Hull v Chelsea - follow the Premier League action from the KC Stadium as it happened

Jose Mourinho has moulded his side into the Chelsea of old, and that has to be a worry for the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal.

After losing at Sunderland in the Capital One Cup quarter-final, Mourinho announced he’d had enough of taking the game to opponents and carving out them apart, only to end up empty-handed due to chances being frittered away.

Time to shut up shop he added, or words to that effect, and the pragmatic approach that has been adapted since has echoes of the team he took to the top of the Barclays Premier League last time he was in charge. Not all that pretty but mighty effective.

There was even the bonus of a goal from Fernando Torres to supplement a brilliant individual effort by Eden Hazard.

Looking good, Jose.

And there's the full-time whistle.

Goals from Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres secure all three points for Chelsea to send them top of the Premier League, while Hull stay 10th.

The home side defended well for large periods of the game but never really looked like scoring as Petr Cech kept his 209th clean sheet for the club with relative ease.

That’s the way to put the lid on it, Jose.

The Chelsea manager has bemoaned his strike force’s shortcomings all season and looked like having more ammunition for another rant after a largely anonymous 86 minutes by Fernando Torres.

All that changed in the 87th minute, though, as Torres latched on to a Willian pass, surged past Alex Bruce and fired a low shot inside McGregor’s near post. Why doesn’t he do it more often?..

Michael Essien comes on for Ramires with only injury time left to play.

Game over.

After giving the ball away twice in the space of a minute, Fernando Torres picks it up and drives forward, beating Alex Bruce for pace before powering the ball past McGregor with his left foot.

Chelsea are top of the Premier League and Torres is immediately replaced by Andre Schurrle.

Stephen Quinn comes on to replace George Boyd in midfield.

Hull still in with a chance as their ways urge them forward with just over five minutes to play.

Goalscorer Hazard is chopped down by Maynor Figeuroa near the halfway line and the former Wigan man is booked.

Jose Mourinho makes a defensive change by bringing on John Obi Mikel for Oscar with just over 10 minutes to play.

That would surely have wrapped it up for Chelsea, but for Davies throwing himself in the way of Oscar’s close-range shot, from Willian’s cutback, and diverting it over the bar.

It was a sweeping move by Chelsea, and you could only marvel at the way it was launched by two absolutely pinpoint passes by Hazard and Luiz deep inside their own half.

Steve Bruce is going for it, taking off a central defender in James Chester and replacing him with striker Matty Fryatt.

Oscar and Willian combine with a quick counter-attack but Curtis Davies is on hand to throw himself in the way of the former's goal-bound effort.

Hull defending valiantly but they don't look like finding an equaliser.

A cross from Torres ends with Hazard having a shot from an acute angle which is blocked.

The Blues are pushing for another goal but Hull are still holding strong.

Steve Bruce must be thinking about bringing on Danny Graham with time running out.

Another booking, this time for Hull midfielder Jake Livermore.

The on-loan Tottenham man scraped down the back of Fernando Torres' ankle and deserved his card.

Robert Koren comes on for David Meyler with just over 20 minutes to play.

Gary Cahill picks up the first yellow card of the afternoon for deliberate handball.

Huddlestone lines up the resulting free-kick just outside the Chelsea area but his curling effort goes straight out of play.

Another disappointing set-piece from the Hull midfielder.

How many times have we seen that from Hazard this season?

Cutting in from the left along the edge of the opposition area, you just know a shot is on its way. Alex Bruce did but anticipated it a touch early, launching himself into what he thought would be a saving block.

Hazard saw that coming and cleverly skipped on an extra pace before drilling a low shot into the bottom right corner. There was simply no stopping it, not even for a keeper in the sort of form McGregor has shown this afternoon.

Eden Hazard threatened to score a few minutes ago and Hull didn't learn to stop him cutting in from the left.

The former Lille man works himself some space after a mazy run and, after picking his spot, drives the ball into the bottom corner from outside the box.

A fine opener for Mourinho's men.

David Luiz forced Allan MGregor into a save late in the first half with a free-kick and he does exactly the same at the start of the second period.

Again favouring his side-footed style, the Brazilian's low effort forces the Scottish keeper to palm the ball away.

Chelsea controlling the game as it stands.

