressing higher up the pitch, putting a bit of pressure on Chelsea at the back. One such instance sees Baines and Pienaar work well before Osman's rasping effort from outside of the box is well saved by Cech.

Close for Chelsea as Ivanovic's searching pass almost finds Oscar, but Jagielka is there to help see out the danger. It's a bit end to end right now, with attack and counter-attack dictating play.

CHANCE! Now it's Everton's turn to threaten as Naismith feeds Mirallas before the Belgian has his shot deflected wide for a corner. The ball just wouldn't sit down for him. Everton fail to make anything of the resulting corner.

The visitors have been clever so far in terms of their tactics. They've been able to find little gaps in and around the Chelsea midfield, allowing them to get into some good positions in the final third. Meanwhile, Chelsea have been guilty of some sloppy passing as they try to break Everton down.

Everton's composure is very impressive. They're not panicking in possession, and it's making a real difference to the tone of this match. It also needs to be said that they've been strong in the tackle and on top when it comes to the midfield battle.

It's still Everton who continue to look the more dangerous team. Chelsea are being limited to the occasional counter-attack, and they're struggling to make anything happen. Jose Mourinho is sure to be unhappy with what he's seen so far.

Better news from a Chelsea perspective as they start to put a bit of pressure on Everton, but the visitors are defending solidly. Some persistent play from Chelsea ends with Azpilicueta taking aim from the edge of the box, though his tame effort is saved by Howard.

Now it's Chelsea who are controlling the tempo of this match as they turn the screw. This is probably their best spell so far, though they're still not causing Everton too many problems.

Something of a half-chance for Everton as a short corner eventually sees Baines float a decent cross into the penalty area. Jagielka is there to guide a diving header towards goal, but the centre-back can only nod the ball wide of the post.

CHANCE! Just under 10 minutes of normal time left in this first half and Chelsea nearly find the opening goal. The ball fell kindly to Eto'o inside a crowded Everton box, but his instinctive shot was well kept out by Howard at his near post.

Everton win themselves yet another corner, but again Chelsea do enough to nullify the threat. The hosts then go up the other end to win a corner of their own, only to see Terry head wide from Willian's delivery.

A moment of panic in the Everton box there as Matic does well down the left before hitting a cross in towards the near-post area. There are plenty of bodies fighting for the ball, but it's Baines who eventually hoofs it away.

Two minutes of added time indicated by the fourth official as Mirallas sees his shot pinball around the Chelsea are before being cleared.

Lee Probert blows the half-time whistle to bring an end to a goalless opening 45 minutes. We've not seen any goals so far, but it's been an intriguing encounter nonetheless.

Chelsea started the half strongly, but it was Everton who soon took control. The visitors have been very impressive so far thanks to their organisation and willingness to attack. In contrast Chelsea have been a bit flat.

That said, the best chance of the half went Chelsea's way as Samuel Eto'o had his effort kept out by Tim Howard. The striker reacted quickly inside the box, hitting a low effort towards goal, but Howard was alert to the danger.

Looking for a concise half-time report? You can check out Sports Mole's right here.

It will be interesting to see if Jose Mourinho opts to make any changes at half time. The Portuguese will have no qualms dragging some of the bigger names off if he thinks that they haven't performed in that opening 45 minutes. Ramires is warming up...

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out and it will be Everton to kick us off for the second half. Chelsea have indeed made a change as Ramires enters the action in place of Oscar.

It's been a fairly feisty start to the second half, with both teams battling hard for possession in and around midfield. It's hard to see this game being decided by more than one goal. It's been an open contest so far, but a tight one as well.

CHANCE! Close for Chelsea as Lampard gets two bites of the cherry inside the Everton penalty area. Both of the midfielder's shots are blocked by the opposition defence, who threw themselves at everything there.

Chelsea win a free kick in a decent position just outside of the box, but Willian can only blast the ball high over the crossbar. That was wasteful from the Brazilian.

