Chelsea travel away to the Bet365 stadium this weekend looking to continue their unbeaten four-game run against mid-table Stoke City. Our fans here in the Transfer Tavern have got mixed feelings about this one.
Stoke have picked up points against Arsenal and Manchester United this season already and are yet to be beaten on home turf. Sitting in third behind the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea will be wanting to continue their seemingly silent attack to regain their title.
After the transfer window from hell and an opening day defeat to Burnley the Blues seem to have settled into Antonio Conte’s second season.
Missing the suspended David Luiz after his red card at weekend against London rival Arsenal will give Conte the chance to bring in a fringe player for a chance to impress.
Having lost at the Bet365 stadium last year, the Blues will be wanting to avenge that defeat if they’re to keep in touch at the top of the pile.
Some of our punters feel with if this team plays, Stoke’s short home unbeaten run will end.
Thibaut Courtois
Chelsea’s number one will be wanting to add to his two clean sheets this season in the upcoming fixture against Stoke. Ever present between the Chelsea sticks, Courtois has taken on the commanding role Petr Cech left and made it his own.
He’ll be wanting to ensure his back three are organised against a busy Stoke team to ensure victory and the vital three points to stay in touch in the early running at the top.
Antonio Rudiger
Having made four appearances this season, the summer signing will be using David Luiz’s suspension has a chance to show Conte he can be a first-team regular.
The former Roma defender needs to produce a big performance and against Stoke City he’ll come up against a different type of challenge.
Gary Cahill
Club captain Cahill has missed the three wins Chelsea have had this season due to a red card in the opening day fixture against Burnley. Alongside Rudiger, Cahill will be wanting and be needing a good performance.
Having looked a bit out of sorts this season, he’ll want to use Stoke away as the momentum starter to his own season.
Cesar Azpilicueta
One of the first names on the team sheet, Azpilicueta played every minute of last season’s championship-winning campaign. Conte surely regards him as one of the best center-backs in the world and with his current form, it’s hard to argue with him.
The Spaniard has become a crucial part of the back three and is great with or without the ball.
Victor Moses
A few seasons ago Moses couldn’t get a look into the Chelsea first team. A year ago, Conte switched his formation and put Moses in the right wing-back position.
Moses has been a regular ever since. His attacking abilities and pace for the counter-attack has made him a force to be reckoned with.
Cesc Fabregas
The Spanish midfielder is once again purring this season. The ex-Arsenal and Barcelona player has a helped Chelsea win two titles in three years since returning back to England.
His calming presence on the pitch and in the dressing room is making him one of Conte’s regular picks in the first eleven.
N’Golo Kante
Chelsea’s ready-made Matic replacement Kante has been an integral component in winning the league in the past two seasons with both Leicester and Chelsea.
Ready to sit back and spot play patterns early to break them down and then release a forward ball makes Kante’s role special. Now looking like a complete player with or without the ball, Chelsea are a better side with him in it.
Marcos Alonso
Goal scoring wing back Marcos Alonso has made massive waves since joining the Blues on deadline day last season. His forward thinking, attacker ability has made him into regular first teamer.
Whenever he scores, Chelsea win. He’ll be looking to bag a goal or two again this weekend especially with his free kick capabilities.
Willian
Willian and Pedro have been used in Eden Hazard’s absence but the Brazilian has failed to make the step up needed and looked a little off the pace of late.
A decent performance from him could put him ahead of his Spanish team-mate in the pecking order.
Eden Hazard
Hazard is slowly getting back to match fitness and a test against Stoke might be what he needs if he is to re-discover the form he had last season.
Having missed the first three league matches and not registering a goal as of yet. Hazard will be looking to set alight the Bet365 Stadium this weekend and move Chelsea closer to top spot.
Alvaro Morata
Morata has found the net three times already this season, coming in to replace the awol Costa he felt some pressure to perform. But the Chelsea fans have taken to him instantly and he’s not shy away from the limelight.
Spearheading the attack the former Real Madrid and Juventus forward has really hit the ground running within the first five games of the season and will be looking to continue this against Stoke.
