Chelsea battled to a 4-2 victory over Stoke City at Stamford Bridge to equal the record for successive Premier League wins in a single season.
The Blues twice led through Gary Cahill and Willian goals, only to be pegged back on both occasions by Bruno Martins Indi and Peter Crouch in a lively affair.
There was to be no end to the league leaders' perfect run of form, though, as Willian soon added his second of the afternoon and Diego Costa sealed things late on to keep the momentum going.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded in West London with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Stoke City at Stamford Bridge. The Blues can temporarily move nine points clear at the top with victory this afternoon, knowing that their closest challengers face off against each other a little later, while at the same time equalling a top-flight record for successive wins in a single campaign.
Stoke will aim to become the ultimate party poopers by stopping their opponents one short of equalling the record set by most recently by Arsenal in 2002, as they look to get their own campaign back on track following a disappointing recent run. The Potters are currently 13th in the table and six points off seventh, so they too need to picks up some wins if they are to reach their pre-season target.
TEAM NEWS!
CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Costa, Hazard
STOKE CITY XI: Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, M.Indi; Diouf, Afellay, Adam, Pieters; Allen, Shaqiri; Crouch
Let us start by taking a look at the home team, which shows two changes from the comprehensive 3-0 win over Bournemouth here on Boxing Day. N'Golo Kante and Diego Costa, two of their stars of the show in the Premier League so far this season, both return to the starting XI after their one-match bans. No great surprise there, with Kante coming in for Nemanja Matic - as apposed to Cesc Fabregas - and Costa replacing Pedro in that forward trio.
The return of those two players really is a major boost for Chelsea, even if they did not miss them all that much in the win over Bournemouth. A two-week break is a luxury at this time of year, with this traditionally being the most congested period in the footballing calendar, but both Kante and Costa will now be raring to go for these next two Prem games - including a real crunch clash against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in midweek.
Pedro drops out of the side as a result of the fifth yellow card he picked up against the Cherries, so that made boss Antonio Conte's decision a little easier; Willian being given a chance to hold down his spot in the starting lineup after sitting out a large chunk of this winning run. Matic, who has six assists in his 17 league games so far this term - second only to Kevin De Bruyne - is a tad unfortunate to miss out, but Fabregas has done well when called up in recent weeks.
Turning attention to the visitors now and manager Mark Hughes has made three alterations from the side that lost heavily to Liverpool earlier this week. Xherdan Shaqiri, Charlie Adam and Ibrahim Afellay all come into the starting lineup - the latter making his first Potters start since April. Giannelli Imbula, Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters are the men to make way, meaning Peter Crouch retains his place up top.
Crouch is actually the last English player to score a goal for Stoke; that coming on the final day of the 2014-15 season in the dismantling of Liverpool. No goal in any of his last 21, but Hughes clearly favours the height of the experienced forward as he prepares to go more direct this afternoon, much like we saw at Anfield a few days back. That ploy very much worked for 20 minutes or so, before the Reds found their stride and comfortably strode to victory.
Phil Bardsley is back in contention for the visitors after a six-week layoff, but he is only fit enough for a place among the subs this afternoon. Marko Arnautovic is still suspended, meanwhile, and the trio of Marc Muniesa, Jack Butland and Geoff Cameron are all nursing injury problems. The other absentee from the starting lineup is Bojan Krkic, who continues to be overlooked by Hughes.
BENCH WATCH!
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Zouma, Ivanovic, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Batshuayi
STOKE CITY SUBS: Given, Bardsley, Sobhi, Imbula, Whelan, Bojan, Bony
Poor old Michy Batshuayi remains out of Chelsea's starting lineup, which is not at all surprising considering that he was omitted on Boxing Day despite the club's only other recognised striker being absent. Matic is the player to drop out of the XI to the bench from the 3-0 win over Bournemouth, with Pedro missing out on inclusion due to suspension. Bojan and Wilfried Bony, both supposedly close to leaving Stoke, are two of a number of attacking options for Hughes to call upon.
Antonio Conte has made two changes to Chelsea's starting lineup this afternoon, bringing both N'Golo Kante and Diego Costa back into the side after their recent one-match suspensions. Mark Hughes goes with three alterations from the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, meanwhile, including a first start in almost nine months for Ibrahim Afellay.
