Chelsea v Stoke Betting Preview – Premier League 31st December
Stoke do not look the most likely candidates to go out and stop Chelsea’s long winning streak. The Potters have lost their last two away games and have failed to win any of their last four league games home and away. So the Blues look set to march on to their 13th league win on the bounce as they look to follow up on their 3-0 home win over Bournemouth on Boxing Day. Antonio Conte’s men remain strong going forward and rock solid at the back. Is there any hint of an upset happening in this one? Stoke are going to have to pull something special out of the back to make it happen.
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Chelsea v Stoke Betting Tips
Chelsea could equal Arsenal’s record of 13 consecutive wins in a single Premier League season. The overall record that Arsenal hold is 14 straight wins in the Premier League, but that stretched across two seasons. So Chelsea will look to add to their 12 match winning streak at the moment and they haven’t lost a final game of a calendar year since 2001 when Aston Villa got the better of them. Chelsea only managed the one point in their two games against Stoke last season, but given Chelsea’s current form, they will be expected to get back to winning ways against the Potters. Chelsea go into the weekend with a six point lead over Liverpool and with the Reds playing third placed Man City, Chelsea have a shot at extending their advantage. Chelsea’s home form reads W8 D0 L1 for the season and they are now on a six match winning streak at Stamford Bridge after having beaten Bournemouth 3-0 on Boxing Day.
Chelsea have conceded only one goal in their last six Premier League home games now and they are a price of 5/6 with Bet365 to win to nil on Saturday. Chelsea have only conceded 3 goals across their course of their current winning streak. It’s been an immense effort from them. After missing their Boxing Day outing, Diego Costa returns to action and he is trading at a price of 4/7 in the anytime goalscorer market with Eden Hazard at even money and he has prior against the Potters. Hazard was on the scoresheet in Chelsea’s last win over Stoke. There is a price of 8/13 at Bet365 on over 2.5 goals, reasonable enough given the amount of goals that their opponents have been conceding lately. Both teams to score in the match is a price of 6/5 and the only real way to cover Stoke making a breakthrough in the game. That having been said, however, Chelsea have conceded in just three goals in their last eight home games against the Potters.
The Potters are currently running on a four match winless streak in the Premier League now (D2 L2). The two defeats in that sequence both happened out on the road in tough trips to Arsenal and then Liverpool. Stoke conceded a total of seven goals in those two away games and they have conceded nine in their last four games. So they are far from being rock solid at the back at the moment and their away form this season reads only W2 D3 L4 for the term so they are heavy underdogs to land maximum points in this one clearly. Three of Stoke’s last four games in the Premier League have seen at least four goals netted so this could be entertaining at the Bridge. But Stoke landing a win does look unlikely as they haven’t posted one in any of their last 11 visits to Stamford Bridge in the league. The Potters have also lost their last two games at the end of a calendar year and manager Mark Hughes has failed to land a win at Stamford Bridge as a manager, losing eight of his ten visits there.
Chelsea v Stoke Betting Odds
Chelsea 1/4, Draw 19/4, Stroke 10/1
Chelsea v Stoke Predictions
Stoke have lost recent away games at both Arsenal and Liverpool but they did get themselves on the scoresheet in both of those. They have scored in their last two visits to Stamford Bridge as well so it is well worth having a poke at both teams to score. A Chelsea 3-1 correct score could have appeal as the Blues just look so organised and strong in all departments and they will be looking to finish the year with a bang at the Bridge.
