Afternoon folks! One of the last Premier League games of 2013 looks to be a cracker as Chelsea host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Team news just emerging from West London...

LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Sakho; Lucas, Allen; Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho; Suarez

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Jones, Toure, Alberto, Aspas, Cissokho, Rossiter, Smith

We're still waiting on the Chelsea lineup but while we wait we can take a closer look at the visitors' XI. Brendan Rodgers has made just one change to his side, with Daniel Agger back in the side as captain in place of Ally Cissokho. Mamadou Sakho moves across to left-back.

CHELSEA XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; D Luiz, Lampard; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto’o

CHELSEA SUBS: Schwarzer, Cole, Essien, Mikel, Schurrle, Mata, Torres

Jose Mourinho makes four changes to his starting lineup, with Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta, Frank Lampard and Willian in for John Obi Mikel, Ashley Cole, Ramires and Juan Mata.

Looking at the two substitutes' benches, you have to say that Chelsea's is by far the stronger. Former Red Fernando Torres is denied a start against his old club as Samuel Eto'o continues up front for the hosts. The likes of Juan Mata and Andre Schurrle can add creativity and speed if needed. Liverpool's biggest threat from the bench is perhaps Iago Aspas. Not quite comparable.

Despite their weakness in the dugout, Liverpool's starters are a bunch certainly in form. In Luis Suarez they have perhaps the Premier League's best player this season while behind, the likes of Jordan Henderson and Coutinho have been linking up brilliantly with Suarez of late.

REFEREE WATCH: The man in charge today is Howard Webb. He has refereed Chelsea on two occasions this season (one win, one loss) and Liverpool three times (two wins, one loss).

A big congratulations to Chelsea skipper John Terry, who makes his 600th appearance for the Blues today!

UPDATE: Two Premier League games kicked off at 1.30pm and the full-time whistles have recently gone at St James' Park and Goodison Park.

In the North-East, Olivier Giroud scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal regained top spot for New Year. Our report on that one is here.

Meanwhile, Everton kept pace with the frontrunners by edging out Southampton 2-1. Romelu Lukaku scored the winner for the Toffees. Here's our report.

If you're a fan of a club in the Football League then you'll need to check out our live scores box to the right of this commentary to see how your team is doing.

Chelsea are slight favourites with the bookies today but a draw looks the most likely result for me. Both games last season ended equal and in big games like this they are often tight when Mourinho manages.

If anything, you might fancy Liverpool more today as they have just twice in the last 13 Premier League matches against Chelsea. And with Suarez, you should never count the Reds out.

If you scroll back down to the Liverpool subs you might wonder who Rossiter is. It is 16-year-old midfielder Jordan Rossiter.

That still doesn't look right to me! The kid was born in 1997! How old does that make you feel?

PREDICTION TIME! Just 10 minutes until we get underway at Stamford Bridge. I have to say that I fancy a draw this afternoon and I can't see there being many goals. 0-0 or 1-1.

Click here to see how the latest Premier League table looks ahead of the two 4pm kickoffs. As mentioned above, Chelsea and Liverpool are currently separated by just a point and both will know the importance of today's game. Another reason for Liverpool to avoid defeat is that a loss would see them finish the year behind Merseyside rivals Everton.

If you also want to follow the match across London at White Hart Lane between Tottenham and Stoke, open this link in a new tab for our updates.

The two teams are out of the tunnel and we're ready for the off! Chelsea in their tradition blue with white socks, Liverpool all in red.

KICKOFF! And off we go at the Bridge.

What a start for the Reds! They take the lead bang on the three-minute mark as Suarez's header from Coutinho's free kick drops kindly for Skrtel in front of goal to prod home. Easy peasy.

The free kick was awarded after a nasty scrape on Henderson from the studs of Eto'o. The Cameroonian was lucky not to be booked.

OFF THE LINE! Close to an instant response from Chelsea as Hazard does a step-over to get past Agger before drilling towards the far corner. Mignolet gets down well to make the save but the ball hits goalscorer Skrtel and spins towards goal where Johnson hacks clear.

That goal from Slovakian Skrtel was the 1,000th of the Premier League in 2013.

Close again from Chelsea as Cahill makes a mess of his header from Lampard's free kick by nodding wide. I can't believe how open the start of this match has been!

PENALTY SHOUT! Huge roar for a penalty from the Chelsea fans as Hazard gets into the area and tumbles into Lucas. Webb not interested at all.

WHAT A SAVE! The incredible start to this match continues as Mignolet pulls off a stunning one-handed save high to his left to tip Lampard's 25-yard drive over the bar. Superb athleticism from the Belgian stopper.

Webb lets Agger escape a booking after blocking Hazard's run down the right.

To be honest, it had been coming as Hazard beautifully curls home from the edge of the area. Little Mignolet could do about that one.

Suarez streaks forward with boos ringing around the Bridge (remember he took a chunk out of Ivanovic last season). You might expect him to having the beating of Terry but the veteran defender keeps his eye on the ball before making the tackle.

Willian skips inside well from the left before teeing up fellow Brazilian Luiz, who gets his shot all wrong from 22 yards.

GREAT TACKLE! Superb defending from Cahill as he slides in to nick the ball off Allen after some lovely interplay between Suarez and Henderson. If Cahill had got that wrong it would have been a penalty and red card for the England defender.

Here's a picture showing that there was no problem when Suarez and Ivanovic met before the game:

CHELSEA SUB: Ivanovic's afternoon is cut short though as he is forced off because of injury. Ashley Cole is on his place and that will see Azpilicueta switch over to his preferred side on the right.