Eden Hazard has struggled to impose himself on the game at times but his clever run wins Chelsea a corner when a low shot is deflected wide.

The Belgium international looks more than capable of beating his opposite man and cutting inside to shoot.

Hull get us underway and there's all to play for in this second half.

Chelsea get hold of the ball immediately but Willian's cross is easily cleared before Luiz's ambitious strike goes well wide.

Chelsea struggled to break down Hull's stubborn back five in the opening period and Mourinho will be all too aware about how vital three points are this afternoon.

The Special One has Andre Schurrle and Samuel Eto'o on the bench but could the creativity of Juan Mata be key as Bruce's side get tired?

Shots (On Target) 7(2)-4(2)

Possession 33.4%-66.6%

Corners 1-4

Tackles 13-17

Fouls 4-3

I was going to say it was Weather 1, Players 0 at half-time after wondering at the outset whether the teams might be able to match the brilliance of the Humberside sunshine. But McGregor’s save from Oscar surely goes down as an equaliser.

It was an otherwise fairly mundane first 45 minutes, but they’ll be talking about the Hull keeper’s reflex save over a pie and a pint in the KC Stadium bars during half-time.

Goalless at half-time, with neither side able to break the deadlock.

Hull have been restricted to a couple of long-range efforts and Yannick Sagbo's half-volley after a John Terry error, while Chelsea should've taken the lead through Oscar.

David Luiz might be a liability in defence but he sure can take a free-kick.

The former Benfica man uses his favoured side-foot technique to get the ball up and over the Hull wall but McGregor is well placed to tip the ball safely over the bar.

The home side clear the resulting corner.

The England hopeful stands over a free-kick 35 yards from goal but his attempted cross goes high and straight out of play.

Steve Bruce will be frustrated that his star man didn't make more of that.

Yannick Sagbo tries to steal the ball away from Ashley Cole and gets caught by the former Arsenal man.

The Hull forward spends a moment rolling around in pain as the home supporters boo loudly enough for Chelsea to kick the ball out.

Thirty seconds later and he's up and looking fine to continue.

We may just have witnessed save of the season, and it was all down to anticipation by McGregor.

I refuse to believe it is humanly possible to react swiftly enough to dive to your right and tip over a shot that’s blasted at you from eight yards. That’s how far out Oscar was, and TV replays here in the press box confirm that McGregor was already launching himself to his right as the Chelsea midfielder let fly.

Absolutely exceptional by the Hull keeper.

Some brilliant build-up from Chelsea leaves Oscar completely free just 10 yards from goal.

The Brazilian steadies himself but Allan McGregor pulls off a brilliant reaction save to stop his powerful effort.

Save of the season contender.

So much for Chelsea’s new-found solidity. That was downright careless by Terry. He had all the time in the word to clear his lines, but mishit the ball against Elmohamady and saw it spin into the path of Sagbo, who should have done considerably better than fire wide, with just Cech to beat.

Chelsea skipper John Terry almost made a costly error in the opening minute of the game and he did the same midway through the half.

His sloppy pass fell straight to Hull striker Yannick Sagbo, whose half-volley goes wide of Cech's right-hand post.

Big let-off for the visitors, there.

Unable to find a killer ball, Jake Livermore takes it upon himself to open the scoring with a long-range effort.

His low drive forces Cech into a diving save but the home side can do nothing with the resulting corner.

Bruce's men have definitely had the better attempts at goal so far.

Hull are seeing more and more of the ball but can't seem to find a final pass.

Elmohamady has been the Tigers' best outlet so far, running at Ashley Cole and beating him for pace and trickery on more than one occasion.

So Huddlestone’s haircut hasn’t had a ‘Samson’ effect on him, after all. Hazard will vouch for that after being flattened by a crunching challenge near the halfway line.

It certainly took the wind out of the Belgian’s sails, and he needed treatment before continuing.

Huddlestone challenges Hazard for the ball and catches him with an accidental forearm to the chest. No card for the former Spurs man.

Chelsea break quickly and Torres has space down Hull's right side.

The former Liverpool man cuts inside but his effort on goal is deflected wide for a corner, which the home side clear with relative ease.

Hull are working hard to pressure Chelsea's players whenever they have the ball.

Never far from controversy, Mr Clattenburg, is he?

