Chelsea travelled to Everton this afternoon knowing that they would have to break a 13-game unbeaten home run at Goodison Park to retake third place from Spurs.
It looked as if it would be an afternoon to forget for Rafael Benitez, who was making a return to Merseyside, and his men when Steven Pienaar scored after just 63 seconds.
However, the visitors fought back and won the game thanks to a goal either side of half-time from Frank Lampard.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.
Afternoon all! This game should hopefully follow in the vein of yesterday's blockbuster Saturday. We're expecting news on the teams very shortly.
As mentioned above, these two sides aren't that far apart in the table. A win for the hosts today would see them be elevated to fourth and perhaps third if they win by more than a goal.
TEAM NEWS JUST IN!
EVERTON XI: Howard; Heitinga, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Naismith, Hitzlsperger, Osman, Pienaar; Jelavic, Anichebe
CHELSEA XI: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole; Luiz; Ramires, Lampard; Mata, Torres, Hazard
The big news for Chelsea is that there's a slight change in formation this afternoon. The Blues usually line up with a three playmakers behind Torres but only Juan Mata and Eden Hazard start, with Oscar and Victor Moses on the bench. That means that Frank Lampard and Ramires start in centre midfield just ahead of David Luiz in his new role in front of the back four.
Everton, meanwhile, make a pair of changes to the side that ousted Wigan on Boxing Day. Steven Naismith comes in for Darron Gibson in midfield while John Heitinga replaces Philip Neville at the back.
Everton's man of the season so far, Marouane Fellaini, is still absent as he serves the last match of his three-game suspension.
Moyes has made a bold move by starting Nikica Jelavic, Victor Anichebe and Naismith together. Chelsea's full-backs Azpilicueta and Cole could take advantage of this by getting forward quickly.
Here are the two substitute benches this afternoon:
Everton: Mucha, Oviedo, Gueye, Barkley, Vellios, Duffy, Browning
Chelsea: Turnbull, Oscar, Moses, Ferreira, Marin, Piazon, Ake
Everton: Mucha, Oviedo, Gueye, Barkley, Vellios, Duffy, Browning
Chelsea: Turnbull, Oscar, Moses, Ferreira, Marin, Piazon, Ake
The bookies make Chelsea favourites for this one this afternoon but Everton are surely worth a punt as they've won the last three against Chelsea at home.
The Toffees are also unbeaten at home this season having won five and drawn four at Goodison since August.
The only other team that is unbeaten at home is Stoke and they only just managed to hang on to that record yesterday. Did you see Cameron Jerome's wonderstrike to snatch a draw? What a hit son!
MILESTONE! Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is making his 400th appearance for the Blues today.
If Everton can avoid defeat today then they will set a new club record of fewest top flight defeats in a calendar year. The Toffees have only lost six times in 2012 so far, one fewer than in 2010.
Although Chelsea's record in recent times at Goodison is no good, Rafael Benitez has a great record against them from his time with Liverpool. The Spaniard is unbeaten in his last seven against Everton.
REFEREE WATCH: Today's man in charge is Howard Webb.
I think today's key battle could come down the Everton left. Will the dynamic duo of Baines and Pienaar be able to get the better of Premier League new boy Azpilicueta. The young Spaniard should get plenty of help from Ramires but at times Baines and Pienaar's link-up play is superb.
My prediction for this afternoon is a 2-1 away win. I feel that Everton won't be able to quite hold on to that unbeaten home record without Fellaini, while Torres, Hazard and Mata should be able to create a couple of goals between them.
Benitez tells Sky Sports News that it's nice to be back on Merseyside and he's 'hopeful' that his side won't get tired today.
The two sides are ready and waiting in the tunnel. Everton are in their traditional blue tops, white shorts and blue socks while Chelsea don their all-white changed strip.
Referee Webb seems to be having plenty of banter with the lads in the tunnel. Doubt it will stay that friendly between the players and the ref once we get underway!
