Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of Chelsea's Premier League match against Sunderland, the first game since Jose Mourinho's departure from Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho's second spell in charge of the West London side ended on Thursday just seven months after he won a third Premier League title, with the Blues 16th this season and just a point above the relegation zone after 16 games of the season.
Chelsea named Guus Hiddink as their new interim boss shortly before kickoff and lowly Sunderland will hope that they can become the latest team to take advantage of the severely underperforming champions.
Join us for all of the action from Stamford Bridge below.
Afternoon folks! After a massive week off the pitch for Chelsea, the Blues are back in action for the first time without Jose Mourinho in charge. The breaking news this hour is that Guus Hiddink will be the man to lead the team for the rest of the season.
You can read more about Hiddink's appointment here. The 69-year-old Dutchman will be at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, but will not be in the dugout. Coaches Steve Holland and Eddie Newton will take charge today, meaning that Hiddink's first match will be the Boxing Day home game against Watford in a week.
Plenty to get through before kickoff in a little under an hour, so let's start with this afternoon's team news...
CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Pedro; Diego Costa
Subs: Begovic, Cahill, Baba Rahman, Mikel, Ramires, Traore, Remy
Subs: Begovic, Cahill, Baba Rahman, Mikel, Ramires, Traore, Remy
Right then. Hiddink may well have had some influence on the team selection today, but there's not much change from Monday night's 2-1 defeat at leaders Leicester City. Eden Hazard left that match injured and is not in the squad today having not trained this week. His place out wide is taken by Pedro, while in midfield Cesc Fabregas is preferred to Ramires.
SUNDERLAND XI: Pantillimon; Jones, Coates, O'Shea, Kaboul, Van Aanholt; Toivonen, Rodwell, M'Vila, Watmore; Defoe
Subs: Mannone, Yedlin, Gomez, Johnson, Graham, Borini, Fletcher
Subs: Mannone, Yedlin, Gomez, Johnson, Graham, Borini, Fletcher
Like Chelsea, Sunderland have a couple of changes in their lineup. Out go Fabio Borini and Steven Fletcher, with Jack Rodwell and Jermain Defoe returning. Defoe's inclusion could be crucial, he's scored some big goals for the Black Cats this term.
OK then. Now that we know who's playing, let's take a closer look at the goings on at Stamford Bridge this week...
Ironically, it was after a 3-1 win over Sunderland on the final day of last season that Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy for the third time under Mourinho. Many thought that they were the team to beat again this term, but the Blues have produced the worst title defence in the Premier League.
Of their 16 league games this season, Chelsea have won only four and lost nine. It has been a staggeringly big nosedive in form and it just seems that everything has gone wrong at the club this season. The players, especially last season's star-man Eden Hazard, have regularly played without passion, while off the pitch there have been problems aplenty that all started on the first day of the season when Mourinho raged at the club medics for rushing onto the field. Since then, it has just unravelled and unravelled.
To be honest, Mourinho probably got more time than most others would have done given just how successful he has been at Chelsea. His departure was more than understandable earlier this week, but even then it still sent shockwaves throughout the football world. The Special One was now the Jobless One.
Mourinho's camp released a statement for the first time since his departure earlier this morning and in it they said that he is not keen on taking a sabbatical and wants to get back into work as soon as possible. Given that Manchester United is reportedly his desired destination, has Louis van Gaal got long left at Old Trafford?
Mourinho said that he would not be attending any "high-profile games" while he searches for a new job, but then turned up at this lunchtime's Championship top-of-the-table clash between Brighton and Middlesbrough. As Football League fixtures go, they don't get much bigger! By the way, Boro have just won 3-0 to secure Christmas number one in the second tier and end Brighton's 22-match unbeaten run.
Half an hour until kickoff, so it's about time you watched our video preview of this match, isn't it? (We did record these before Mourinho's departure)
The announcer at Stamford Bridge has just announced the appointment of Hiddink to those who are already present inside the stadium. It's fair to say that most of the Blues' faithful would have stuck by Mourinho and blamed the players for the club's toils this term.
For Hiddink, it is his second time as interim boss at Chelsea after he stepped into a similar role following the departure of Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2009. Hiddink went on to lead the Blues to FA Cup glory in the final over Everton, but six years on, is he still as strong a leader?
Since leaving Chelsea that summer, Hiddink has managed Anzhi Makhachkala and the national teams of Turkey and the Netherlands. Most recently, he took over from Louis van Gaal after the Dutch finished third at the 2014 World Cup. What followed was a disastrous year in charge as the Oranje struggled desperately in their Euro 2016 qualifying group. Hiddink left after only 12 months, but Danny Blind could not salvage their campaign as they finished fourth behind Iceland, Czech Republic and Turkey. Chelsea will hope Hiddink has a much better impact back at the Bridge.
Plenty of support for Mourinho today:
Right, that's quite enough about Chelsea for now. There is another team playing today after all. Sunderland then...
