Diego
Costa and N'Golo Kante are set to return for Chelsea when they host Stoke
City on New Year's Eve.
Chelsea are currently six points clear of second-placed Liverpool, having
embarked on a remarkable 12-match League winning spree since losing to the
Gunners back in September.
But, speaking ahead of Stoke's visit on Saturday, Chelsea manager Conte said
their title rivals have plenty of time to recover the deficit.
"Twelve wins in a row is a great achievement but it is not enough to win the
league at this point of the season," he said.
Stoke travel to London on the back of a 4-1 defeat at second-placed
Liverpool on Tuesday night, and will look to improve their league form
having not won a Premier League match since December 3.
Team news
Pedro is suspended but Costa and Kante are expected to make immediate
returns after serving one-match bans in the Blues' 12th straight win,
against Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
Club captain John Terry has returned to training following a gluteal strain,
but is likely to have to be patient before making his competitive return.
Defender Phil Bardsley could make his return to Stoke's matchday squad on
Saturday.
Bardsley, sidelined by a knee injury since November 19, has been training
this week.
Marko Arnautovic is still suspended, while Marc Muniesa, Geoff Cameron (both
knee) and Jack Butland (ankle) also remain unavailable.
Match stats
Chelsea didn't win either game against Stoke City last season (D1 L1), the
first time they had failed to beat them either home or away in a league
campaign since 1974/75.
The Potters are winless in 11 league visits to Chelsea, last winning there
in April 1974 (1-0).
Eden Hazard scored and assisted in Chelsea's last Premier League win over
Stoke (2-1 in April 2015).
Chelsea haven't lost their final league game of a calendar year since 2011
(1-3 at home to Aston Villa).
Chelsea are on a Premier League winning run of 12 games - only one team has
won more games consecutively in the history of the competition (Arsenal - 14
between February and August 2002).
With a win over Stoke, the Blues would join Arsenal in winning the most
games consecutively in a single season, with 13 of those 14 wins for Arsenal
coming in the 2001/02 season.
Mark Hughes has never won at Stamford Bridge as a manager in the Premier
League, drawing two and losing eight times in 10 previous visits.
Merson's prediction
I think Chelsea have been different class - and were brilliant against
Bournemouth again. To do what they've done, I think a 13th straight win is
definitely on the cards.
Stoke have to get lucky. They took the lead against Liverpool and Joe Allen
should have scored really, and if he does then it's 2-0 - but Liverpool go
down the other end and it's 1-1. So they need luck and get the ball into the
box. I don't think Liverpool would be able to live with Peter Crouch but
they have to get far enough up the pitch to pose them problems.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
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