Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has led the Blues to the top of the Premier League table
Premier League leaders Chelsea host Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, in a game many believe will be a one-sided spectacle by fulltime.
The contrasting form of the two clubs sees the Blues as big favourites to come out on top to continue their winning streak and potentially extend their lead at the summit, so is this weekend’s clash a foregone conclusion?
Chelsea making light work of bottom-half opposition
Chelsea aren’t top of the Premier League table by accident. Antonio Conte’s men have earned the right by avoiding slip-ups to sides they’re favourites to beat. The Blues have dropped just two points from nine games against the bottom-half clubs in the league, boasting a 2.78 points-per-game average in the process. Regardless of venue and opponent, Chelsea have beaten the sides they consider themselves better than and Stoke aren’t going to get any favours from them on Saturday as a result.
From the nine games against bottom-half sides, Conte’s men have won eight, kept seven clean sheets, scored 18 goals and conceded only three. They have been consistent coming up against underdogs and Stoke certainly qualify as such being 13th in the Premier League table and travelling to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have already beaten the likes of West Ham United, Burnley, Hull City, Leicester City, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. The Potters should be worried.
Stoke City in poor form across the board
Chelsea’s hopes of getting all three points are boosted when considering the poor form of Stoke City of late. Mark Hughes’ side are enduring a four-game winless run in the Premier League ahead of their trip to the Bridge, and have picked up just one win from their last four on the road, losing heavily in their previous two away outings and conceding seven goals in the process.
City don’t have a good record against the top-four either, picking up zero points from their three meetings this season – Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool. Stoke haven’t beaten a team in the top-nine of the Premier League table so it’s hard to see how they will end Chelsea’s 12-game winning run this weekend.
It’s also worth noting Chelsea have won seven and drawn one of their eight Premier League head-to-heads at home to the Potters since Stoke’s promotion in 2008. Chelsea are 1/4 to win against Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.
Can the Potters really cause an upset?
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