It's a fabulous tunnel at Goodison. Very narrow, forcing the players to nervously stand shoulder-to-shoulder. Anyway, the 22 men and three officials are going through the pre-match handshakes and we're just about ready to go.
I'm yet to see a full 90 minutes with Luiz in his new position so it'll be interesting to see how he fares in that number-four role.
Before we kick off, the two sets of players will remember every Evertonian who passed away in 2012 with a minute's silence. One side of the ground holds up cards to spell out EFC. Touching.
KICKOFF! Everton get us underway.
Howard Webb blows his whistle for the first time as Torres strays offside.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Chelsea (Pienaar)
What a start for the Toffees! Cole and Hazard allow Jagielka so much room to gallop down the right and the defender clips a ball to the back post that Anichebe heads against the post. The ball bounces out and into the path of Pienaar who smashes home from 10 yards.
That really was horrible marking from Cole and Hazard. The pair seemed to be looking at each other as Jagielka stole a march down the right.
Ramires almost breaks clear on goal but Distin gets back to nick the ball from the Brazilian. A mistimed challenge there and the Everton centre-back would have been off.
I'm surprised that Jagielka is starting at right-back instead of Heitinga, who is alongside Distin in the middle. Nothing wrong with the cross that led to the goal, mind.
Everton have a free kick about 22 yards out as Pienaar nicks the ball off Cahill's toes. Big chance, this...
OFF THE POST! Jelavic is the surprise taker and he clips it over the wall and against the same upright that Anichebe hit minutes earlier. This time though the ball doesn't fall to a blue shirt and Chelsea clear.
Chelsea threaten the Everton penalty area for the first time as Hazard cuts in from the left and looks to fizz in a pass to Ramires. The Brazilian can't get it under control though and the ball goes out for a goal kick. Fantastic first 10 minutes from Everton.
Goodison Park is electric as Pienaar pops up on the right this time and sends over a dangerous cross that Cahill has to put out for a corner on the stretch.
The first delivery is headed out by Ivanovic for another and on the second Ivanovic is hauled down by Jelavic. Pressure over, for now.
Mata is shrugged off the ball by Pienaar and that simply buoys on the crowd more. They're loving it!
More jeers from the home support as the first passage of patient Chelsea buildup is ended by Ramires's heavy touch. The visitors are going to struggle to really fizz it around as the surface at Goodison is quite bobbly.
Chelsea have started to see a little more of the ball but they're yet to create a real chance as Torres bundles over Distin when chasing down a through ball.
Mata sends over an arcing cross from the left that Torres almost meets before Ramires blazes a shot horribly wide after a neat one-two with Lampard.
Naismith flicks on Jagielka's long throw but Anichebe can't keep his header down. Chelsea have just about managed to cool down what was a red-hot Everton at the start.
SAVE! Everton almost go two up as Pienaar backheels for Jagielka to cross. His centre is half-heartedly cleared by Cole and Osman lashes the loose ball through Ramires but Cech does brilliantly to keep it out.
CHANCE! Chelsea go up the other end and come extremely close to equalising. Luiz reverses to Ramires and the pacy midfielder is allowed to drive to the edge of the area before he horribly scuffs an outside-of-the-boot effort. The ball fortunately comes to Mata and he can't roll it past the sprawled Howard.
Away from the action, some breaking news has just reached us that Newcastle could be set to sign French right-back Mathieu Debuchy in January after agreeing a £5.5m with Lille. Click here to read the full story.
SO CLOSE! Chelsea won't come any nearer to an equaliser than this. Mata and Torres exchange passes before the former hesitates on the ball in the area. There doesn't seem to be much on but he reverses for the onrushing Azpilicueta who drills a superb cross along the face of goal but somehow Hazard and Cole can't get a touch to it.
