An action-packed match at Stamford Bridge and a pleasure to cover it for everyone following with me at VAVEL UK. I'm Harry Harris, thank you for tuning in!
Chelsea's 13th straight Premier League win helps them stretch their lead at the top to nine points as 2017 begins tomorrow
FULL TIME: Chelsea 4-2 Stoke City. The Blues show their class as a spirited Stoke side push them the whole way.
90+3' Costa's ball to the back post almost finds Chalobah but it's behind for a goal kick and that should do it.
90+2' Alonso bursts down the left and his shot is deflected behind for a late corner.
90' Three minutes added on.
90' Alonso cuts in from the left and fires just wide of the far post.
86' Charlie Adam is booked after multiple fouls.
85' GOAL! Chelsea wrap up the three points through their super striker Diego Costa. The striker holds the ball up, bullies Martins Indi with pure strength and smashes it past Grant.
84' Nathaniel Chalobah replaces Willian, who was excellent today scoring twice.
Chelsea Sub: Chalobah on, Willian off.
83' Ivanovic's cross is headed behind for a corner. The Serbian's first bit of action of the game.
Chelsea Sub: Ivanovic on, Moses off.
81' A cross from the right is hooked away at the last second with Crouch lurking inside the six yard box.
80' Crouch bundles over Azpilicueta as we're into the last ten minutes.
76' Close! Chelsea counter quickly and Hazard slides a ball through to Costa, but the Spaniard fires over from close range.
75' Cahill blocks a cross behind for a corner.
72' A great shift from Fabregas, assisting the opener for Chelsea and Willian's second of the afternoon.
Chelsea Sub: Matic on, Fabregas off.
69' Both Diouf and Alonso are shown yellow cards for a bit of afters following a challenge.
67' An exciting couple of minutes at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea see their lead erased and restored instantly.
65' GOAL! Willian puts Chelsea ahead just moments are Stoke score themselves. Fabregas' pass finds Willian and the Brazilian fires into the roof of the net.
64' GOAL! Stoke are level yet again with Crouch tapping in from close range. Poor defending from Chelsea keeps the ball in the box and Diouf's low ball is swept home.
63' Again, Hazard and Costa link up with the Belgian laying off to Costa but the striker fires over the bar.
Stoke City Sub: Bojan on, Shaqiri off. Imbula on, Affelay off.
60' Fabregas is booked for a late tackle on Allen.
59' Almost a third for Chelsea as Hazard jumps on a loose ball and hits a low ball across the face of goal but Costa can't get a touch on it.
57' GOAL! Willian restores Chelsea's lead with a wonderful goal. Victor Moses' cross was softly cushioned by Hazard inside the area, with Willian on hand to smash the ball past Grant to make it 2-1.
55' Ryan Shawcross is lucky to avoid a yellow card after a late challenge on Diego Costa.
54' Excellent link up play between Hazard and Costa results in the latter's cross palmed away by Grant.
52' Close! Willian pounces on a loose ball from about 20 yards but curls his shot just wide.
51' Fabregas' free kick is headed behind for a corner.
51' Kante is brought down by Shaqiri on the left side of the box.
48' Not the start to the second half that Chelsea would've liked as Stoke are back on level terms after just 55 seconds.
46' GOAL! Stoke are level through Bruno Martins Indi. A free kick is headed down at the back post by Crouch with Martins Indi on hand to tap it in.
46' Second half is underway!
Plenty of chances for both sides in the opening 45, with Lee Grant being the busier of the two goalkeepers.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 1-0 Stoke City. Gary Cahill's header separates the sides at the break.
45' One minute added on to the end of the first half.
43' The free kick results in a Stoke free kick after a foul by David Luiz.
41' Another Chelsea free kick on the edge of the area after Allen shoves Hazard to the ground.
40' Diego Costa's free kick is high and wide of Lee Grant's goal.
39' Adam is penalised for a handball on the edge of the area.
38' Chelsea are in search of a second and have pinned the visitors inside their own half.
34' GOAL! Chelsea lead 1-0 through a thumping header from Gary Cahill. A wonderful corner from Fabregas is met by the head of Cahill, who has a free header on goal.
33' Close! Luiz finds Costa with a brilliant ball and a good save, Hazard watches his shot deflected behind for a corner.
30' A series of jeers around Stamford Bridge as a handful of decisions go against Chelsea in quick succession.
26' A sliced kick from Courtois leads to a corner, which is headed wide by Charlie Adam.
25' The free kick is a training ground routine and Shaqiri's effort goes miles over, probably toward a training ground.
24' First booking of the game goes to Victor Moses who brings down Pieters near the box.
