Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's huge Premier League clash as the champions take on the current league leaders in the biggest match of the season so far.

Chelsea and Manchester City have both been in brilliant form of late, particularly the visitors with their free-scoring ways, and this promises to be a huge showdown between two of the favourites for the title this season. Both clubs began the day in the top three, but have a chance to dent the title hopes of their opponents this afternoon.

Before we get into all that, though, let's first have a look at the team news for this mouth-watering contest...

CHELSEA STARTING XI: Courtois; Rudiger, Christensen, Cahill; Azpilicueta, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso; Fabregas, Hazard, Morata

CHELSEA SUBS: Caballero, Zappacosta, Kenedy, Moses, Willian, Pedro, Batshuayi

MAN CITY STARTING XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva; Sterling, Sane, Jesus

MAN CITY SUBS: Bravo, Danilo, Gündoğan, Mangala, Silva, Zinchenko, Touré

What can we make of those two sides, then?

Well, there are plenty of talking points from Antonio Conte's selection, the biggest of which is the inclusion of Eden Hazard. The Belgian is handed his first Premier League start of the season today after missing the opening month or so as he continued his recovery from a broken ankle. Hazard was included in the side against Atletico in midweek, and following his dazzling display in Madrid he keeps his place tonight.

Hazard has a good record against City too, being directly involved in five goals from his last five Premier League appearances against the club - including scoring three times in two meetings last season.

The lineup chosen by Conte seems to suggest that either Fabregas or Bakayoko will join Hazard and Morata in the front three, unless Conte has opted to really switch things up and change the formation which has brought Chelsea so much success since he switched to it more than a year ago now.

It looks as though Azpilicueta, who helped himself to two assists against Stoke last weekend, will play in the right wing-back role today having spent most of his time at centre-back since the switch to 3-4-3.

Azpilicueta did switch to left wing-back during the match against Stoke due to the danger of Marcos Alonso getting sent off, but Alonso is back in the side today. The back three sees Rudiger and Christensen return, with Luiz still sidelined through suspension, while Moses also drops out of the starting lineup.

Further forward Kante continues in the middle of the park, where he will surely be joined by Bakayoko with Fabregas the more likely to be given a more attacking role. Willian and Pedro, meanwhile, have to settle for a place on the bench.

The main danger man for Chelsea today will be Alvaro Morata, who has made a flying start to life at Stamford Bridge. He began the day as the league's joint top-scorer following a hat-trick against Stoke last weekend, taking him up to six goals in the Premier League and 10 for club and country already this season.

Another hat-trick today would see him equal Diego Costa's tally of nine goals in his first seven Premier League outings.

The inclusion of three central midfielders for Chelsea is a compliment for Man City's free-scoring ways, but the visitors are without their top scorer this afternoon.

Sergio Aguero was involved in a car accident during a day off in Amsterdam earlier this week and is expected to spend a few weeks on the sidelines as a result, halting his fine early-season form which had seen him score six goals in as many Premier League games. Gabriel Jesus comes into the side in his place having been left out for last weekend's win over Crystal Palace.

Even without Aguero, there is no shortage of Man City firepower - Jesus has already proved that he is a constant threat in the final third and he has the likes of Sane and Sterling to provide support for him.

Sterling scored twice more at Crystal Palace to continue his good form in front of goal this season, while Sane has been a threat as both a goalscorer and a creator this term too. It speaks volumes for the depth at Pep Guardiola's disposal that he can name such a dangerous front three despite being without arguably the league's best striker.

Not only are the strikers dangerous, they are being set up by some of the best playmakers in the division too.

Kevin De Bruyne topped the Premier League assists charts last season and has directly contributed to 12 goals in his last 12 games for the club across all competitions, setting up nine and scoring three himself - including one in midweek against Shakhtar Donetsk. David Silva has usurped the Belgian as the Premier League's chief creator so far this term, though, laying on six assists for his teammates already.

The absence of Mendy means that Delph is once again deployed on the left side of the defence having impressed in that role against Shakhtar in the Champions League. It is certainly not the midfielder's preferred position, but he will be happy to simply get game time at the moment after so long on the sidelines recently.

Indeed, Guardiola has made just the one change to his side from that win over Shakhtar in the Champions League, with Sterling coming in for the injured Aguero.

There is plenty of quality and firepower on both sides, then, and this match should be a humdinger. Results from earlier today have bumped both clubs down from where they started the weekend, but victory today would still take Chelsea back into the top three and move them level on points with Manchester City.

It will not come as a surprise to Chelsea - or City, for that matter - that Manchester United have picked up a comfortable three points against Crystal Palace today, but that result still piles more pressure on both of these teams to win here.