SAVE! It's end-to-end all of a sudden as Cech's fingertips keep Chelsea just a goal behind. Pienaar breaks away after deceiving Luiz and he finds Jelavic with a cracking through pass. The Croatian squares up the Chelsea defender and sidesteps onto his left foot before letting fly. It looks as if the ball is heading for the corner until Cech just keeps it out.
Fabulous work from Hitzlsperger to slide in and stop Mata shooting or passing on the edge of the area. Chelsea finishing the half stronger.
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Chelsea (Lampard)
Chelsea are level and it has been coming. The visitors have a sustained spell of pressure that results in a goal as Ramires dinks a cross to the back post for an unmarked Lampard to superbly twist and head back across Howard into the corner. Fine header.
Heitinga tries to what Cameron Jerome did yesterday but slices high, wide and not very handsome.
One minute is added on as Torres fires goalwards only to see his thunderbolt smash into the back of his own player Mata.
HALF-TIME: Everton 1-1 Chelsea
A half of two halves was that. Everton were mesmeric early on and came oh so close to going 2-0 ahead when Jelavic hit the post after Pienaar had opened the scoring in just the second minute. Chelsea have since dominated the last 15 minutes of the half and were rewarded when Lampard guided his header into the corner.
If you've only just joined us, click here to read Liam Apicella's concise half-time report.
BREAKING! Sky Sports News have just announced that Newcastle forward Demba Ba will meet with Chelsea officials this evening over a possible move in January.
Obviously I'm just reporting what SSN are saying but that would be a surprise signing. Ba is said to have a release clause of around £7m in his contract but recent speculation has been linking him with a move to Arsenal. Hmmmm.
Click here to read more on that breaking Ba story.
SUB: Ooh, Chelsea are going to have to take off Cech as he suffered an ankle injury. An unfortunate end to the Czech's 400th appearance for the Blues. Ross Turnbull will come on.
Chelsea get the second half underway.
Early penalty appeals from Everton as Anichebe goes on a strong run. The brutish forward does brilliantly to hold of Luiz but runs out of room and decides to tumble. Good call from Webb to wave that away.
talkSPORT commentator Stan Collymore has just tweeted: "Just asked Chelsea reps here at Goodison about Ba. No comment." It's not like they were going to say he's on his way is it!
Baines has had the back of his shirt torn and the England left-back also has a nasty graze all down his back. Looks nasty and strangely they're allowing him to play on even though it looks like an open wound.
Wonderful cross from Ramires forces Jagielka to poke out for a corner. Hazard's set piece doesn't beat the first man though.
Turnbull's a portly chap isn't he? You can almost see a beer belly and some man boobs under that fluorescent Chelsea goalie top.
Baines is finally forced to change his ripped top.
Luiz has not had a good game whenever he tries to pass or do something creative. His latest through-ball attempt is far too strong for Ramires and bobbles out of play.
CHANCE! Classic! The moment I slate Luiz's playmaking ability he dinks a sublime ball over for Torres but the Spaniard's first touch lets him down. Great chance to at least get a shot in.
Chelsea are flowing forward with numbers now. The latest chance to go ahead ends when Torres wanders offside. 'El Nino' missed the chance anyway but Chelsea had a four-on-two situation there and that's a waste.
Luiz blazes way over the bar after a superb backheel from Mata had allowed Hazard some space. Up the other end Jelavic was given offside when running clear and it was ever so tight. Maybe a fraction ahead of the line.
Free kick for Everton right on the edge of the left side of the area as Ramires nastily challenges Baines from behind...
The left-back whips it in but that's superbly headed out by Ivanovic.
The Everton fans are appealing for a goal as Jagielka loops towards the net but Turnbull held the ball way ahead of the goalline. Better last five minutes from Everton.
Heitinga lobs a ball over the Chelsea backline and it's allowed to bounce before Turnbull jumps highest to gather.
YELLOW! Pienaar receives the first booking of the game for a mistimed challenge on Luiz.
