"I know it’s a completely different Chelsea team – in terms of attitude anyway – but they failed to beat Stoke in three attempts last season and Stoke are the kind of side who will make it difficult for you."
Chelsea v Stoke
Saturday December 31, 15:00
Saturday December 31, 15:00
Chelsea
A 3-0 victory at home to Bournemouth took Chelsea to 12 straight wins and they did it without the services of Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante. The pair of them will be back for this game, but Pedro is suspended after collecting his fifth yellow of the season against the Cherries.
The Blues are six points clear at the top of the table and with Liverpool taking on Man City in the evening kick off, they'll be thinking that they have a chance of that lead being even bigger come the end of the day. They are odds-on for the title, 1.75 if you want to back it, but there's still a long way to go and I'd rather be a layer than a backer at that price.
Antonio Conte has certainly galvanised the Chelsea players following their dismal title defence last year, and his formation change has brought out the best in all of them. Their opponents are struggling to deal with them, and it's only really Tottenham who have mastered it - and they managed it for a mere 45 minutes.
Stoke
It's now four games without a win for Stoke as they were beaten 4-1 at Anfield on Tuesday. They had taken a shock lead, but Liverpool roared back to comfortably beat them. That result left the Potters down in 13th place, but the league is very congested in the middle, with only four points separating eighth to 14th.
Mark Hughes' side face the third of three tough away fixtures on the bounce at Stamford Bridge, and while they managed to score at both Arsenal and Liverpool, they were soundly beaten in the end.
It's hard to predict what kind of line up the manager will pick and it will certainly be interesting to see if he sets up differently to combat Chelsea's three at the back system, although Hughes has been favouring something similar himself of late.
The hosts are the red hot favourites, and as they come into the match on the back of 12 straight victories - 10 of which were to nil - it's not hard to see why.
All good things come to an end though and the value has to be in opposing them. I know it's a completely different Chelsea team - in terms of attitude anyway - but they failed to beat Stoke in three attempts last season and Stoke are the kind of side who will make it difficult for you.
The visitors have goals in them as well, so it's not like they are going to go to the Bridge and park the bus. Also, despite not having enjoyed the greatest campaign thus far, Stoke have avoided defeat in five of their nine on the road, and that includes a draw at Old Trafford and victories at Hull and Watford.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Over 2.5 Goals 1.70 Under 2.5 Goals 2.40
The over is clearly fancied at 1.70 but I wouldn't be taking that kind of price. Don't get me wrong, I think there will be goals, but those odds are a touch skinny.
It would have landed in eight of Chelsea's nine home fixtures this term but in only three of Stoke's away from home. Interestingly though, Mark Hughes' men netted in all but one of those nine away games, and they kept just the two clean sheets themselves.
That stat brings both teams to score into play, and with it trading at a very seductive 2.26, I'd much rather be on that than over 2.5.