Defeat for Chelsea would leave them six points adrift of both Manchester clubs, which is not an insurmountable gap but is certainly a tall order considering how well United and City are playing at the moment.

Chelsea are in good form themselves, though, and heading into this weekend they had matched the points haul of the Manchester clubs over the past five games. The one thing which has let them down so far was that opening-day home defeat to Burnley, when they had two men sent off.

Chelsea have responded well to that defeat, though, and any fears that it may prove to be another sorry title defence have quickly diminished.

The Blues come into today's game unbeaten in their last eight matches across all competitions, winning seven of those and drawing one. The sole blemish during that run did come in their last Premier League home game, though, when they were held to a goalless draw by Arsenal.

The stalemate with the Gunners was the first time in 27 competitive home games that Chelsea have failed to score under Antonio Conte, and should they draw another blank today then it would be back-to-back games without scoring at home in the Premier League for the first time since November 2012.

Antonio Conte, meanwhile, has never been in charge of a team which has failed to score in two consecutive home league games, so history suggests that Chelsea will at least get on the board today.

The Arsenal game aside, Chelsea have been in good goalscoring form at Stamford Bridge this season, finding the back of the net 15 times in their five outings in front of their own fans - an average of three per game.

The champions have also been tight at the other end of the park with three clean sheets from those five matches, and since the opening-day defeat at the hands of Burnley they have won three and drawn one of their four games in West London.

However, that defeat to Burnley and draw with Arsenal means that Chelsea have already dropped five points at Stamford Bridge this season having only given up six points throughout the whole of their title-winning 2016-17 campaign.

There has been a definite dip in their home form at the start of this season with just one win from their three league outings at the Bridge, having previously won 15 of 16 before that.

Chelsea's confidence will nonetheless be sky-high following their performance in midweek, though.

It was a display described as one of the best by an English team in Europe in recent years as Chelsea inflicted defeat on Atletico Madrid in the first Champions League outing at their new Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. The Blues came from behind in the Spanish capital and won it with the final kick of the match to pick up surely their most impressive result under Conte - and a deserved one too.

If City were in any doubt as to the quality of the team they will be coming up against today then that midweek showing will have set them straight, but if there is one team in higher spirits than the Blues heading into this match then it would be Pep Guardiola's side.

City have been simply unstoppable in recent weeks, overcoming a slow start to the campaign in which they needed a few late goals to scrape past teams. They are now blowing teams away, scoring a staggering 24 goals in their last six matches across all competitions - an average of four per game.

That purple patch in front of goal includes 16 goals without reply in their last three Premier League matches, scoring at least five goals in each of those.

Ten-man Liverpool were the first to fall foul of the free-scoring ways with a 5-0 defeat at the Etihad before City went from strength to strength with a 6-0 triumph at Watford and 5-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace. Guardiola's side are the first team to score five or more goals in three consecutive top-flight matches since Blackburn Rovers in August 1958.

The goalscoring has certainly been impressive and worthy of the praise it has received, but City's defensive improvement should not be underestimated either.

It is an area of the field which has been perceived as City's weak point in recent years, but Guardiola's side have kept five clean sheets in their last six matches, only conceding once in a 2-1 triumph over West Brom in the EFL Cup. Bigger tests will come in the future - starting today - but the backline does deserve credit for their recent record.

Manchester City's accelerated goalscoring may have started six matches ago, but their winning run stretches further back to seven games - and they could win eight in a row for the first time since the start of last season when Guardiola began his reign with a 10-game winning streak.

In all competitions this season City are yet to taste a single defeat from their nine matches, winning eight of those including that ongoing seven-match winning streak.

In the Premier League alone, meanwhile, City are unbeaten in their last 14 outings, winning 11 and drawing three of those in a run which stretches back to their last visit to Stamford Bridge, when they were beaten 2-1 in April.

Guardiola's side have slipped down to second as things stand courtesy of United's win over Crystal Palace this afternoon, but they went into the weekend top of the table with the best attacking record of 21 goals scored and the joint-best defensive record of only two goals conceded.

A clean sheet today would give City four in a row in the Premier League for the first time under Guardiola and the first time in more than two years as a club.

City's tally of 21 goals scored has also only been bettered twice in Premier League history at this stage of a season, with Newcastle United (1994-95) and Manchester United (2011-12) both managing 22 goals in their opening six outings. Neither of those two teams went on to lift the trophy that season, though.

City have been perfect on the road so far this season with five wins from five across all competitions, scoring 16 goals and conceding just twice in the process.