If you had offered Sunderland the chance to be able to move level on points with the champions at Christmas, they would have no doubt snapped your hand off. However, the Black Cats are 19th in the table and two points from safety given Chelsea's struggles. Sam Allardyce's side look set for a relegation battle this term.
The visitors come into this match having lost back-to-back games against Arsenal and Watford, but they have generally looked a little better under Allardyce than at the start of the season when they seemed to be cannon fodder under Dick Advocaat. If they get anything from today's game, it would be a big achievement.
H2H: Chelsea have generally dominated the recent meetings between these two sides, winning 18 and losing just two of their last 21 Premier League clashes. Sunderland did hold the champions-to-be to a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light last November, however, while before May's defeat in West London the Black Cats had gone three games without losing to Chelsea in all competitions. Not quite a bogey team, but Chelsea have struggled to put them away in recent times.
This is one of six 3pm kickoffs and to follow all the Premier League goals as they go in, simply give @SM_LiveScores a follow on Twitter.
Guus Hiddink is sat high above the pitch in the executive area at Stamford Bridge and those on the pitch will no doubt want to impress their new boss. Can they finally deliver a performance to be proud of, or is this team one that needs a complete rebuild?
Blimey, the crowd really does seem to be on Mourinho's side. The names of Fabregas and Costa, two of this season's biggest underperformers are booed by some home supporters and there is a banner that says: "You Let Jose Down. You Let Us Down."
I wonder if Hazard would be getting similar treatment if he was playing today? The Belgian was superb last term, but has not scored once yet this season.
KICKOFF! Chelsea get us underway. Can they win for just the second time in eight league games?
Chants of "Jose Mourinho, Jose Mourinho!" start within a minute of the action starting. Clearly some of the blame has to lie with the Portuguese coach, but his players let him down big time this season.
Helllooooo! Didier Droga is sitting with Hiddink in the stands. Could he become a coach under the Dutchman, or even make a playing return?
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 SUNDERLAND (BRANISLAV IVANOVIC)
Just as the Chelsea supporters began to sign "Stand Up for the Special One", the Blues take an early lead. Ivanovic has been way below-par this season, but this is his first league goal of the season as he heads home a Willian corner.
Wow, what a start without Mourinho! Just before the five-minute mark, Ivanovic breaks his Premier League duck this season.
Most agree that Willian has been the only real shining light for Chelsea this season and he's just tried his luck from a free kick and hit it straight at Pantilimon. Six of his seven goals this term have come from dead-ball situations.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 SUNDERLAND (PEDRO)
Maybe Mourinho was the problem! Chelsea double their lead inside a quarter of an hour as Pedro lashes home in the box after Ivanovic's cross kindly dropped his way.
The crowd are obviously pleased their team is winning, but they still want to let the players know how angry they are over Mourinho's departure. "Where were you when we were s***?" they sing.
Chelsea continue to stream forward and Oscar in particular looks like a completely different player to the one we've seen this season. For Pedro, that was his first goal since he scored on his debut against West Brom in August.
Costa looks hopefully towards referee Roger East after he seemed to be blocked in the area, but his touch was heavy and a penalty there would have been really harsh on the visitors.
Stats at the 20-minute mark:
Possession: Chelsea 67%-33% Sunderland
Shots (on target): Chelsea 5(3)-0(0) Sunderland
Supreme from the Blues.
SUNDERLAND SUB: Allardyce makes an early change and it looks like he is ditching the five-at-the-back formation. Adam Johnson on for Sebastian Coates.
Oscar is unrecognisable from the form he's shown so far this season and he's almost made it 3-0 to Chelsea with a low shot that Pantilimon kept out.
UPDATE: Leicester, the team who put the final nail in Mourinho's coffin, are 1-0 up at Everton as Riyad Mahrez tucks home from the spot.
Chelsea started like a train here, but they have just calmed down a little in the last few moments. Still, they are seeing plenty of the ball and Oscar in particular looks like a man possessed.
UPDATE: Leicester's lead didn't last long at Everton as Romelu Lukaku hits back. That's the seventh league game in a row he's found the net - maybe Vardy's record won't last long!
CHANCE! After 32 minutes of the match, Sunderland at last produce a shot on goal as Watmore is found by M'Vila but can't direct his effort on target under plenty of Chelsea pressure.
Diego Costa would love a goal to win back some of the Stamford Bridge faithful's trust and he goes close with a loopy shot from inside the box that 6'8" keeper Pantilimon confident watches over the bar.
CLOSE! Costa again goes close, this time rising well at the back post to meet Pedro's cross.
UPDATE: More goals to bring you news of, with Spurs beating Southampton thanks to Harry Kane and, listen to this, Norwich winning at Man Utd!
Half time fast approaching now and Chelsea fans might not be happy that Mourinho is gone, but they will be pleased with the response their players have shown today. Sunderland have been rubbish opposition, but Chelsea haven't put away many teams away like them this term.
Chance for Sunderland to test Courtois for the first time, but Van Aanholt's 25-yard free kick misses the target.
Just the one minute of added time at Stamford Bridge.
HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 2-0 SUNDERLAND
An impressive start to post-Mourinho life for Chelsea then. Granted, Sunderland at home is maybe the easiest fixture of any in the Premier League, but Chelsea have still been good.
What's worrying for Sunderland is that the fixtures don't really get any easier in the next few weeks. On Boxing Day they travel to Manchester City before then hosting Liverpool next Monday. By then, Aston Villa could be closer to them and that's who visits the Stadium of Light on January 2. What a huge game that will be.
With Norwich surprisingly winning at Man Utd, Sunderland are now four points from safety in the live Premier League table. Chelsea are climbing to 14th as it stands.
HT SCORES: Everton 1-1 Leicester, Man Utd 0-1 Norwich, Southampton 0-2 Spurs, Stoke 0-1 Palace, West Brom 0-0 Bournemouth
SUNDERLAND SUB: No messing around from Allardyce, who makes his second change at half time with Borini replacing Toivonen.
KICKOFF! The Black Cats get us back underway.
Chelsea had 73% possession in the first half, so it's hardly surprising to see Allardyce make a change.
PENALTY TO CHELSEA!
GOAL! CHELSEA 3-0 SUNDERLAND (OSCAR, PEN.)
A fine performance from the Brazilian is capped with a goal as he tucks home coolly from 12 yards. East pointed to the spot after Pantilimon clumsily took out Willian when the winger was going away from goal.
The Chelsea supporters continue to sign Mourinho's name, even though the performance today has been so much better than in recent weeks while the Portuguese was in charge.
GOAL! CHELSEA 3-1 SUNDERLAND (FABIO BORINI)
Maybe it's not game over quite yet! Half-time substitute Borini pulls one back for the visitors with a bundled close-range finish after Courtois could only parry a goalbound header into the striker's path.
CLOSE! Borini was the man who caused Mourinho's first-ever league defeat at Stamford Bridge a couple of seasons back and he's causing some serious problems here. The Italian's latest effort is a low strike that flies just wide.
UPDATE: Now then, United are losing 2-0 at home to Norwich! Given that Mourinho has reportedly picked Old Trafford as his next destination, will the United board act quickly and give Van Gaal the chop?
Chelsea fans certainly won't want to see Mourinho in charge of United and that result is also bad news for Sunderland. With Norwich and Bournemouth both winning away from home, the Black Cats will be five points from safety if Newcastle avoid defeat against Villa in this evening's six-pointer.
BOOKING! Sunderland midfielder Rodwell is cautioned for a foul on Pedro.
CHANCE! Chelsea are not home and dry yet! It's sloppy defending from the Blues as Defoe picks the ball up and is far too easily allowed into the box before he blazes wide with his left foot.
You feel that a fourth Chelsea goal would kill off Sunderland, who are threatening a second that would give them hope of an incredible fightback. Oscar almost scores his second with a low shot that rolls wide.
UPDATE: United have pulled one back against Norwich through Anthony Martial, while Leicester are back in front against Everton thanks to a second Mahrez penalty. What form the Algerian is in!
CHELSEA SUB: Fabregas is brought off and gets applause from some, but there are plenty of boos as well. John Obi Mikel on in his place to shore up the Chelsea midfield.
Threatening cross from the right by Ivanovic that Pedro can't quite reach in the middle. Sunderland seem to have had their purple patch and Chelsea are back in control.
CHELSEA SUB: Like Fabregas, there are plenty of jeers as Costa is taken off for Loic Remy.
SUNDERLAND SUB: A change in attack for the Black Cats as well - Danny Graham on for Watmore.
SAVE! Remy close to making an instant impact as he surges into the box before his curling shot from the left is palmed away by Pantilimon.
CHELSEA SUB: Third and final change for the hosts and it's Ramires who replaces the impressive Oscar.
CHANCE! Non-stop action at the Bridge right now as Pedro squanders a chance to double his tally for the day by shooting over from close range.
Chelsea on course to get the three points here, but they won't be happy that fellow relegation candidates Norwich and Bournemouth are both winning 😝
SAVE! Well this would have made for a nervy finish! Matic hesitates near the edge of his own area and he is tackled to present the ball to Defoe, whose sharp shot on the turn is superbly kept out by Courtois. Fine save.
BOOKINGS! Two quick yellow cards in succession as Matic and O'Shea go into the book.
Three minutes of added time. Sunderland have done well in the second half, but it was that sloppy start that has cost them.
FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 3-1 SUNDERLAND
Life after Mourinho begins with a win for Chelsea, then, as they see off Sunderland 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Just hours after Guus Hiddink was confirmed as Mourinho's successor, Chelsea scored twice in the opening 13 minutes through Ivanovic and Pedro before Oscar made it through just after half time from the penalty spot. Sunderland didn't give up and fought really well in the last 40 minutes, but they had given themselves far too much to do.
Thanks a lot for joining Sports Mole this afternoon on yet another brilliant afternoon filled with Premier League drama. Before we go, a big congratulations to Leicester City, who will be top at Christmas after beating Everton 3-2. What an achievement!
