Stoke Preview

[Alee. 182]

By ChelseaBoi

After a week of International Football, it's no doubt that league football will be welcomed back with open arms. On paper, what is due to bean easy clash, Chelsea will be expected to come out with three points, and with it, equaling the club record of 10 successive league wins, originally set between November 2005 and January 2006. Britannica Stadium has not been the easiest venue to visit recently, with Stoke losing only twice since Chelsea last visited them last season.

It has indeed beenan interesting fortnight for Chelsea Football Club,with the Gael Kakuta Scandal still looming in the air, the club will bedetermined to keeptheir league form on track. After 20 players returned from international duty, some qualifying for the world cup,and some still waiting to knowof their fate, it will be a hefty task for Carlo Ancelotti to make surethe momentum of Chelsea's early season form continues.

Chelsea are easy favorites being top of the table, second highest scorers, and having conceded only two so far. Stoke City have indeed been some what the surprise package so far, lying in fifth position in the league table, Tony Pulis' side havea great record at home. It took alast gasp Frank Lampard goal, last season, for the Blues to win 2-1 against Stoke. Chelsea will have to be wary of Stoke Keeper Thomas Sorenson, who currently holds the top place in the clean-sheet charts, with three so far.

Despite all this, of course Chelsea should still be able to see off this threat, with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka who combined very well in the 3-0 win against Burnley back at their best. Apart from this game, Liverpool will be hosting Burnley, Man City will host Arsenal and Manchester United will travel to White Hart Lane to play Tottenham Hotspurs. It is very-much expected to be agood return to the real football.

LAST MEETING: Chelsea 2-1 Stoke (17 January, 2009)

TEAMS:

Stoke (from): Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Lawrence, Delap, Whelan, Etherington, Kitson, Fuller, Simonsen, Whitehead, Tuncay, Huth, Pugh, Griffin, Cresswell, Beattie, Cort, Amdy Faye.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Turnbull, Hilario, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba, Sturridge, Kalou, Malouda, Essien, Hutchinson, Belletti.