Chelsea vs Stoke | Latest Team News | Expected Line-Up’s | Predicted Score

Chelsea will be looking to climb in to second position in the Premier League table when they take on Stoke at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

The Blues come in to the game off the back of a routine 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Boxing Day which extended their run to just one defeat in their last 12 league games.

The defending champions are now just one point adrift of second-placed Manchester United so Antonio Conte will be hoping to leapfrog their rivals with another win tomorrow afternoon.

Stoke head to the capital having drawn 1-1 at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday but with Mark Hughes’ side just three points above the relegation zone they’ll be desperate to come away with a positive result this weekend.

Team news

Chelsea will once again be without David Luiz as the defender is still nursing a knee injury but Conte hopes to have him available again for the FA Cup clash with Norwich next weekend.

Charly Musonda is also still out with a groin problem but Andreas Christensen is back after missing the Brighton game through illness.

Conte has no fresh injury concerns to worry about and the Italian coach is set to rotate with Davide Zappacosta, Pedro and Willian among the players pushing for recalls.

Stoke have problems at the back as Ryan Shawcross has been ruled out with a calf injury, Bruno Martins Indi is out with a groin problem and Kurt Zouma can not feature against his parent club.

Expected line-ups

Predicted Score

Chelsea 2-0 Stoke: The Blues have an excellent record against Stoke having taken 25 points from a possible 27 at home against the Potters and I see that run continuing tomorrow. Conte’s side have been quietly going about their business in recent weeks and I think they’ll ease to a routine win over Stoke.