Chelsea
welcome their star-studded squad back from international duty as they host
Stoke live on
Saturday Night Football.
The Blues are the only professional club left in England with an unbeaten
home league record this season, and they will go into Saturday's clash
knowing Mark Hughes has never won at Stamford Bridge as a coach.
Loic Remy spared Chelsea's blushes before the international break as they
let a two-goal lead over Hull slip, before the striker netted the winner to
maintain their six-point gap at the top of the table.
The visitors will find it tough going to avoid a third straight defeat after
losing to West Brom and Crystal Palace in their last two encounters.
Team news
Diego Costa is a doubt with a hamstring problem and Blues boss Jose Mourinho
may choose not to risk the striker from the start.
John Obi Mikel (knee) is pushing for a return, while Petr Cech (muscular
injury) is unlikely to make Chelsea's matchday squad.
Jonathan Walters has sustained a calf knock, but Hughes expects the Potters
forward will be available for this weekend's Stamford Bridge contest, while
Philipp Wollscheid, Erik Pieters and Stephen Ireland are also all fit again.
Defender Marc Muniesa is set to return to the matchday squad after missing
five games because of a hamstring problem, and Victor Moses has recovered
from injury - but will not be able to feature against his parent club.
Opta facts
Chelsea are the only team in the four divisions of English football who have
not lost a home match in the league this season.
The Potters have failed to score in six of the last seven Premier League
games against Chelsea.
Chelsea have won 10 and lost just one of the 13 Barclays Premier League
meetings with Stoke City.
The Blues have conceded just eight goals in their last 22 Premier League
matches at Stamford Bridge, keeping 16 clean sheets in that run.
Chelsea have kept five clean sheets in a row against Stoke at Stamford
Bridge and overall they have kept nine shut outs in 13 Premier League
meetings.
Hughes is happy to have signed a new contract Peter Crouch has scored just
seven Premier League goals this season, but they have won Stoke City nine
points. Conversely, Diego Costa’s 19 PL goals have only earned Chelsea eight
points.
Merson's prediction
Stoke played extremely well against Crystal Palace before the international
break but just came out on the wrong side of the result. They face a much
sterner challenge against a Chelsea side wanting to put the race for the
league title to bed.
They won’t have it all their own way against Mark Hughes’ side but they will
be determined to extend the gap before Manchester City play on Sunday. That
determination and hunger will be the difference.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0
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