Thibaut Courtois returns in goal and Diego Costa, rested at Derby, leads the attack.
Cesc Fabregasis expected to again play in a more forward midfield position ahead of Nemanja Maticand John Mikel Obi, as in last Tuesday’s cup win. It is Mikel’s 250th start for Chelsea.
Cesar Azpilicuetais the left-back with Gary Cahill returning as John Terry’s partner.
For Stoke City, there are two changes from their draw against Palace. Marc Muniesa comes into defence in place of Marc Wilson and Marko Arnautovic is preferred to Mame Diouf on the left wing.
Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:
Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Diego Costa.
Subs: Cech, Zouma, Filipe Luis, Ake, Schurrle, Oscar, Drogba.
Stoke are expected to line-up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:
Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters; Cameron, Nzonzi; Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic; Crouch.
Subs: Butland, Huth, Whelan, Wilson, Adam,
Assaidi, Diouf.

The referee is Neil Swarbrick.

1'-The usual pre-match niceties are over, and Chelsea kick off to get us underway...

John terry scores for Chelsea.......
Goallllllll.... One goal to the blue side

Assist coming from cesc fabregas causing a goal in the second minute of the remaining 90minute

Hopefully Chelsea would keep the sequential pace or rather improve not giving stoke a chance to destroy its early lucky performance

The midfield has been a hole in relation to stoke city....
Chelsea have been able to gain entrance past the midfield due to the inability of the stoke midfielders to hold it

Woah!!!!!!!!!!!!
Close!!!!!
As predicted....... Stoke almost closed the gap!

WIDE!!!!!!

Costa loses the chances to double the lead for his team side....
Watawaste!