English Premier League: Chelsea vs Stoke City, 6-0 Champions Look To Continue Their Winning Ways
Stoke City travel to Stamford Bridge to take on a Chelsea side that has scored 12 goals in their first two opening fixtures of the Premier League. It was actually against Stoke City that the Blues started their goal spree, towards the end of last season. Chelsea scored 7 goals past Stoke, but that was only the beginning. Since then, they have scored 29 goals in five games, which makes it an average of 5.8 goals per game.
Chelsea’s 12 goals in two games is the best ever in the English Premier League, overtaking the previous best by some four goals. Chelsea also boast 450 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premier League, and will be looking forward to adding to the impressive seven and a half hours.
The Stoke City boss, Tony Pulis told reporters ahead of the game, “They are a top side and they deserve to be a top side with the players they have got. We know how difficult it is going to be and they have started like a house on fire, so we are going into the lion's den.”
Pulis has the bit about the lion’s den right, Stoke City have not won at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League since April 1974, which is more than 36 years. Last season Chelsea beat Stoke 2-1 away from home and then delivered a 7-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge. Already in a roaring form, the Blues will be looking to repeat last season’s performance today.
There are some interesting points going into the game that need some attention, no team has managed to keep a clean sheet in a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge since April 2009, when Everton scored. This makes it a run of 22 games without conceding a game at the Bridge – a fortress indeed.
Stoke City’s Danny Higginbotham, if selected today will be making his 200th appearance in the English Premier League – a commendable milestone. In their last five Premier League games, a Chelsea player has scored a hat-trick in four of the league matches at Stamford Bridge. Didier Drogba and Flourent Malouda are among the scorers.
So far, Chelsea have made the fewest crosses in the Premier League this season. Only 20. Last season Stoke only managed to score 10 goals away from home, the fewest away league goals.
Chelsea will be without defender Jose Bosingwa, who is out with an injury. Stoke have a longer list of injuries as they will be without Mamady Sidibe and Liam Lawrence, while Kenwyne Jones’ appearance is not confirmed either. Jones was the star signing for Stoke, but missed their fixture against Spurs with an ankle injury and might not be fit for today’s match. In his presence, Jon Walters could get a chance to continue in attack. The new arrival impressed by scoring against Shrewsbury in midweek.
Possible Starting XI:
Chelsea (Possible, 4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Lampard; Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.
Stoke City (Possible, 4-4-2): Sorensen; Huth, Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham; Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington; Fuller, Walters.
Prediction:
Stoke will be wary of the high goal scoring Blues, and will play defensively, but nonetheless Chelsea are too strong and have an impressive record at the Bridge and will win today. The question is by what score line, will they once again score 7 against a weak Stoke side or will they be limited to a small score line this time? Chelsea, who seem to set a new record in every game, will be eager to continue their 6-0 winning run. A 5-0 to Chelsea seems very possible. Drogba, who didn’t score in the last game, but still managed to set up four goals, will want his name on the score sheet once again.
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