All eyes on Chelsea this afternoon, then, as the look to move a whopping nine points clear of their closest challengers Liverpool. The Reds face off in the game of the weekend against third-placed Man City later today, too, so the loser of that one could very well be out of the hunt for the title before we even enter the new year. That says all you need to know about the Blues' sheer dominance in recent months, racking up 12 wins on the bounce.
Playing first does provide a huge advantage, of course, as it means the likes of Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal all face the prospect of knowing that wins in their respective games will merely take them back to withing six, seven and nine points of Chelsea respectively. Since their three-game winless run in September - one of the biggest blessings in disguise in the Blues' history, I would suggest - there really has been no looking back and they are now on the brink of some top-flight history.
A tweak in formation from Conte has really got the best out of his players, earning the Blues the title of "super-favourites" in the words of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman also claimed that the title is now very much Chelsea's to lose, but they have not particularly showed any signs of slipping up over recent weeks since climbing to the top. OK, they had a run of 1-0 wins earlier this month, but they always seemed to be in control of those matches.
There has been a little talk of incoming transfers in the weekend newspapers as far as Chelsea are concerned. A new defender seemed like a priority just a few months back, even after bringing David Luiz in late on - what a signing that has proved to be - but surely that can now wait until the summer? A back-up striker for Costa is also thought to be on Conte's list, yet that again does not seem likely to be a major priority at this stage with Batshuayi boasting the quality needed to make an impact when required.
On the field, Chelsea follow up this game with that tasty trip to Tottenham before taking on Leicester City later in the month - fixtures that sandwich the visit of Peterborough United in the third round of the FA Cup. The Blues will be confident of brushing away all three of those opponents, having now kept 10 clean sheets during their current 12-game winning run, conceding just two in all and scoring an impressive 28. No matter how you look at it, they really are on fire.
Chelsea could also make it seven home league wins on the bounce this afternoon for the first time since going 11 without dropping a point in 2010. Their current tally of 46 points after 18 games is the second-highest ever in the Premier League, bettered only by their own 49-point haul in 2005-06 when cantering to the title in Jose Mourinho's first spell at Stamford Bridge. This current group could potentially go one better over the coming months to topple that final tally.
DID YOU KNOW? Much has been made of this record run that Chelsea are looking to chase down, which is currently held by three separate teams. Preston North End and Sunderland both racked up a perfect 13 in the 1891-92 season, while Arsenal did likewise a little more recently in 2001-02. The Gunners also won the opening game of the following campaign to stretch that run to 13 wins on the spin, so the Blues are now looking to match - and better - both of their rivals' records.
It is fair to say that Antonio Conte - arguably the least heralded of the incoming 'super-managers' over the past 18 months or so - has taken the Premier League by storm. The Italian's tactical tinkering a little over a month into the season has worked wonders, with the Blues since winning 12 games in a row in the top flight. Victory today will see them equal the record for most-successive wins in a single campaign.
Stoke head into this match a little under the radar due to Chelsea's recent exploits, but make no mistake about - Hughes is under a little pressure and will be desperate to take at least a point back to the Potteries this evening. The visitors are currently 13th in the table and now seven points adrift of Everton in seventh, while eighth-placed Southampton are three points ahead.
City did initially improve from their terrible start to the season, which saw them eventually win at the eighth time of asking, but they have now hit another sticky patch of form after going four games without a win. It has not been the easiest of months for the Potters, having lost away to both Arsenal and Liverpool, but Hughes will be particularly disappointed by the successive home draws with Southampton and Leicester.
This current run of fixtures does become a little friendlier after this toughest test of the lot, as they face just Man United among the division's current elite teams over their next seven games. A top-half finish is still very much in sight for the Potters, then, but Hughes will know full well that 21 points from 18 games is his side's worst tally at this stage in the campaign since their maiden Prem season in 2008-09.
