Stoke City vs. Chelsea: Team News, Preview, Live Stream and TV Info
Premier League leaders Chelsea face a tough trip to Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday as manager Antonio Conte's side looks to preserve their 10-point cushion at the head of the English top flight.
The Potters will be out to stage a surprise against their intimidating guests, however, as boss Mark Hughes looks to ensure his men keep their place in the top half of the division.
Stoke won't be able to climb above their position of ninth even if they manage to steal all three points on Saturday, although that won't prevent the hosts from chasing a maximum haul to stunt Chelsea's rampage.
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Both teams are fortunate to come into the clash with relatively clean bills of health, although Stephen Ireland will still be missing for the Potters after he broke his leg at the end of last season.
Read on for all the latest team news emerging ahead of Saturday's fixture, complete with the vital viewing information and a preview of the Premier League duel.
Date: Saturday, March 19
Time: 3 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET
Venue: bet365 Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.)
TV Info: NBCSN (U.S.)
| Manchester City 0-0 Stoke City | Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United |
| Stoke City 2-0 Middlesbrough | West Ham United 1-2 Chelsea |
| Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Stoke City | Chelsea 3-1 Swansea City |
| Stoke City 1-0 Crystal Palace | Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-2 Chelsea |
| West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Stoke City | Burnley 1-1 Chelsea |
Team News
Ireland isn't the only long-term absence on Hughes' mind heading into Saturday's meeting, with goalkeeper Jack Butland feared to be out for the rest of the season despite receiving a recent boost in his bid for fitness.
The England international recently posted on Twitter that his ankle fracture was "completely healed," per the Irish Independent, although Hughes is in no hurry to rush the 24-year-old back into first-team matters.
"We're pleased Jack's at a point where it looks, hopefully, like it's not a false dawn this time and we can really look forward to him being back available for selection," Hughes said. "At that point, we'll have a discussion."
The Sun's Sam Morgan reported Mame Biram Diouf and Glen Johnson could return for Stoke, as might Marko Arnautovic following an illness, although Xherdan Shaqiri's calf blow may keep him from the lineup.
On Chelsea's side of things, wing-back Victor Moses is the only major concern, although even he might be healthy enough to feature at the bet365 Stadium, per Goal's Nizaar Kinsella:
Conte may have to make some tactical tweaks if the Nigeria international doesn't recover in time to make the Blues squad.
Preview
The Chelsea juggernaut has looked unstoppable for most of this season, but Stoke have reason to feel upbeat considering they beat the Blues 1-0 in their most recent home league meeting with the west Londoners.
The odds are undoubtedly stacked against them, but the Potters shared fond memories of another recent triumph they had over Chelsea, drawing 1-1 in the fourth round of last season's Capital One Cup before winning on penalties:
While some Chelsea fans may look upon Saturday's encounter as just another opportunity to snatch three points, Kinsella has outlined the Week 29 meeting as something of a make-or-break moment:
Manchester City's exit from the Champions League on Wednesday threatens to make them more of a threat on the domestic scene, meaning Chelsea can ill afford any slip-ups in the next two months.
That being said, giants falling away to Stoke is no new thing, and Conte will have his first taste of what it's like to face a Potters side on their own turf in what should be a grand test of his title credentials.
