Afternoon all. Well, there is a hefty helping of Premier League matches on today and here we are covering Chelsea's trip to Stoke City. Both sides need the points for different reasons so let's hope that it makes for an entertaining encounter.

Right, before we get into some pre-match chat and statistics, the team news is starting to filter through. Let's begin with the away side...

CHELSEA XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Mikel; Hazard, Mata, Schurrle; Torres

CHELSEA SUBS: Schwarzer, Cole, Essien, Lampard, De Bruyne, Ba, Eto’o

So, Frank Lampard has dropped out of the Chelsea starting lineup, with Ramires and John Obi Mikel preferred in the centre of midfield. Elsewhere, Oscar has not made it because of injury, which has seen Juan Mata keep his place in an attacking midfield berth. He, as well as Andre Schurrle and Eden Hazard, will offer the support to lone striker Fernando Torres.

And here is how the home side will start this encounter...

STOKE XI: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Muniesa; Walters, Nzonzi, Whelan, Adam, Arnautovic; Crouch

STOKE SUBS: Sorensen, Pennant, Palacios, Jones, Assaidi, Wilkinson, Ireland

Former Chelsea defender Robert Huth is back in the Stoke defence following a recent knee injury and he will slot in alongside Ryan Shawcross. Meanwhile, Peter Crouch will play up front, with the likes of Jonathan Walters and Marko Arnautovic offering the support from advanced midfield roles.

Right, returning to Chelsea, they have Hazard in top form at the moment following his two-goal performance against Sunderland last time out. His manager, Jose Mourinho, has been speaking about the Belgian in the days leading up to this clash...

"Eden is Eden, with his qualities he has to try to improve and I think what he has to try to improve is the way he starts every game. The focus, the ambition, the mentality. If he does that the potential is of course very good," he told reporters.

"I think he needs to become comfortable with big responsibilities, this is a quality of the big players. They know they are better than the others, they accept the responsibility of being better than the others, when the team is not playing well enough to win the match they know the team is waiting for them to resolve the problems. The football world is full of teams where an individual can make the difference when collectively you cannot do it.

"He's a fantastic player for us, he can only improve, but if he can feel comfortable with his responsibility to be a special player that can make a difference for us and for him."

Mourinho has also been talking about his skipper John Terry, who has returned to favour under the Portuguese boss following a spell out of the side under Rafael Benitez last season: "I have no stats in my hand but he's probably played more matches already this season than he did the whole of last season. I'm guessing, maybe I'm wrong, but if I'm wrong I'm not wrong by a long distance.

"He was a little bit affected, in a quiet way feeling the doubts about him, so yes, I told him I'm not here to help him, or to give something he doesn't deserve, but I believe if you work really hard from day one you have a chance to play more than you did last season. I was far from thinking he would play the first 14 matches consecutively in a row, but he's doing well, he's behaving well, he's working well."

As mentioned in the introduction, Stoke do not have the best recent home record against the Blues. They've not won any of the four matches between the sides at the Britannia Stadium since they returned to the top flight in 2008. What's more, during those games, they've only managed to score twice. It doesn't bode well for today, does it?!

Of course, last time out it was an afternoon to forget for Stoke's Walters. Not only did he miss a penalty, he also scored TWO own goals! You can relive that 4-0 for Chelsea below.

They were probably out of the title race before today, but Chelsea will no doubt be pleased to hear that Manchester United have lost 1-0 at home to Newcastle United. A win for the Blues today would put 11 points behind them and United.

Here, Chelsea full-back Cesar Azpilicueta, who is keeping Ashley Cole out of the team, has just been talking to the club's official website: "We’re away again in a difficult stadium and Stoke are physical, but we’re going to try to do our game and play football. Being in second position, our target is to go game by game, to fight and try to win and be better as a team."

PREDICTION: Right, there is not long to go until we get underway at the Britannia, so let's have a punt at guessing the outcome. Everything points to an away victory and I'm not about to challenge that school of thought. Let's say a routine 2-0 victory for Mourinho's men, with Mata get his name among the scorers.