Stoke have lost back-to-back away games heading into this Stamford Bridge test, conceding seven goals in the process at the hands of difficult opponents in Arsenal and Liverpool. The Potters have also won just one of their last 19 games in the capital - a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur over two years ago - and the bad omens keep coming because Hughes is winless at this ground in 11 attempts as a manager.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Chelsea have gone 11 matches without a home defeat in this fixture, winning eight and drawing three since 1974. Stoke City did pick up their first Premier League point at Stamford Bridge at the eighth attempt in last season's meeting, however, with Mame Diouf's late leveller in that one just the third time they have bagged a goal in this part of West London during their Prem history.
With kickoff at Stamford Bridge now exactly 10 minutes away, let us turn attention to some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Antonio Conte: "At the start of the season, not one coach, not one person, not one journalist trusted in this team to fight for the title in this league this season. To have 12 wins in a row is a great achievement, but it's not enough to win the league at this point of the season. I'm pleased that the opinion is changing. I'm [also] a bit worried because, when the opinion changes quickly, you must pay attention."
Mark Hughes: "The run they are on at the moment is absolutely outstanding, but that run will come to an end at some point. We're going into it with the intention of stopping the run if we can - and why can't it be us? We went there last year and got our first point at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, which proves we have good talent in our team."
Conte rightly pointing out that not many neutrals gave his side too much hope of winning the title, then, with other managers instead getting star billing. That was largely due to the poor form of Chelsea throughout last term's disastrous title defence, and matters did not exactly improve when they hit a sticky spell in the middle of September this time around. Full credit to Conte, though, because he has turned this side into potentially one of the Premier League's best ever.
Hughes aiming to become the manager who stops Conte in his tracks, pointing to last season's first-ever Premier League point at this ground. The Welshman is of course correct when he says the Blues cannot keep this winning run going forever, but they have not particularly looked like slipping up so far. Bar a disappointing opening 40 minutes against Spurs in November, it has been a breeze for today's hosts.
PREDICTION! Chelsea boast an impressive home record against Stoke City, albeit one that was tarnished slightly during last season's season-to-forget when conceding a late equaliser - the first point the Potters had ever earned here in the Premier League. The Blues' 12-game run will surely be prolonged by another match this afternoon, taking them joint-level with the all-time record, but I am expecting another of those carved-out victories by a 1-0 scoreline.
Both sets of players are now out on the field of play, with kickoff at Stamford Bridge just a couple of minutes away now. A quick reminder of the teams for you, which shows two changes as far as Chelsea are concerned - N'Golo Kante and Diego Costa returning - while Stoke make three alterations from their heavy defeat away to Liverpool earlier in the festive programme.
KICKOFF! Stoke City get us up and running in West London, with home side Chelsea attacking their favoured Shed End in the first half. A case of keeping things tight for as long as possible as far as the Potters are concerned.
Interestingly, Stoke appear to be going with three at the back from the outset to match their opponents. The Potters have started the game on top, too, finding a few gaps but failing to really trouble the Blues at the back.
It has been a decent enough start to the game by Stoke, who have settled well and are knocking the ball around just inside the Chelsea half. They have got to be careful not to give it away, with the Blues well set up to counter.
First sign of danger for the visitors, as Hazard sends a deflected shot behind for a corner. From the set-piece, Kante drilled a low shot wide of the target from the edge of the box. Better from Chelsea, who have started conservatively.
Stoke win a deep free kick which Shaqiri was only going to send towards one man - a certain Peter Crouch. The Englishman very nearly got his head to it, too, but it was well dealt with in the end and Chelsea successfully cleared.
Chelsea fail to properly clear a ball into the box and it falls into the path of Shaqiri, who bends one a yard or so wide of the target. The Potters edging things at the moment, but neither keeper has had a save to make.
Grant is under pressure to clear the ball when closed down by Willian and, just 10 seconds later, Moses blasts the ball to Courtois who does very well to keep his composure and successfully pick out a teammate.
Chelsea just struggling to find their rhythm at the moment, particularly in midfield where Stoke are winning their fair share of free kicks. Adam sends in a superb low cross for Azpilicueta to clear behind - a vital interception.
Cannot credit Hughes and his players enough for this bright start they have made to the game, really getting at their opponents and so far edging things in terms of attacking play. That Azpilicueta block a few moments ago was their brightest moment.