Hazard had acres of space in front of him and was in full flow when he was ‘tackled’ by Clattenburg. Not deliberately, of course, but the referee’s positioning was questionable, and it looked from here like he could have done more to get out of the way.

His response? An imaginary back heel and smile that wasn’t altogether appreciated by Hazard. There’s a time for attempting humour, Clattenburg, and that wasn’t it.

Fair play to him, though, he followed it up with an apology and raised hand towards the Chelsea attacker.

Hull are settling into the game and manage the first shot on target through Ahmed Elmohamady.

The Egyptian wide-man has a low shot from outside the area but Petr Cech gathers easily. A warning for Chelsea.

Eden Hazard uses his pace to get away from one Hull midfielder but his run is halted by referee Mark Clattenburg, who steps into his path accidentally.

Hull now seeing more of the ball but it's been a scrappy start so far.

The visitors get hold of the ball early on and push forward but Willian's attempted cross goes out for a goal kick.

Torres wins a corner just seconds later, though.

Fernando Torres and Oscar get us underway at the KC Stadium.

The floodlights are on, but I’m not sure why. Brilliant sunshine greets the two teams as they step out.

Let’s hope it’s an omen and the players can match it with their deeds on the pitch.

Hull stuck six goals past feeble Fulham last time out here, don’t forget, but Chelsea have tightened up at the back considerably in recent weeks.

'I try to choose (the team) in relation to the opponent, previous matches and training sessions. Sometimes I'm correct and sometimes I'm not.

'It's easy to pick our defensive four. I chose Luiz because Mikel didn't train on Thursday and Friday. The other three (Hazard, Oscar and Willian) are all playing really well.'

When asked about any transfer developments, Mourinho added: 'Nothing. The club is calm.'

After being rested for last weekend's FA Cup win against Middlesbrough, Tom Huddlestone will show off his new haircut on the pitch for the first time today.

The former Tottenham midfielder underwent a major trim after breaking his goalscoring drought against Fulham, raising over £6,000 for charity in the process.

Will he get another new style if he scores today?

Juan Mata looked in good spirits as he arrived at the KC Stadium, despite being on the bench again today.

The Spaniard showed his frustration when he was substituted at Southampton two weeks ago and Mourinho has opted to play his preferred attacking trio of Oscar, Eden Hazard and Willian behind Fernando Torres today.

Whether Mourinho calls on the former Valencia man remains to be seen.

A boost ahead of today's game for Hull fans, who saw their team agree a fee with Everton for striker Nikica Jelavic last night.

The Tigers will pay an initial £5.5million, potentially rising to £7.5million, for the Croatian international as long as he agrees personal terms.

Steve Bruce hopes to have the former Rangers man in his squad next weekend.

Speaking to BT Sport ahead of kick-off, Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole has warned his team-mates about the threat posed by Hull.

The England man said: 'At home Hull have played well, scoring goals and not conceding too many, so we know we’ve got to be on our guard today.

'We can go top today and sit back and watch the other teams play later.'

Eden Hazard starts for Chelsea today and his manager Jose Mourinho has praised the Belgian's development this season ahead of the game at the KC Stadium.

Mourinho said: 'If his value was around £40m when Chelsea bought him, and he’s two or three times better now, his value in the market is a crazy value.

'He’s not a player we’re interested in selling. There’s no chance of Eden going.

'He has made progress in everything. He was known before as one of the worst trainers and he has become, if not one of the best, a good professional.

'He is a funny boy, always laughing and smiling and having a joke with the others, so he did not have top concentration, or training sessions where he was looking to improve. Now he is completely different, trying to improve collective and individual qualities.'

Starting XI: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Ramires, David Luiz, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Torres

Subs: Schwarzer, Bertrand, Mikel, Essien, Schurrle, Mata, Eto'o

Starting XI: McGregor, Chester, Bruce, Davies, Elmohamady, Figueroa, Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore, Boyd, Sagbo

Subs: Harper, Rosenior, Faye, Quinn, Koren, Graham, Fryatt

...and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of Chelsea's trip to Hull.

Jose Mourinho's men have the opportunity to climb above Manchester City and Arsenal to the top of the Premier League with a win, but Steve Bruce's resilient side know that victory will send them nine points clear of the drop zone.

All the action from the KC Stadium coming up, with team news to follow shortly.