Chelsea - Stoke: Preview and Lineups Prediction

Chelsea welcome Stoke to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon in pursuit of a fifth victory under Guus Hiddink as the Premier League enters the final ten fixtures of the season.

Another win could catapult for the tenth-place Blues as high as seventh in the table and potentially swap positions with the Potters, who are on a streak of their own having taken maximum points from their last three league outings.

Stoke Team News

Mark Hughes has indicated only five of his defenders are fully fit with Ryan Shawcross, Glen Johnson, Phil Bardsley, Marc Wilson and Geoff Cameron unlikely to feature.

Midfielder Charlie Adam is also considered a doubt to feature at Stamford Bridge.

Stoke Starting XI Prediction

Butland | Cameron, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Pieters | Imbula, Whelan | Shaqiri, Afellay, Arnautovic, Walters

Previous Meetings

Stoke 1-0 Chelsea (Premier League, November 2015)
Stoke* 1-1 Chelsea (League Cup, October 2015)
Chelsea 2-1 Stoke (Premier League, April 2015)
Stoke 0-2 Chelsea (Premier League, December 2014)
Chelsea 3-0 Stoke (Premier League, April 2014)
Chelsea 1-0 Stoke (FA Cup, January 2014)

Score Prediction

Chelsea have looked clinical enough in the final third to capitalise on a severely depleted Stoke defence come Saturday afternoon. With Costa running rampant and his attacking midfield colleagues providing a conveyor belt of high quality service, the Potters will likely to find it difficult to keep us out for 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge.

Hughes' side have some dangerous players of their own, of course, and our solid defensive performances of late are no guarantee we can shackle the likes of Shaqiri, Afellay and Arnautovic if they find space to hurt us on the break.

All in all, I think we will secure a 3-1. What are your score predictions?