Stoke City VS Chelsea Match Prediction

Chelsea won both matches last season, including a 1-2 win at Stoke back in March, and they haven't lost in the last three against them.  Overall, they have 37 wins, 16 draws, and 22 losses to Stoke.  Here's a look at the last five results:

Mar 18, 2017: Stoke 1-2 Chelsea
Dec 31, 2016: Chelsea 4-2 Stoke
Mar 5, 2016: Chelsea 1-1 Stoke
Nov 7, 2015: Stoke 1-0 Chelsea
Oct 10, 2015: Stoke 1(P)-1 Chelsea (EFL Cup)

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Stoke City vs Chelsea Match Tips and Odds

Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:

Stoke City are at 5/1 to win, a draw is at 14/5, and a Chelsea win is at 4/7.

Chelsea are such big favorites to win in this match due to their aforementioned brilliant away record of late.  In addition to being so good in the last eight, seven of which were wins, they have scored two or more goals in six of those matches.  Even away from home, scoring twice is going to earn results the majority of the time.

That has been a big part of their success this season, and they are facing a Stoke side here who have had little success besides that draw with United.  However, the playing styles should definitely give the advantage to the Blues here as Stoke will try to match them man-for-man, and it will be tough for them to do.

Cesc Fabregas has seven assists against Stoke in the PL, making them his second favorite team to assist against behind Spurs.

The second most dangerous duo in the PL this season in terms of creating chances for each other has been Stoke City pair Xherdan Shaqiri and Eric Choupo-Moting.  They have created nine chances for each other, only trailing Kane and Eriksen of Spurs.

Chelsea as a team have taken seven shots with their head so far, all by Alvaro Morata.  He has scored all three that have been on frame.

Morata to score is at 10/3 in a half of your choosing.

Stoke City vs Chelsea Prediction

Chelsea get a very hard-fought victory from this match and move on in the title hunt.

Correct Score Prediction: Stoke City 1-2 Chelsea

Team News

Mark Hughes will continue to be without midfielder Ibrahim Afellay and forward Julien Ngoy due to injuries. Expect a lot of rotation from the squad that lost to Bristol in midweek in the cup.

Key Man

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was instrumental in the draw against United a couple of weeks back, and you have to have the feeling that he will once again be crucial in this match.  He scored both goals that day on the way to helping his side cut United down to size for the first time this season, and he has forged a great partnership with Shaqiri thus far that will please Mark Hughes greatly going forward.

Team Form - LLDDW

Stoke City have two losses, two draws, and a win in their last five matches.  They won 4-0 over Rochdale in the EFL Cup and then got a 1-1 draw at West Brom in the league.  Their best result of the season then came in a home 2-2 draw with Manchester United, but they followed it with a 2-1 loss away to Newcastle last weekend.  On Tuesday, they lost 2-0 away to Bristol City in the EFL Cup.

Stoke City Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 3-4-3

Team News

Antonio Conte will be unable to use new signing Danny Drinkwater as the midfielder is out until next month with a calf strain.  Center back David Luiz is eligible to return after serving his suspension on Wednesday.  Lots of rotation will be made from the team that hammered poor Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

Key Man

Alvaro Morata's strike success of late is just about uncanny in world football.  He was spectacular at Real Madrid in front of goal in limited opportunities, and he's now gotten much more time to play at Chelsea and he and his team have profited as a result. The Spaniard has proven to be quite valuable in the air with three headed goals, and he has a total of two assists to go along with it to show he's a total threat.

Team Form- WDWWW

The Blues have four wins and draw in their last five matches.  They won 2-0 over Everton and 1-2 away to Leicester in the league before thumping Qarabag 6-0 in the Champions League.  Next came a 0-0 draw at home last weekend against Arsenal, and on Wednesday they faced Nottingham Forest and they won 5-1 with a changed side.

Chelsea Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 3-4-3

Chelsea's away record in the Premier League has been tremendous of late, but it will come under real scrutiny this Saturday when they go to the Brittania to take on Stoke City. Stoke are no longer the type of team that looks to bruise and batter, but they have remained a tough opponent to face at home. Just ask Manchester United, who drew their in the very recent past. The Blues need a win in order to maintain touching distance with the top two sides, and they look capable of doing it.

Chelsea have seven victories out of the last eight away matches in the Premier League.