Stretching back to last season City have also won four Premier League away games on the bounce, and another today would see them equal their club record - set in 1912 and equalled in 2015 - of five consecutive top-flight away wins. Strangely enough, though, Pep Guardiola has never beaten Chelsea in seven previous meetings with the club as a manager - his longest run without victory against any club.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minute away from kickoff at Stamford Bridge, which means that it is time for a prediction!

This is such a tough one to call with both sides in such fine form. Chelsea's home advantage might usually give them the edge, but they haven't been at their best here so far this season whereas City have been brilliant on the road. City have not been really tested yet this season, though, and looked shaky against Liverpool before the Reds saw Sadio Mane sent off, so we're edging towards a Chelsea win today.

Sports Mole says: Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City

Chelsea carry the bragging rights in this fixture from last season, being the only team to win home and away against Manchester City in Guardiola's first season at the helm.

Indeed, Chelsea could become only the second club to win three consecutive matches against a team managed by Guardiola today, with Real Madrid the only other club to achieve that feat during the Spaniard's time in charge at Real Madrid.

Eden Hazard was on the scoresheet in both meetings last season, including a match-winning brace in the most recent contest here in April. Aguero levelled things up after Hazard had given the hosts a 10th-minute lead, but the Belgian struck again with 10 minutes remaining of the first half.

The reverse fixture required Chelsea to come from behind after Cahill's own goal on the stroke of half time, but Costa, Willian and Hazard all scored in the final half-hour to clinch all three points.

Chelsea have only lost one of their last seven Premier League meetings with Man City at Stamford Bridge, winning four and drawing two in that time. The solitary defeat - a 3-0 loss in April 2016 when Aguero scored a hat-trick - is actually one of only two wins city have experienced in their last 20 visits here across all competitions, with 13 defeats in that time.

The last 23 meetings - home or away - have been split much more evenly, though, with 10 wins apiece and three draws.

Right, the players are out and we're almost ready to get started for this blockbuster clash. Before we do, though, let's first have a reminder of the team news...

CHELSEA STARTING XI: Courtois; Rudiger, Christensen, Cahill; Azpilicueta, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso; Fabregas, Hazard, Morata

MAN CITY STARTING XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva; Sterling, Sane, Jesus

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Manchester City get us underway at Stamford Bridge!

CHANCE! It's been a quick start from the hosts here. Morata had one sniff of the ball in the box in the opening minute and he has another here as he is left unmarked by the City defence. Kante picks the Spaniard out with his cross, but Morata flicks his header over the crossbar.

SAVE! City immediately respond with their first effort as De Bruyne goes for goal with a long-range free kick, but Courtois is never going to be beaten from there. Comfortable stop.

Sterling again goes down under the challenge of Bakayoko, but this time Martin Atkinson does not award the free kick in a more dangerous position. Sterling can feel a little hard done by there.

This match has begun at a really good tempo. Both sides have looking to get on the front foot whenever possible and it already looks like shaping up into an entertaining contest.

Fernandinho tries his luck from range after seeing no other options in front of him, but his low drive from all of 30 yards is blocked before it can test Courtois. Man City are just about on top at the moment.

SHOT! Walker bursts forward through the middle and makes it all the way to the edge of the box before giving it to Silva, who drags his subsequent effort wide.

CLOSE! All this quality on the field, and the opening goal almost comes from a calamitous error. Courtois plays a goal kick short before getting the ball back, but he then takes an age on it and Jesus charges him down. The Man City striker blocks the clearance inside the six-yard box, and Chelsea are very lucky that it flies off target as that could have gone anywhere.

This is a bit more like it from Chelsea, who have only seen 30% of the ball so far. Hazard drives forward and picks out Kante in a bit of space inside the box, but Man City's defence scrambles and prevent him from getting a shot away.

We've already had 15 minutes in this heavyweight contest, and it has absolutely flown by. It has been a good, open game so far which Man City have enjoyed the better of.

City win another free kick in a dangerous area inside the Chelsea half, but this time De Bruyne overhits it, sending his delivery straight out for a goal kick.

Two important contributions in a row from Rudiger there as first he clears Sterling's cross before immediately racing out and throwing himself in the way of Delph's follow-up shot.

Concern over John Stones as he stays down following an aerial tussle with Rudiger. The England international got up well to beat the Chelsea man in the air, but he looks to have landed heavily on his wrist.

Stones will be able to continue here - he gets his wrist bandaged up and is back on for the visitors now.

The match has entered a bit of a lull at the moment. Manchester City continue to dominate the possession, but clear-cut chances have been few and far between. Chelsea, for their part, have not been able to get going at all yet.

SAVE! Much better from Chelsea. Otamendi is needed to produce a good clearance at his first post to deal with the initial cross, but the ball falls back at the feet of Azpilicueta, who draws a low stop from Ederson at his near post.

