Having set a new club record of 12 consecutive wins against Bournemouth, Chelsea will be looking to equal Arsenal’s league-high record across one season of 13, with a victory over Stoke at Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Eve.
Mark Hughes’ Stoke City side currently sit in 13th position and were most recently humbled 4-1 by Liverpool. Their strength lies in attack where the Potters hold an abundance of somewhat unfulfilled European talent, who’s from consistently fluctuates between the sublime and the shocking – with the likes of Bojan, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic having already turned out for the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
While they’re able to produce moments of genius on occasion, it’s their lack of consistency that has ultimately prevented them from fulfilling their potentials.
Although their ageing midfield has been revitalised by the £18 million signing of Gianelli Imbula from Porto, who adds an explosive dynamism to their previously dogmatic and passive style of play in the centre of the park.
As well as Joe Allen, who adds the goals and creativity that has for so long been lacking from their midfield. Consistency and experience is the name of the game at the back for Stoke – with Erik Pieters, Bruno Martins Indi, Glen Johnson and Ryan Shawcross providing the perfect amount of English steel and continental confidence.
Chelsea will still be missing veteran Chelsea captain John Terry, while Pedro is suspended having picked up his fifth yellow card against Bournemouth.
Stoke have the long-term injury concerns of Jack Butland and Stephen Ireland to contend with, on top of the multiple defensive absentees of Marc Muniesa, Phil Bardsley and Geoff Cameron.