22' Chance! One Chelsea man in the danger area and Cahill manages to get his head to the corner but Grant pushes the effort away.
21' Diouf flicks on the free kick for a Blues corner, which eventually goes behind for another corner.
20' Chelsea counter after defending a corner but Costa is fouled by Adam for a free kick.
18' CLOSE! Diego Costa chests down a cross and hammers a volley toward goal but Grant saves expertly to keep it 0-0 after 18 minutes.
17' Quick passing around the box leads to a Chelsea corner, which amounts to nothing.
14' Azpilicueta expertly slides in to clear a low-driven free kick.
13' Fabregas goes through the back of Joe Allen and Stoke have a free kick in a good position.
11' The free kick is swung in and cleared before Shaqiri attempts a curler from the edge of the box, which goes well wide.
10' Azpilicueta gets too tight to Affelay and brings the Dutchman down for a free kick inside the Chelsea half.
6' Close! The corner is taken short and finds it's way to N'Golo Kante, who's slow rolling shot is inches away from the far post.
6' Hazard finds space between the lines and fires towards goal but it's blocked for a corner.
3' Chelsea win possession back and try to counter but Eden Hazard's ball is cut out easily.
1' KICK OFF! Stoke get us underway in West London.
The teams are in the tunnel and we are minutes away from kickoff. We'll have minute by minute updates for you as Chelsea welcome Stoke to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have won 12 in a row and a win today at Stamford Bridge would see the Blues equal Arsenal's record for most consecutive wins in Premier League history.
Just over half an hour until kickoff, make sure you follow along every step of the way here on VAVEL UK.
Affelay makes his first start since April and returned last week during Stoke's defeat at the hands of Liverpool.
Changes for both sides as Willian replaces the suspended Pedro in Chelsea's front three while Xherdan Shaqiri, Ibrahim Affelay and Charlie Adam all return to the Stoke City XI.
Stoke City Subs: Given, Bardsley, Whelan, Bony, Imbula, Bojan, Ramadan.
Stoke City Starting XI: Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi; Diouf, Affelay, Adam, Pieters; Allen, Shaqiri; Crouch.
Chelsea Subs: Begovic, Zouma, Ivanovic, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Batshuayi.
Chelsea Starting XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill (c); Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Diego Costa, Hazard.
Hello all and welcome to VAVEL UK for today's live commentary of Chelsea - Stoke City. Team news has just been announced and the sides look very strong for today's afternoon kickoff.
So that's all we have for you now, join us again at 2pm for more build-up and the team news as it comes through. Until then, sit tight and enjoy all the other great content on VAVEL.
Predicted Stoke City XI: (4-2-3-1) Grant; Johnson, Martins Indi, Shawcross, Pieters; Imbula, Whelan; Bojan, Allen, Shaqiri; Diouf.
Predicted Chelsea XI: (3-4-3) Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, David Luiz; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Willian, Diego Costa, Hazard.
The Potters will be without long-term absentees Phil Barsley, Stephen Ireland, Geoff Cameron and Jack Butland for the trip to Stamford Bridge. Marko Arnautovic is serving the final match of his three-game suspension and will be welcomed back with open arms when he does return. Stoke could go for a more attacking approach after playing defensive did them no favours in the defeat to Liverpool.
It's very much the what will be expected of Chelsea on Saturday, although they will have to do without Pedro. The Spaniard has hit the five yellow card limit and will miss the game. Willian is his likely replacement, though Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante are back from their respective bans and should slot back into the starting line-up.
Up until last season, Chelsea had won their last three meetings with Stoke. However, that all changed as Mark Hughes' men claimed victory at the bet365 Stadium back in November before the two drew 1-1 in West London. The Blues hold a much superior head-to-head record advantage, winning 11 to Stoke's two - with the other three fixtures ending in draws.
For Stoke it's been less of a smooth ride. They started the season off poorly but sparked back up with a Joe Allen-inspired run of wins, yet have slipped back into poor and more inconsistent form. Hughes' side haven't won for their last four games, and the 4-1 loss at Anfield during the week certainly won't have boosted confidence.
Chelsea come into the game in immaculate form, having won their last 12 Premier League games - just two behind Arsenal's record of 14. They extended that run with a fine performance against AFC Bournemouth last weekend, with Pedro's brace and Eden Hazard's penalty sealing the three points. They maintained their six-point lead at the top of the table, but a set of favourable results could see them advance that to eight.
Good afternoon and welcome to VAVEL UK's live coverage of Stoke City's trip to West London to face Chelsea. Antonio Conte's side are in superb form of late, unstoppable if you will, and are desperate to keep that going. It's 1st against 13th in SW6, stay with us for all the build-up and team news heading into the game with kick-off at 3pm.