There will be 100 Premier League players in action at the World Cup, spread across 25 international teams.

Watford 4 Chelsea 1: Antonio Conte’s future as Chelsea boss was cast into further doubt as his 10 men were thrashed 4-1 by Watford last night.

Antonio Conte's future as Chelsea boss was cast into further doubt as his 10-men were thrashed 4-1 by Watford in the Premier League.

Antonio Conte has admitted that there is a real danger Chelsea will be without Champions League football next season following their humiliating home defeat against Bournemouth.

Olivier Giroud’s presence on the sidelines provided confirmation Antonio Conte had got the new striker he wanted during the January transfer window.

Chelsea have signed Olivier Giroud from Arsenal, with Michy Batshuayi leaving Stamford Bridge to join Borussia Dortmund on loan.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accepts getting a deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pushed through ahead of the transfer deadline was always likely to prove "complicated".

The waters have been muddied by Chelsea's emerging interest in Olivier Giroud.

Arsenal have reached agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund over the club record £55.5m (€63m) signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Michy Batshuayi scored twice as Chelsea marched on in the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal 2 Chelsea (Arsenal win 2-1 on aggregate)

Brighton 0 - Chelsea 4: Chelsea’s 4-0 victory at Brighton at the weekend has quietened the critics who suggested there was a crisis building at Stamford Bridge but it hasn’t ended speculation about their search for a striker after manager Antonio Conte challenged Michy Batshuayi to fill the void – but also left the door open for him to leave.

Eden Hazard inspired Chelsea to victory at Brighton to give the champions their first Premier League win of 2018.

What the papers say.

Chelsea were last night linked with a shock move for veteran Stoke City striker Peter Crouch after an ankle injury to Andy Carroll ruled out a January switch to Stamford Bridge for the West Ham target man.

Chaotic Chelsea ended a five-hour scoring drought before advancing in the FA Cup with a 5-3 penalty shootout win over Norwich.

Antonio Conte has no intention of quitting Chelsea and says it is up to the club whether he stays on as head coach.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte does not want unhappy players bringing down the morale of the squad.

The January transfer window has not yet opened and already a huge deal has been agreed, with Virgil van Dijk heading from Southampton to Liverpool for what is understood to be £75million, the highest price ever paid for a defender.

Chelsea  2 Bournemouth 1:  Alvaro Morata’s stoppage-time strike sent Chelsea into the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 defeat of Bournemouth.

Antonio Conte hopes Andreas Christensen can have as successful a career with Chelsea as John Terry.

What's being said online and in the papers.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association following his dismissal against Swansea on Wednesday.

Willian and David Luiz have been out of Conte's first XI of late and Conte is preparing to rotate his options throughout a busy December and January.

Mourinho must accept his role in Manchester United’s passiveness

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte says there is no risk attached in playing striker Alvaro Morata against Roma on Wednesday night.

Antonio Conte could never be accused of overhyping Chelsea’s chances of retaining their Premier League title, but the manager’s reaction to Saturday’s defeat at Crystal Palace only underlined the scale of the task confronting the defending champions.

Blaise Matuidi's early goal proved enough for France to secure a crucial 1-0 victory away to Bulgaria which put them back at the top of World Cup European Qualifying Group A.

Antonio Conte reckons Chelsea have been "penalised" by the Premier League fixture schedulers over Saturday's clash with Manchester City.

Atletico Madrid 1 Chelsea 2: Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi proved there is life after Diego Costa as Chelsea fought back to win 2-1 at Atletico Madrid last night.

Paris St Germain pair Neymar and Edison Cavani put their differences aside to inspire an emphatic 3-0 win over Bayern Munich in Champions League Group B.

Costa, whose return to Atletico was completed on Tuesday, watched on as Chelsea responded from David Luiz's needless concession of a penalty scored by Antoine Griezmann.

Chelsea 6 FK Qarabag 0: Chelsea will face tougher tests than this, a stroll in cruise control against Champions League rookies Qarabag, but the Blues are back in the big time and showed how much they want to reprise their 2012 triumph.

MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: Daniel Storey looks at what this weekend’s Premier League action thought us.

Thibaut Courtois has warned Tottenham that opposing teams will raise their game at Wembley - and also poked fun at the lack of atmosphere at their temporary home.

They are supposed to be embroiled in yet another ‘crisis’ at Stamford Bridge, but a dramatic victory over London rivals Tottenham at Wembley, inspired by two-goal Marcos Alonso, showed pretty emphatically that the Chelsea spirit is very much alive, even in the post-John Terry era.

Tottenham's first league game at Wembley has ended in disappointment.

Chelsea and Diego Costa’s dispute is no nearer to a resolution as the Blues begin their Premier League title defence in an apparent legal wrangle with the exiled striker.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte was "angry" after Sunday's Community Shield loss to Arsenal at Wembley.

Pedro will return home from Chelsea's pre-season tour after he suffered concussion during Saturday's friendly victory over Arsenal.

The game against Sunderland was almost secondary as Chelsea fans had only two things on our mind — finally getting our hands on the Premier League trophy and giving JT the send-off that the most successful captain of the Premier League era deserves.