Here come the players then to a loud reception from the Britannia Stadium. We are going to have a 60-second applause before we get started as a mark of respect for the former South African president Nelson Mandela, who died earlier this week at the age of 95.

GAME ON! Here we go then. Referee Jonathan Moss blows his whistle for the first time and we are off and running in the Potteries.

Early pressure from both sides as Mata wins an early corner for Chelsea which is cleared, then up the other end Branislav Ivanovic hacks away a cross from Walters. Bright start from the two teams.

CHANCE! It's the sort of opportunity that will have Chelsea supporters wishing that Lampard was on the pitch. Schurrle does really well to pull the ball back for Ramires, who has to hit it first time. The Brazilian gets it all wrong, though, and his effort sails well over the crossbar.

Very composed stuff from visiting Chelsea right now as they stroke the ball around the pitch with ease. It's making the Stoke crowed uneasy, who are getting into their players. That won't help one bit.

Chelsea's German international had started this contest brightly and he's just put the away side deservedly in front. Mikel picks out Schurrle inside the area and he snakes one way and then other, before firing a low shot beyond the reach of Asmir Begovic. It's his second goal for Chelsea and a very good goal at that.

SAVE! Another sight of goal for Chelsea and this time it is Mata. It was a clean strike from the Spaniard as the Stoke defence raced towards him on the edge of the area. The ball flies through the crowd, but Begovic has a decent view and is able to hold the shot.

SUBSTITUTION: An early change for Stoke and it is Charlie Adam that is coming off because of what looks to be an ankle injury. The midfielder has been replaced by Stephen Ireland.

It's all a bit too easy for Chelsea right now. The only thing that has awoken the Stoke fans is John Terry, who they are informing in no uncertain terms that they are not his biggest supporters. Not quite sure what he has done, but I'm sure he's used to such abuse!

A big opportunity for Chelsea to double their lead goes begging. Hazard has so much time and space as he dribbles into the Stoke area. The shot is on for the Belgian, but instead he looks to pick out Torres. The pass is well overhit, though, and the ball trickles out for a Stoke goal kick.

Here's a picture of Schurrle celebrating his goal:

© Getty Images

Chelsea are still in cruise control it must be said. The home side are seeing very little of the ball and when they do gain possession, it's conceded far too easily. Crouch, the lone striker, is cutting a frustrated figure. He's getting little to no service.

Half a chance for the home team as the ball is worked out wide on the left to Arnautovic. He swings it over to the back post for Walters, but his header, under pressure, is a poor one and it fails to work Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal. The Irishman probably should have done a bit better than that.

SAVE! Ramires has just wasted a decent opening for Chelsea. He had options to his right and left, but he opted to shoot and Begovic saved with ease. The midfielder has plenty of attributes, but sometimes his decision making in the final third of the pitch can leave a little to be desired.

Where an earth did that come from?! Chelsea were cruising and yet Stoke have levelled up proceedings. Cech comes for a Walters cross and then changes his mind. The ball is then controlled by Crouch, who fires a shot through a ruck of players. Somehow it finds its way through the crowd and into the back of the net. The Britannia erupts, while Mourinho looks furious.

There will be three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

So, as the whistle for the break is blown by Moss, the two teams go into the dressing rooms level as Crouch cancels out Schurrle's early strike.

Well, Mourinho is likely to be a very unhappy manager right now. Chelsea may have not peppered the Stoke goal with shot after shot, but they have been in control in terms of possession and territory. Yet, one big misjudgment from their goalkeeper and Stoke are back in the game, which in turn has lifted the Britannia Stadium.

As for Stoke, Mark Hughes will know that his side have rode their luck somewhat. If they perform like that after the restart, you'd have to fancy Chelsea to win this. The hosts need to improve greatly in possession of the ball because so far they've been ever so wasteful.

