TALKING POINTS



Saturday’s visit to the Potteries is Chelsea’s only remaining match this month as the last FIFA international break of the season starts next week. Then April kicks off with two vital home games against Crystal Palace and Manchester City.

Undefeated in five on the road, Chelsea have the chance again to improve on a trip that ended pointless in 2015/16. Victory would leave Antonio Conte’s side 33 points better off than in the respective games last season.

Thirty points currently separate the two teams, but Stoke City are far superior at home than away and they are on a run of two wins in three home meetings with the league leaders.

Two-thirds of the points that have taken them to ninth in the table have been accrued at the bet365 Stadium. Yet they have fared poorly against the Premier League’s leading quartet, conceding four goals against Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham (twice).