Chelsea entertain Stoke City on Saturday night, hoping to maintain their unbeaten record at home in the league this season.
Goals from Mohammed Salah, Frank Lampard and Willian saw Chelsea cruise to a 3-0 victory last season against Stoke at home, and Jose Mourinho will be hoping for a similar display to maintain their advantage of six points at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
The Blues head into the fixture as the only team in England who are unbeaten at home in the league this season, and haven’t tasted defeat in the league since New Year’s Day.
Stoke on the other hand, have lost their last 8 games at the Bridge, and haven’t hit the back of the net since January 2009.
And former Blue and current City boss, Mark Hughes, will be hoping to celebrate his new three year extension with the Staffordshire club with a long awaited victory at Stamford Bridge.
“Our record there hasn’t been great, but that is the case for most teams,” he said. “The last time the club got a positive outcome down there was in 1984, and I think my first-team coach [Eddie Niedzwiecki] was in goal that day. I’m not sure what that says about him to be honest.
“We have acquitted ourselves well in big games on the road this season, and we want to go down to London and put in another good performance. It will be incredibly difficult because they have world-class players and they have an outstanding man in charge.
I don’t think they have been playing as well as they were at the start of the season, but they are still picking up positive results. They don’t have Europe to contend with now and maybe that will help them in their bid to lift the title.
Stoke suffered back-to-back defeats against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace prior to the international break, leaving them sitting 10th in the Barclays Premier League.
Diego Costa picked up a hamstring injury during Chelsea’s 3-2 victory over Stoke last time out, but is expected to be fit for this weekend; meaning Loic Remy may be dropped to the bench despite scoring the winner at the KC Stadium.
John Obi Mikel is also to be assessed ahead of this weekends clash, following a month on the sidelines.
Hughes expects both Jon Walters and Marc Muniesa to be fit despite both picking up knocks before the international break, but on-loan winger Victor Moses is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Match Facts:
- Chelsea have won 10 and lost one of their 13 BPL meetings with Stoke City.
- Stoke City have not scored in six of the last seven Barclays Premier League matches against Chelsea.
- The Blues have conceded eight goals in their last 22 league matches at Stamford Bridge, keeping 16 clean sheets in that run.
- Peter Crouch has scored seven top-flight goals this season, whilst Diego Costa is joint top-scorer with Harry Kane on 19.
- Form (last six games):
Current Form:
- Chelsea – WDWDWW
- Stoke – LLWWWL