This is a bit more encouraging from Chelsea as they start to pin Everton back. Some patient build-up play ends with Ramires having a crack from about 25 yards, but the midfielder's shot is a poor one that flies well wide of Howard's post.

It's the Everton fans who are creating all of the noise at the moment. The travelling Merseysiders have been in fine fettle this afternoon. Will they be rewarded with their side's first Premier League win at Stamford Bridge since 1994?

SAVE! That's a brilliant stop from Cech to deny Osman. The Everton midfielder's low drive took a deflection on its way through, but the Chelsea goalkeeper got down quickly to push the ball away from danger.

CHANCE! How have Chelsea not scored there?! Hazard's fizzing drive from the edge of the box was saved by Howard before Eto'o directed a header back towards goal. Ivanovic then popped up at the back post to hit a stinging volley, but Howard was there again to deny the Serbian with an acrobatic save.

SUBSTITUTION: Chelsea make their second change of the match as Fernando Torres replaces Willian. Can the Spaniard make the difference?

SUBSTITUTION: Now it's Everton's turn to mix things up, with Ross Barkley coming on for Leon Osman.

Chelsea just can't get through the Everton defence at the moment. They're doing their best to breach the visitors, but it's not working. There's an element of frustration starting to creep around Stamford Bridge as a result.

SUBSTITUTION: Chelsea's final swap of the afternoon sees Samuel Eto'o withdrawn in place of Andre Schurrle. Just over 20 minutes left to play.

Time is running out for Chelsea, but they're not looking too worried at the minute. The hosts are continuing to pile the pressure on Everton, but the visitors are defending admirably. Distin and Jagielka have been fantastic for the Merseysiders today.

SUBSTITUTION: Another change for Everton now as Gerard Deulofeu comes on for Kevin Mirallas.

CHANCE! Close again for Chelsea! Hazard does well to control the ball inside the box before Torres lashes it wide of the goal on the half-volley. There was plenty of venom behind that effort but not enough accuracy.

SUBSTITUTION: One final swap for Everton sees Steven Pienaar replaced by Aiden McGeady. Roberto Martinez clearly feels like his side can nick the points here. Plenty of attacking options on the pitch for the visitors as we head into the final 10 minutes of the match.

YELLOW CARD: A cynical challenge from Gareth Barry on Ivanovic sees the Everton midfielder go into the book. With Chelsea threatening to break he knew exactly what he was doing there.

Are we heading for a 0-0 draw? It certainly looks that way at the moment, though there's still plenty of time for a winning goal. Ivanovic tries to create something for Chelsea with a deep cross into the Everton box, only for Schurrle to hit his volley over the crossbar at the back post.

Steven Naismith is currently receiving some treatment after landing awkwardly on his ankle following an aerial duel with Gary Cahill. However, it looks as if the Scot will be okay to continue.

It's getting frantic in and around the Everton box as Chelsea push hard for a winning goal. The visitors can barely get out of their own half at the moment.

CHANCE! Inches away from an opening goal for Chelsea! Ramires took aim from all of 30 yards before seeing his ferocious drive flash narrowly wide of the post. That was very close indeed.

There will be FIVE minutes of added time...

Would you believe it?! Chelsea lead and it's John Terry with the all-important goal! The hosts won a free kick out on the left side that Lampard whipped into the box, and there was Terry to flick the ball into the net. Incredible.

It's actually unclear whether Terry got the final touch. It might even go down as an own goal off Tim Howard as the Everton goalkeeper was right in the thick of it there.

The full-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and it's Chelsea who have the win thanks to that late, late goal. How important could that be in the title race? Meanwhile, you've got to feel sorry for Everton. They didn't deserve to lose that after such an impressive performance.

That's all from me for now but don't forget that you can keep up to date with today's six other Premier League matches right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company and enjoy the rest of your weekend. Goodbye!