Chelsea's dominance can be seen in the statistics after 45 minutes, with the Blues having had 58% of the ball. They've also had seven shots, three of which have been on target. Meanwhile, Stoke have mustered four shots, but only one of them - the goal - has been on target.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Chelsea get the action restarted at the Britannia Stadium. It's a big half in particular for the Blues because they afford to lose too much more ground on Arsenal at the top.

It's been a very good start to this second half by Stoke. First a corner caused problems in the Chelsea area, before Shawcross lifted a volley over the bar from a tight angle.

You just cannot predict what is going to happen in the Premier League these days can you?! I said it's been a good start to the second half for Stoke and now they lead. Walters picks out Ireland on the edge of the area, who opens up his body to face the goal. From there, he curls the ball beyond the reach of Cech, who has no chance. Once again the Britannia Stadium erupts.

As you were! Stoke's lead is wiped out within three minutes. Mata floats in a cross which is not properly cleared by the Stoke rearguard. The ball drops to Schurrle 20 yards from goal and he sends an instant shot flying into Begovic's net. That's a great strike from the German and it's game on again.

OFF THE BAR! Schurrle is having a stormer for Chelsea right now. On the edge of the area he rolls his marker and curls an effort goalwards with his right foot. Begovic is nowhere to be seen, but the crossbar comes to Stoke's rescue. It's end to end stuff in the Potteries.

SUBSTITUTION: A change for Chelsea and it is Torres that comes off. To be honest, the Spaniard has been very, very quiet today so it is no great surprise. On in his place comes Demba Ba, who once saw a move to Stoke fall through over a medical.

The game has now settled down a little bit after that frantic start to the half. Stoke are seeing much more of the ball, though, and are posing a threat to Chelsea on occasions. It's turned into a really good game.

CHANCE! Talk about a golden opportunity for Stoke. Crouch chests the ball down and picks out an unmarked Ireland eight yards from goal. All he has to do is beat Cech for a second time, but he curls the ball hopelessly over the bar. What a bad miss that is and one that Stoke may end up living to regret.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Mourinho reacts to the pressure being applied by Stoke with a double substitution. Off comes two-goal hero Schurrle and Mikel, with Eto'o and Lampard entering the action.

Without trying to tempt fate, Hazard has been extremely quiet during this second half. Every time he has got the ball, he's been faced with two Stoke players. It's either forced him to pass backwards, or attempt a dribble which doesn't come off. You can see he's getting more and more frustrated with the situation.

BOOKING! A caution goes to Crouch and it's a needless one. He argues a little too much for Moss's liking and the referee brandishes the yellow card in the Stoke striker's direction.

SAVE! A nervy moment for Stoke as Lampard lines up a free kick 20 yards from goal. He goes for pure power and somehow manages to drill it through the Stoke wall. Begovic is alert, though, and gets down well to hold the ball. Then, moments later, Walters is given his fifth booking of the season following a clash with Terry. That is Walters's last involvement because he's been replaced by Oussama Assaidi.

BOOKING! Much to the delight of the Stoke faithful, Terry is cautioned and it has been coming. He's been consistently in the ear of Moss and the referee has finally had enough. Meanwhile, Stoke have made their final change with Wilson Palacios replacing Glenn Whelan.

What an unbelievable goal from Assaidi which is fit to win any football match, providing that Stoke can hold on! He collects the ball on the left flank and cuts inside Ivanovic with the drop of his shoulder. After that it's all about his swerving effort from 25 yards out which beats Cech all ends up. He's booked for taking his shirt up in celebration, but it's doubtful that he cares too much!

Mourinho's men have five minutes of stoppage time to salvage something from this match. Time is ticking away.

Wow, what an ending to this game! Chelsea slump to another defeat away from home and if Arsenal win against Everton tomorrow, they will be six points off the summit.

That's all we have time for from the Britannia Stadium. Thanks for joining us this afternoon. Until next time, goodbye.