Stoke vs. Chelsea predicted lineups and team news
Stoke City host Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium in Saturday’s late fixture with the visitors looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League after losing back-to-back games against West Ham United and Liverpool. The Blues relieved some of the pressure on their manager Jose Mourinho with Willian’s […]

Stoke City host Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium in Saturday’s late fixture with the visitors looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League after losing back-to-back games against West Ham United and Liverpool.

The Blues relieved some of the pressure on their manager Jose Mourinho with Willian’s late free kick securing the win for Chelsea in the midweek Champions League tie at home to Dynamo Kiev.

But Mourinho will not be in the dugout – or even the stadium for that matter – for this one as he serves his one match stadium ban effected by the FA on Monday.

Mark Hughes’ side are another team that have not lived up to expectations this season despite what many people tagged an impressive summer transfer window for the club.

The Potters are placed 14th, just a place above Chelsea with 13 points from 11 games and a -3 goal difference to show for their troubles.

However, they have already beaten Chelsea once this season, on penalties, in their Capital One Cup fourth round encounter just over a week ago which makes the tie all the more tricky for the league’s reigning Champions.

KEY STAT: Chelsea have lost six times this season in 11 games. That’s three more than they did throughout the whole of 2014/15.

Team News

Chelsea are without the services of Radamel Falcao who picked up a muscular injury earlier in the week. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is still injured but Branislav Ivanovic could return to the Chelsea lineup after returning to training in midweek.

Stoke City on the other hand, have no new injury worries but Shay Given (knee), Marc Muniesa (hamstring) and Geoff Cameron (thigh) are all sidelined for this one.