Gooood afternoon everybody! Six 3pm kickoffs today in the Premier League and here we'll be focussing on what looks like a cracking match between in-form duo Chelsea and Stoke.

Hosts Chelsea are still unbeaten in the league since Guus Hiddink's arrival and should the Blues avoid defeat today the Dutchman will set a new Premier League record with 12 games unbeaten since his arrival at the club.

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It won't be easy today, though, against a Stoke side who, like Chelsea, are on a three-game winning streak in the top flight. Former Chelsea man Mark Hughes has got his side back into form after five defeats in a row in all competitions threatened to derail their season after a fine first half of the campaign.

Stoke come into this match seventh in the standings and just FIVE points behind the top four, but they will be leapfrogged by Chelsea, sitting 10th after 28 games, if they lose at Stamford Bridge today. In fact, Chelsea, the defending champions remember, are in the top half of the table for the first time in over six months!

Stoke are on a good run, but all three of their recent wins have come against sides in the bottom six and their Premier League record at Stamford Bridge, simply put, is woeful.

H2H STAT: Chelsea have won all seven Premier League matches against Stoke at Stamford Bridge, with the Potters scoring just two goals in that run. Stoke have not won a league match at Stamford Bridge since a 1-0 victory in April 1974.

However, the reverse fixture earlier this season at the Britannia was a Potters win, as Marko Arnautovic's acrobatic effort proved decisive. Stoke also beat Chelsea on penalties at home in the League Cup in October.

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Stoke have had the better of Chelsea so far this season then, but former Blues man Hughes does not have a good record when going away to the biggest grounds in the country. The Welshman has lost 30 and won none of his last 34 Premier League matches as a coach at Anfield, Emirates/Highbury, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge combined. 

The Potters also have a poor recent record when they come to the capital, winning just one of their last 14 Premier League away trips to London (W1 D5 L8).

There is a good chance that could change today, though, with Chelsea surely starting to already think about next week's Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain. The Blues trail 2-1 after the first leg and it will be a tough ask to reach the quarter-finals against a team completely dominating the French league.

Chelsea's recent home record is decent in the Premier League, but they are really struggling to keep clean sheets and that is a worry with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani coming to town. The Blues are six home league games unbeaten, but have drawn four of those and kept no clean sheets in the last seven on home soil.

Speaking of dangerous frontmen, back-in-form Blues striker Diego Costa has scored or assisted 12 goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances (eight goals, four assists).

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But is the menacing striker in the hosts' starting XI today? Time for some team news!

CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Baba; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Traore

CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Miazga, Clarke-Salter, Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Pato, Remy

STOKE XI: Butland; Cameron, Muniesa, Wollscheid, Pieters; Imbula, Whelan; Arnautovic, Afellay, Shaqiri; Diouf

STOKE SUBS: Haugaard, Ireland, Joselu, Walters, Teixeira, Crouch, Bojan

No Diego Costa then! I was just talking the Spaniard up, but Hiddink has confirmed that Costa has suffered a "minor tendon injury" and promoted Bertrand Traore to lead the line in his absence. Willian fills in for Traore alongside Oscar and Eden Hazard in attacking midfield, while Cesc Fabregas makes way for John Obi Mikel in the middle of the park.

As for Stoke, Hughes makes two alterations to the side that defeated Newcastle on Wednesday night. Phil Bardsley is out with injury, meaning that Marc Muniesa earns a spot in the back four, while Mame Diouf replaces Jonathan Walters up front.

The Blues captain is not part of the squad today but will hope to play in midweek against PSG

John Terry meeting young fans and signing autographs a moment ago... pic.twitter.com/S7fCYyrxnQ — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 5, 2016

PREDICTION: OK then, kickoff almost upon us in West London and I'm going to say a draw in this one - 1-1. I just think that Chelsea will view Wednesday's match as more important and Stoke are full of confidence at the moment.

Here come the two teams out of the tunnel. Stoke in their all-black away kit today.

KICKOFF! Aaaand off we go at Stamford Bridge. Can Stoke end their miserable record here?

Ivanovic picks out Azpilicueta with a great ball to the right wing. The Spanish full-back then quickly crosses low into the middle where Traore fails to make any meaningful contact. Decent chance that.

Shaqiri, who scored that stunner against Newcastle in midweek, looks to have got into a great position down the right but he is flagged offside.

Willian and Pieters in action early on

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You have to say it's been a pretty tame start to the match. Chelsea look very comfortable on the ball, but Stoke are happy for them to have it. Just feeling each other out a bit.

Mikel scored Chelsea's goal in Paris last month and he fancies another here today, but that's the John Obi we know all too well as he skies it high into the stand.

UPDATE: First goal of the six 3pm kickoffs in the top flight comes at Goodison Park as Romelu Lukaku gives Everton the lead against West Ham.

