Conte To Make 2 Changes: Predicted Chelsea XI To Face Stoke City

Chelsea will be looking to cement their position at the top of the Premier League table when they entertain Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Eve.

Here is the team we think Antonio Conte will pick for the game:

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois has played an important role in Chelsea’s stunning recent form so he will once again line-up between the sticks on Saturday.

Defence: John Terry is Conte’s only injury concern as the club captain continues to nurse a long-standing buttock injury so the 35-year-old is set to miss out again this weekend.

Kurt Zouma has been back in the squad in recent games after recovering from a serious knee injury but I can’t see Conte changing a back three that’s served him so well so I expect we’ll once again see David Luiz joined by Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta at the back.

Midfield: Chelsea will welcome N’Golo Kante back from suspension after he missed the win over Bournemouth having picked up his fifth booking of the season against Crystal Palace.

Cesc Fabregas came in for the French international last time out but he’s expected to drop back to the bench with Nemanja Matic keeping his place in the middle of the park once again.

Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso continue to impress out on the wings so I don’t see either player being dropped any time soon.

Attack: The Blues will be boosted by the return of top scorer Diego Costa after he served a one-game ban on Monday so the Spanish international should resume his role up front against Stoke.

Conte will be without Pedro as he’s suspended having picked up his fifth booking of the season against the Cherries so he’ll be the man to make way with Eden Hazard and Willian keeping their places to support Costa in attack.

Here is how we think Chelsea will line-up: