THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS BACK! How we've missed it...

Here we go then. The longest, slowest two weeks of the season are over. Tempo, goals, cards, drama, all about to return...

Former Magpies midfielder Joey Barton is a very popular man in the tunnel at St James' Park, shaking hands and sharing tales with the Newcastle squad. He's having plenty of chat with the officials too. A walking booking?

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Everything's in place for the teams at the Etihad, including one Swansea fan wearing an elf hat. When is it acceptable to dig out the festive attire? Gone 10 days too early for me.

'Hibbo scores, we riot...'

John Pierce:, external Roberto Martinez puts out an ultra attacking team, including Tony Hibbert at left back. As we know Hibbo will break the internet when he scores.

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Tony Hibbert has so far failed to score in 324 matches and a goal today could see him succeed where Kim Kardashian failed.

Looks like the first 'cold weather' afternoon in the Premier League season. Scarves and hats outnumbering short sleeves by a factor of 500 to one. Almost time for the thermos flask and thermals.

"If you want atmosphere, let us stand!" screams a banner at Stamford Bridge. Can the Premier League leaders give their fans something to cheer about?

The teams are out. Time for that Premier League anthem...

Owen in Hitchin: Looking at West Ham today - 5 in midfield and two battering rams up top - boss the middle and take advantage of Everton's leaky defence! That or 9 behind the ball and hit the big men.

Tony Cocozza: Have I just time warped back to last season? How can my West Ham team lose nearly all of its new signings?

Full-time in the early game in Scotland. The Hearts fans are in tremendous voice - there is a long way to go but a nine-point lead looks very healthy indeed for the unbeaten Edinburgh side.

Jason Holt hammered in a cracker, with Jamie Walker adding a late penalty.

Follow the rest of the day's Scottish action here.

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Danny Mills
BBC Final Score

"There will be a lot of teams that want Wilfried Bony and I wonder if this new contract is to push his price up a little bit."

The Ivorian, who signed a one-year contract extension this week, has scored four goals in 13 appearances this season.

David Pleat
Former Tottenham manager on BBC Radio 5 live:

Image source, PA

"Chelsea have a settled team and a settled system and so far they have hit on the perfect combination of players. Diego Costa is important to that but Didier Drogba is waiting in the wings, Andre Schurrle can score and they went out and bought extra security in Loic Remy."

Burnley have been rooted to the bottom of the league ever since they arrived, but victory today could lift them clear of the relegation zone altogether. Is today a big day for the Clarets?

Twenty minutes to kick-off around the grounds then. Diego Costa, as strong as a bull, has grown his hair out a bit in the last fortnight. John Terry slaps him on the back and shouts some words of advice down his ear. Costa smiles and walks away from his captain, shaking his head.

I don't want to know...

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Joey Barton, Karl Henry, Sandro and Leroy Fer. In the history of ball-winning midfields, that is right up there...

Newcastle midfielder Ryan Taylor starts a Premier League fixture for the first time in 32 months. Both he and central defender Mike Williamson come in for the injured Mehdi Abeid and Fabricio Coloccini.

QPR have made two changes. Winger Eduardo Vargas is unavailable following the birth of his daughter, while Chilean team-mate Mauricio Isla is rested following international duty. Defender Nedum Onuoha and ex-Magpies midfielder Joey Barton come into the starting XI.

Newcastle XI: Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, R.Taylor, Sissoko, Colback, Cabella, Perez, Ameobi

QPR XI: Green, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Yun, Barton, Sandro, Henry, Fer, Zamora, Austin.

BBC Final Score

On Final Score, we're giving you the chance to vote on who you think will be this season's Premier League top scorer - Diego Costa, Sergio Aguero, Alexis Sanchez or Saido Berahino?

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Alex Song, Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho all out for West Ham today - though Andy Carroll is back. Will the Hammers' early-season form come undone this afternoon?

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James Sanders:, external West Ham's Valencia, Sakho, Song and Downing out after international duty, yet Costa and Fabregas miraculously fit.

Tom Holmes:, external West Ham missing far too many key players today, both at the heart of their midfield and crucially, up top. Everton to win.

Mark Daws:, external The price you pay for success? Lose half of your squad injured on international duty. Team smacks of last season.

Four of the top five in the top flight are in action over the next few hours, with seemingly invincible leaders Chelsea looking to stretch their early season lead to seven points.

Unless Alan Irvine's West Brom manage the unthinkable and win at the Bridge today, Chelsea will set a new club record of 12 games unbeaten from the start of a top-flight season. In the bag?

One major bookmaker has already paid out on Chelsea winning the title...