The Blues have turned it around as Azpilicueta makes an instant impact down the right by crossing for Oscar, who gets a bit lucky int he box before pulling it back for Eto'o. He gets a toe to it to divert it goalwards where Mignolet fluffs his lines by pushing it into the corner instead of wide.

UPDATE: The deadlock has been broken at White Hart Lane as Roberto Soldado scores from the penalty spot for the home side against Stoke.

This may surprise you but that was just Oscar's second assist of the season.

SAVE! Decent stop from Cech as he pushes away Allen's deflected shot from the right of the area. One of Liverpool's best moments since the early stages.

THREE minutes added on at the end of the first half. And what a half it's been.

Dear oh dear, a wonderful half of football is slightly ruined as Sakho and Eto'o swap shirts when walking off. Why has that trait creeped into football recently?

If you're only just getting in from walking the dog or a Sunday afternoon in the pub and want a quick update on an exhilarating first 45, read our half-time report here.

Liverpool started brilliantly at the Bridge as Skrtel poked them ahead. Chelsea weren't rattled though and are ahead thanks to goals from Hazard and Eto'o. Very little to speak of from Suarez in the opening 45.

Looking at the stats, Chelsea have had 60% of the ball and also five shots to Liverpool's four.

CHELSEA SUB: Mourinho is forced into his second change of the afternoon as John Obi Mikel replaces Lampard.

Liverpool, who haven't made a substitution yet, get the second half underway.

BOOKING! Terry is shown a yellow card after leading with arm and clattering into Allen when challenging for a high ball.

BOOKING! Luiz has his name taken for blatantly tugging back Allen, who had let the ball cleverly run across his body. He'll now miss the next game against Southampton.

OFF THE BAR! So close to an equaliser for the Reds as Sakho heads back across goal and against the angle of crossbar and post.

GREAT SAVE! Eto'o looks offside but isn't flagged and has a clear run at goal. Instead of looking for the far corner he smashes at the near post where Mignolet stands tall to make a strong save.

As it stands, Chelsea will be closing within two points of the top of the table at the halfway stage of the season. Liverpool are set to fall six off the top after Arsenal's victory earlier today.

SHOT! Best Suarez moment of the game as he volleys Henderson's dink to the edge of the box at goal but too close to Cech. Decent strike from the Uruguayan but not quite good enough.

Allen kicks the ball out of play himself because he is hobbling with an injury. It looks as if 19-year-old Brad Smith will make his debut! What a stage to do so.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Indeed it is the number 44 who is thrown on in the middle to handle the likes of Hazard and Oscar. Best of luck, son!

Luiz slides in Eto'o down the inside-right channel. The Cameroonian is about to shoot when Skrtel makes a fine sliding tackle.

UPDATE: Spurs go 2-0 up on Stoke thanks to a Moussa Dembele goal. Tim Sherwood's side are set to climb into the top seven.

It's all boiling over a little at the moment as Suarez wants a penalty before Sterling is hacked down on the right.

Replays show that Terry definitely clattered his forearm into the neck of Suarez. Could have easily been given.

UPDATE: A third for Spurs at the Lane as Aaron Lennon seals the points against Stoke.

A huge roar from the Chelsea end as they are awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal. Luiz loves them from this range but blasts it against the wall.

Oscar is excellent at nicking the ball from opponents and steals it from Brazilian teammate Lucas before curling a couple of yards wide of the far post.

SAVE! Former Chelsea man Glen Johnson is given plenty of space 25 yards out so lets fly with his left foot and forces Cech to tip the ball around his near post.

Great run from Hazard down the left but he drags his shot wide of the near post. A quarter of an hour left.

BOOKING! Nasty lunge from Cahill on Suarez earns the Chelsea man a booking.

That gives the Reds a free kick in a dangerous position to the left of the area. Suarez curls it but Cech is there to punch out well. Suarez has had his quietest game for a while and that might be because of the strength of the opposition. Just three of his 19 league goals this season have come against sides in the top 13 of the table.

PENALTY SHOUT! Suarez is left perplexed on the floor as he is clearly impeded by Eto'o in the area. Webb looked to have a clear view of the challenge but said no penalty. Azpilicueta had nicked the ball away from the Uruguayan but it doesn't mean that Eto'o can just obstruct Suarez like that.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Rodgers makes an attacking change by sending on Aspas for Johnson.

CHELSEA SUB: Former Red Torres is sent on by Mourinho with Eto'o hobbling because of a knock.

Torres shows off his fresher legs by blitzing past Sakho before shooting straight at Mignolet. Good chance for the Spaniard. His pace was so quick that Sakho looks to have pulled his hamstring.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Kolo Toure comes on in place of the Frenchman as we approach the 90-minute mark. How many minutes will be added on at the Bridge?

FOUR minutes of additional time are indicated by the fourth official. Can Liverpool create one last chance?

HANDBAGS! Brazilian teammates Lucas and Oscar scrap in the middle of the park after a nasty scissor tackle from the latter, who is booked.

It's a big win for Chelsea as they beat bogey team Liverpool for just the fourth time in 14 Premier League games to move within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.

Thanks for joining Sports Mole this afternoon. That's 2013 all done in the Premier League. Stick around on site for plenty of reaction and analysis throughout the evening and night. New Year's Day is a huge day for us as 2014 kicks off in style with a bumper day of footy. Our comprehensive live Premier League coverage will be back then.