Chelsea v Stoke City Betting Tips: League leaders to see out 2016 in style

Dec 30 2016
Dec 30 2016
Countdown to event
00
00
00
00
Statistics per month: Winnings: 0$ % of profit: 0 bet: 0 Won: 0 Statistic >

Top of the table Chelsea host Stoke City in this New Year’s Eve clash.

As things stand at the moment, it looks as though the title is Chelsea’s to lose as they currently sit top of the Premier League with a three point gap between themselves and Liverpool having won their last 12 matches on the spin.

When a side has picked up maximum points on their last dozen outings it is incredibly easy to spot all of the good sides to their game. However, defensively has been the main bedrock to Antonio Conte’s side’s form with his team conceding just 11 goals in 18 matches all season whilst they have only let in two during their superb winning run which stretches all the way back to 1st October.

This sound foundation allows the talented front players at the Blues’ disposal to go out and express themselves without having to worry too much about their defensive duties.

Chelsea’s home form has been fantastic and they have dropped points just once at Stamford Bridge this season and their home goal difference reads an impressive +21.

Stoke are having a rather worrying wobble at the moment and they have slipped down to 13th in the league after a run that has seen them without a win in four matches. They have lost to title contenders Arsenal and Liverpool in that time, but will feel they should have claimed victories against Southampton and Leicester City.

For a side usually so renowned for their defensive solidity, The Potters have conceded quite a high number of goals this season with 28 in 18 matches, whilst they have kept just one clean sheet in their last four – it is clear to see why Mark Hughes’s team cannot pick up those vital wins at the moment.

Stoke’s ‘Goals For’ column does not make for impressive reading either having found the back of the net just 20 times in the first half of the campaign. The Potters have scored in most matches this season, but seem to lack the potency to score more than one goal and kill teams off – hence why they have dropped a fair number of points over the course of the season so far.

Stamford Bridge is a difficult place for any side to visit and the fact that Stoke have lost their last two matches on the road to other title-chasing teams does not bode well for The Potters.

The Chelsea win is pretty obvious here but unfavourable from a betting point of view. However, I think ‘Chelsea to Win to Nil’ is definitely a bet to go for here. It’s hard to see a fairly lacklustre Stoke attack breaching an almost impenetrable Blues back-line.

A secondary bet in this fixture is ‘Chelsea to Win -2 Handicap’, at 21/10. Antonio Conte’s team look ruthless at the moment and I expect them to score their fair share in a win against a uncharacteristically soft Stoke team – the perfect way to see out what has been an excellent first half of the season.

See more Premier League tips here.

Found a mistake?Let us know
Still have questions? Ask our experts!
Comments