From being one point above the relegation zone to being seven away from European qualification, Chelsea’s season has come a long way. The blues are on a 12 match unbeaten streak in the league and are playing with a new found swagger at this moment.
Chelsea host Stoke City in today’s match at Stamford Bridge. Only six matches are remaining at the Bridge excluding the mid-week all important clash against PSG.
Guus Hiddink is expected to not change many names that played in the victory against Norwich City. It is really impressive of the fact that after such a disastrous start, Chelsea has collected most points so far in 2016.
Team news:
Guus Hiddink has confirmed in his press conference that Diego Costa will start against the Potters. Mikel, Fabregas, and Willian will have to perform very well. Eden Hazard has improved off late but needs to find scoring boots real soon.
Stoke City are understood to be experiencing an injury crisis. Ryan Shawcross, Glen Johnson, Phil Bardsley, Geoff Cameron and Marc Wilson are all out of the trip to Stamford Bridge and so is Charlie Adam.
Stoke have found their form back with three League wins out of three. The past three meetings between the two sides reveals that this will be a close affair.
Players to watch out for:
Diego Costa has found his scoring touch again and might be a menace to the Potters’ defence. Eden Hazard has improved his form and is looking in good shape ahead of the match. Marko Arnautovic has been scoring for fun in the past weeks and his partnership with Bojan will be the threat to the Blues.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Kenedy; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Oscar; Costa
Stoke possible starting lineup:
Butland; Cameron, Muniesa, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Imbula, Shaqiri, Afellay, Arnautovic; Walters
Stats:
- Chelsea have won all seven Premier League matches against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge, with the Potters scoring just two goals in that run.
- Guus Hiddink is unbeaten in his 11 Premier League games as Chelsea manager in this spell – no manager has gone 12 unbeaten at the start of a single spell as a manager at a Premier League club.
- Stoke boss Mark Hughes has lost 30 and won none of his last 34 Premier League matches as a coach at Anfield, Emirates/Highbury, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge combined.
- Hughes played three seasons for Chelsea scoring 25 goals in 95 Premier League appearances.
- Diego Costa has scored or assisted 12 goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances (eight goals, four assists).
- Chelsea are the only team in the Premier League not to concede any goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches in 2015-16 so far.
- Chelsea are on their longest unbeaten run of the season in the league (12 games), which is also the second longest run of any team in 2015-16 (Spurs 14).
Prediction:
Chelsea 2- 1 Stoke City
Match referee: Mark Clattenburg.