Afellay tries his luck from outside the box but that's a fairly comfortable save for Courtois.

CHANCE! Great chance for Stoke! Afellay down the left this time and he picks out Diouf in the middle, but the striker can't keep it down on the stretch.

It looks like Afellay hurt himself in setting up that chance as he stays down and has to receive treatment. Should be OK to continue though.

Half-chance for Stoke, who have grown into this match well. Shaqiri sends over a free kick and Cameron is up to meet it, but he could not direct it goalwards. Would have been some effort to beat Courtois from there as well.

CLOSE! That's the closest we've come as Willian smacks one at goal and it flies just past the post. Good work from Azpilicueta in the build-up.

UPDATE: The second goal of the afternoon in the top flight is a big one at the bottom as Steven Taylor's own goal puts Bournemouth in front at Newcastle!

BLOCK! Traore has been energetic in attack for Chelsea and he's just struck one sweetly at goal but been denied by a brave Muniesa block.

CHANCE! Big, big chance for Stoke as Shaqiri floats over a cross from the right. Diouf has pulled away well to the back post, but he can only volley into the turf and wide under no pressure. Not exactly easy, but he has to be at least testing Courtois there.

No Diego Costa? No problem! Traore has done well in 2016 when given a chance in the Chelsea side and this is his fourth goal in five appearances. It's the best of the lot too as he spins away from his man before bending it past Butland and into the far corner.

Surely not?

5-1 - In the three games that Bertrand Traore has scored in for Chelsea before today, the Blues have won 5-1. Repeat?

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2016

Matic had to leave the field for some treatment just then, but it looks like he's OK to carry on.

BOOKING! First yellow card of the game is shown to Oscar for a foul on Imbula.

It'll be two added minutes before we break.

It's the home side in front at the interval then and what a lovely goal it was from Traore as well, only getting the start today because of Costa's slightly injury worry. Stoke have created chances, but given their shoddy record at the Bridge they might find it tough to get anything out of this one. Back shortly for the second half!

Back out for the second half, with no changes from either manager.

KICKOFF! Off we go again then. Here's a great shot of Traore's shot on its way into the net.

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SHOT! Stoke start quickly upon the resumption, with Arnautovic pinging a shot at goal that Courtois punches up and away. The ball drops onto Cameron's head, but he can't direct his header home.

BOOKING! Clattenburg brandishes yellow for the second time today, with Stoke left-back Pieters cautioned for a strong tackle on Oscar.

UPDATE: Man City failed to break down Villa in the first half, but it's now 2-0 to the hosts at the Etihad thanks to quick goals from Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero.

SAVE! Shaqiri so close to two goals in two games as he is denied by a fine Courtois save!

At the other end, Butland is called into action to deny Willian. Pretty open this game!

CHELSEA SUB: First sub of the match and it looks like Hiddink is giving Hazard a rest before the Champions League on Wednesday. Loftus-Cheek on.

Odd thing to point out, but sure

Loftus-Cheek is playing the more advanced in one of the tallest Chelsea midfields ever, with Mikel and Matic deeper. #CFCLive — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 5, 2016

CHELSEA SUB: Bit surprising this as Blues goalscorer Traore is replaced by Remy.

Ooooh! Dodgy moment for Stoke here as Muniesa appears to bundle over Oscar in the box. The contact carried on outside the area, but referee Clattenburg gave nothing!

BOOKING! Stoke midfielder Whelan cautioned for a foul on Loftus-Cheek.

CLOSE! Whelan's foul gives Chelsea a free kick in a good position, but Willian can't find the target after bending it past the wall.

STOKE SUB: Hughes going for it here as he takes off Whelan for Bojan.

Just over 70 mins played here. 1-0. #CFCLive pic.twitter.com/mYOq6DYvkz — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 5, 2016

Loftus-Cheek keen to impress but his shot is pretty comfortable for Butland as we enter the final 10 minutes.

CHELSEA SUB: Change in midfield for the Blues - Fabregas on, Matic off.

Are Stoke going to get something at Stamford Bridge for the first time in the Premier League? Courtois flaps at a cross from the right and only parries it out to Diouf, who is alert and nods into the empty net.

STOKE SUB: Diouf is now taken off! Joselu on in his place.

Any tiny hopes Chelsea have of reaching the top four will surely be extinguished if they don't win today. They threaten a second goal, but both Baba and Oscar fail to find the net.

STOKE SUB: Ireland on for Arnautovic as four minutes of added time are signalled.

Frantic end to the match as first Bojan has a shot saved before Cahill can only head over at the other end. Looks like this is going to finish all square.

Stoke earn something at the Bridge for the first time since they came up to the Premier League and prove my 1-1 pre-match prediction right! It's a blow for Chelsea, but they know that the visit of PSG on Wednesday is a much bigger game. Will they bounce back? Join Sports Mole to find out! See ya!