CHANCE! This has to go down as a chance in the context of this game. Man City break quickly from the resulting corner and are up at the other end in a flash. Sterling tears down the right channel and has Jesus and Silva to aim for in the middle, but the cross is too far in front of them when a better delivery would have left them with a tap-in.

SAVE! The game is played at walking pace for a moment or two, but City lull Chelsea in before bursting into life. Silva collects the ball in the box and unleashes a powerful drive towards the near post, but Courtois is equal to it.

CHANCE! Half a chance for City as Otamendi loses his marker from a corner and attacks the ball really well. He cannot steer his header on target, though, and in the end Courtois has nothing to worry about.

Neither side have been at their free-flowing best so far today. Manchester City have kept the ball much better than Chelsea, but they are struggling to break down the hosts as they have done many of their opponents of late.

This could be a big blow for Chelsea as Morata pulls up with no players around him. He limps off and it does not look like he will be able to continue.

CHELSEA SUB: Sure enough, there is the chance as Morata is replaced by Willian. Michy Batshuayi overlooked by Conte.

City look to be building a dangerous attack which could grow even more dangerous when Christensen goes to ground inside the box, but the referee rules that he was obstructed by Jesus and a free kick is given.

Chance for Chelsea to test the Man City defence here as they win a free kick in a good crossing position. Willian is standing over it...

It is dreadful from Willian as he fires it straight into the feet of the one-man wall. A waste of a very promising set piece.

De Bruyne looks to unpick this Chelsea defence with a clipped ball into the box. Jesus gets his head to it, but if he had left it then it might have fallen to Sane coming in at the back post.

Important interception from Delph as he stick a leg out to pick off Willian's pass out wide towards Azpilicueta. Chelsea had men over then and had Delph not read the pass then it could have spelled danger for the visitors.

Sterling does well to spin away from Morata before being dragged to ground by the Spaniard, but the referee opts for leniency and no booking is forthcoming.

SAVE! Brilliant stop from Courtois to keep the scores level! Fernandinho gets in front of his man from a corner and connects with a bullet header, but it is straight at Courtois. The Chelsea keeper still needs to get his hands up and parry it away, though.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.

The first half comes to an end at Stamford Bridge, then, and we're still goalless and all square between Chelsea and Manchester City.

It has been an intriguing tactical battle so far, but really clear chances have been tough to come by for both sides. Manchester City have seen by far the majority of the ball, but Chelsea have arguably had the better chances.

Chelsea threatened inside the opening three minutes through Alvaro Morata, who flicked his header over the crossbar from the near post. Azpilicueta has also tested Ederson with a snapshot that needed saving at the near post, but all in all it has been a difficult half for the hosts - made worse by the fact that Morata was forced off through injury in that opening 45 minutes.

City did come close to breaking the deadlock right on the stroke of half time when Fernandinho met a corner with a powerful diving header, but Courtois was equal to it with a fine save.

As already mentioned, City have dominated the game for long spells without being able to break down Chelsea too often. Perhaps the best opportunity they had to do that came just before the half-hour mark when they hit Chelsea with a quick breakaway which ended when Sterling put his cross just too far in front of Jesus and Silva.

Courtois had almost gifted Man City the lead by that stage when he saw his clearance charged down by Jesus inside the six-yard box, but the Chelsea keeper was fortunate to see the ball bounce safely behind for a goal kick.

Antonio Conte will certainly want to see more from his side in the second half, although Guardiola's City have not allowed them to get into any sort of rhythm in this match. It is still all to play for between these two title rivals.

KICKOFF: Chelsea get us back underway for the second half!

City are doing a good job of pressing Chelsea high up the field today, whereas at the other end Chelsea are allowing the City defenders to have the ball inside their own half. It is Guardiola's tactics which have proved more effective so far.

Lovely football from Man City as Fernandinho picks out Silva, who in turn plays the ball through for Sterling. The winger tries to fire a low ball into the middle, but it is turned behind for a corner.

Chelsea have found it so difficult to get out of their own half at times today. Even with the likes of Fabregas in the middle of the park they have just been put under so much pressure by Man City and have been unable to get into their rhythm as a result.

The scoreline may still be goalless, but it is not often that Chelsea will have been dominated this much at home in terms of possession. City just need a little more end product, which sounds strange for a team in such good goalscoring form.

CHANCE! City have threatened through set pieces today, and this time a corner goes all the way through to Sterling on the edge of the box. The winger has all the time in the world to chest it down and go for goal, but he fires his left-footed volley over the crossbar.