First real bit of sparkle in the match from Hazard as he beats a couple of men before seeking out his playmaking companion Mata. The Spaniard can't return the favour as his reverse pass is read.
SHOT! Azpilicueta's run down the outside means that Torres is given an extra yard of space and the striker lets fly from 20 yards but Howard is equal to it, beating away for a corner.
SAVE! That's the closest we've come to a third goal. The ever-impressive Osman drives at the area and curls low but Turnbull does very well to fingertip away.
OFF THE BAR! Everton hit the woodwork for a third time as Baines cuts inside and swings in a cross that Jelavic stoops to flick goalwards. It's too quick for Turnbull, flashing past his despairing diving but against the face of the crossbar. Super effort.
Moments later, Luiz becomes the second player to be cautioned for tripping Pienaar. It's been a bit heated between those two.
GOAL! Everton 1-2 Chelsea (Lampard)
It's Lampard again! Mata picks out Hazard with a floated ball to the back post and the Belgian looks to nod it back for Lampard. Jagielka just about gets there to take it off Lampard's toes but it falls to Mata whose volley is saved by Howard. The rebound pops up for Lampard though and the number eight makes no mistake from six yards.
Distin is booked for a nasty lunge on Azpilicueta before Chelsea make their second change with Victor Moses taking the place of Hazard, who had been kept fairly quiet today.
Everton also make a sub as Naismith is replaced by Greek striker Apostolos Vellios.
Chelsea look to break but, for once, Mata's pass lets him down.
SUB: Hot young prospect Ross Barkley is on in place of Hitzlsperger.
Everton aren't happy as Webb blows his whistle for a foul on Ramires by Pienaar. Wrong call that, the South African was only holding his ground.
SUB: Pienaar is instantly subbed off for Bryan Oviedo. Maybe Moyes thought there was a danger that he might get sent off having already been booked.
Excellent work down the left from Mata and Moses gives the latter a chance to shoot but his effort is well blocked.
Everton's three hits on the woodwork this afternoon has taken their season tally to 17 - more than any other side in the top flight.
SUB: Final Chelsea changes sees Oscar take the place of Mata.
Barkley has a bit of space 25 yards out and he has a go. It's well struck but always rising and Turnbull sees it over the bar.
BOOKING! Ashley Cole is seemingly booked for time wasting. Webb certainly doesn't mind getting up in the players' faces as he tells the whinging Ivanovic where to go!
Oscar almost nicks the ball off Distin and it results in a chance for Torres to get a shot away but he doesn't quite work the chance, winning a corner instead.
The Everton fans are getting frustrated as Jelavic and Jagielka, completely uncontested, go for the same ball.
Four minutes added on.
CHANCE! Chelsea should wrap it up. Barkley is dispossessed and Oscar has Torres and Moses with him and just Distin to beat. He lays in Torres but the Spaniard takes a touch instead of hitting it and Distin manages to get back.
CHANCE! That's Everton's golden opportunity to equalise. What a chance! Baines sends over a cross and it somehow reaches Jelavic and all the Croatian has to do is turn goalwards but he doesn't make any contact. Complete swing-and-miss.
FULL-TIME: Everton 1-2 Chelsea
Chelsea come from behind to win it thanks to Lampard's brace either side of half-time. Everton had taken an early lead through Pienaar and will feel hard done by not to come away with at least a point after hitting the woodwork twice after their goal.
If you're only just joining and don't want to wade through the updates, click here for Liam's match report.
Three points for Benitez's side takes them above Spurs into third. They're four points behind Man City in second but have a game in-hand on Roberto Mancini's side.
Thanks for joining Sports Mole this afternoon. Make sure you stick around on site and join my esteemed colleague Barney Corkhill for coverage of the final Premier League game of a blockbuster 2012 between QPR and Liverpool. You can find that by clicking here. It's goodbye from me though, be sure to have yourselves a happy New Year!
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