The City pressure is growing at the moment. Sterling again darts in behind the defence down the left channel, but neither he nor Silva can get a clean shot or cross away before Chelsea clear their lines. It feels like the opening goal may be coming sooner rather than later, though.

Fernandinho gets a final warning after a trip on Willian, with the referee leaving him in no doubt that another foul will result in the first card of the contest.

City have seen even more of the ball in this second half. The first half ended with them having had 66% possession, and since the interval they have enjoyed 71% of it. Chelsea are simply not used to seeing so little of the ball, especially at home.

YELLOW CARD! Well, he can't say he wasn't warned. Minutes after receiving that talking-to, Fernandinho brings down Hazard in a dangerous area and goes into the book.

SAVE! Sloppy play from City as they are caught sleeping from the corner, with Fabregas slipping a pass in to an unmarked Hazard. The Belgian fires a powerful cross/shot into the box, but Ederson palms it away.

Less than half an hour remaining in this match, and it is still goalless in West London. The way the match has gone, Chelsea will probably be happy with a point here, but I'm sure Conte did not expect to see his side outplayed like this.

De Bruyne tries to bend a cross into near post for Jesus, but he cannot get anything on it as it runs through to Courtois. Courtois then has no choice but to hoof it clear, though, and that only gives possession straight back to City.

CHANCE! City are really knocking on the door now! Alonso does brilliantly to deny the first chance as he throws himself in the way of Silva's shot after the City playmaker had taken his time on the edge of the box. Jesus comes close again moments later, but he can't make the breakthrough either.

Finally, we have the breakthrough - and it is a moment of magic which proves to be the difference in this one.

It is De Bruyne who comes back to haunt his former club with a brilliant strike, playing a slick one-two with Jesus before lashing an unstoppable effort into the corner from outside the area. Courtois had no chance, and it is a deserved lead for the visitors.

That goal had been coming, and Conte knew it. He had just been readying a couple of changes before that goal, but he has now held back on them.

Before that goal Chelsea may have been able to look at a dogged and determined defensive effort, but the spotlight will now be shone on their lack of attacking threat so far today. They have played as badly as I have seen them for a long time here.

CHELSEA SUBS: Conte now does make those changes as Pedro and Michy Batshuayi replace Hazard and Bakayoko.

MAN CITY SUB: It is Silva for Silva from City as Bernardo replaces David.

Much better from Chelsea, who have responded fairly well to going behind. Pedro almost has a chance but cannot squeeze a shot away, before a Fabregas pass almost releases the Spaniard again moments later. Some fight from the champions!

Chelsea threaten again as a ball over to the left channel finds Azpilicueta on the byline, but Ederson reads what is coming and cuts out the cross.

TEN minutes left for Chelsea to get themselves back into this match. They are playing with more urgency now and offering more going forward, but have they left it too late to burst into life?

Chelsea's passing has been so poor at times today. Man City have completed almost twice as many passes as their hosts today, which is a key reason why Chelsea have not been able to get going here.

MAN CITY SUB: Guardiola is looking to see this game out now as he brings on Ilkay Gundogan in place of compatriot Sane.

OFF THE LINE! Brilliant football all round - from the build-up to the shot to the defending. City carve Chelsea open on their way down the right flank and Sterling's cross picks out Jesus in space inside the area. The Brazilian watches it all the way and shows great technique with a fine volley that beats Courtois, but Rudiger is back there to clear it off the line!

It is Manchester City who look the most likely to add to the scoring in this match now. They have managed this game very well since taking the lead and it would be very harsh on them if they came away from this one with anything less than all three points.

SAVE! De Bruyne swings another corner into the box which is met by Fernandinho, but it is easy for Courtois.

YELLOW CARD! Otamendi flies into a challenge on Willian and, while he gets the ball, it was a stupid challenge. Chelsea weren't really going anywhere, but now they have a free kick in a dangerous crossing position...

CHANCE! Christensen rises head and shoulders above the rest to meet the free kick, but he gets his header all wrong.

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match. Can Chelsea find an equaliser?

MAN CITY SUB: De Bruyne will not be able to see this game out. He seems to have picked up an injury and is replaced by Danilo late on.

If there was any doubt before, this result should prove that Manchester City are serious title contenders this season.

They have come to the home of the champions - without star striker Sergio Aguero - and completely outclassed them. The final scoreline of 1-0 may make it look like a close contest, but in reality City were by far the better team today and Kevin De Bruyne's goal against his former club gave them a deserved win.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening!

Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's late kickoff as Manchester City win at Chelsea to move back to the top of the table. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction from both camps too - it will be very interesting to hear what the managers made of that game.

From me, though, it is goodbye for now!