SAVE! Chelsea finally step things up and earn themselves a corner through Moses, and it is the Nigerian who the ball eventually drops to as he blasts straight into a Stoke player. From the next move, Costa brilliantly takes down the ball and volleys on goal for Grant to keep out with a strong hand.
That was the game's first shot on target, providing a stunning save out of Grant - a player who could well be back in the Championship in the coming days if a permanent deal is not sorted. Allen nearly gets in behind but his attempt is blocked.
SAVE! Chelsea go short from corner number three of the game, but Willian delays the shot and instead lays it off to Luiz who crosses into the box. Another corner for the Blues, which Cahill heads on goal to force a second save out of Grant.
That Cahill header was poor on Stoke's behalf; the Englishman somehow getting his head to a corner despite being marked by four players. Thankfully for the hosts they had Grant on hand to get across and push the ball aside.
YELLOW CARD! Moses clips the legs of Pieters down the left flank and earns the game's first caution as a result. A brilliantly worked set-piece for the visitors, which Shaqiri blasted high into the stands unmarked.
CHANCE! Stoke are now the side back on top in their entertaining contest as, after Chelsea sloppily conceded a corner, the ball was nodded narrowly wide by the head of Adam. Perhaps should have done better from around eight yards out.
Moses, booked just five minutes ago for a challenge on Pieters, clatters into another player but escapes any sort of action from referee Bobby Madley. Only the two shots on target in the opening third of the match but it has been gripping so far.
Chelsea having to work as hard as ever to keep this run going as, bar a strong five-minute spell a little earlier, they have been second best on the whole. Stoke hardly done enough to warrant a lead of their own, though.
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 STOKE CITY (GARY CAHILL)
He had a free header a little earlier, but Stoke clearly have not learned their lesson as Cahill again gets to a corner first and this time scores the opening from close range. Prior to that, a superb long ball from Luiz was brought down by Costa who failed to get the better of Grant. Hazard's rebound was then blocked by the City stopper, but he could not stop Cahill's header.
A tad harsh on Stoke, perhaps, but Chelsea are the side who have had all the shots on target so far. Hughes will be furious with the defending on show from his side so far, but they have offered the odd hope of scoring a goal at the other end.
Stoke must keep things tight now for the remainder of this first half, with the momentum clearly on Chelsea's side after that breakthrough goal. The Blues far from over the line just yet, but a second should get them home and dry.
Four Chelsea players line up a free kick in perfect shooting range, positioned around 23 yards from goal. Costa wins the battle to take it on, sending it well adrift of the target to the dismay of Luiz and Willian alongside him.
Another free kick won by Chelsea in a dangerous area of the pitch. Fabregas could have taken the shot on from the angle but instead decided to cross towards the back post, where Diouf got to it ahead of an onrushing Luiz.
HALF TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 STOKE CITY
Referee Bobby Madley blows his whistle for half time, bringing to a close an entertaining opening 45 minutes on the whole. Chelsea lead Stoke City 1-0 at the midway point thanks to Gary Cahill's header 34 minutes in, ending what had been a strong opening third to the contest for the visitors.
Stoke looked the more composed of the two teams in the opening quarter of the match, getting right at their opponents despite the prospect of a repeat from the 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool earlier this week. A couple of wayward Chelsea shots aside, neither team could really find any space to manoeuvre in the final third in their near-identical systems.
Chelsea finally showed some signs of stepping things up a gear or two 20 minutes in when Diego Costa took down a 70-yard David Luiz pass with his chest, took it under control with his thigh and then volleyed on goal for Lee Grant to make his first stop of the afternoon. There was a sign of things to come for Stoke soon after as Gary Cahill headed on target from a corner unmarked inside the box, which he would replicate 34 minutes in from the other side to open the scoring in West London.
Eden Hazard and Costa were both denied by Grant in the build-up to that Cahill breakthrough, but Stoke had come close themselves through Charlie Adam's header up the other end and were clearly unperturbed as the first half transpired. The Potters, without a win in four heading into this clash, failed to test Thibaut Courtois on a single occasion, however, and can hardly complain about being a goal down at the midway point.
A quick remainder of both managers' options at the midway point, which contains plenty of attacking options as far as Mark Hughes is concerned. Antonio Conte could well turn to Nemanja Matic at some point - perhaps even at the interval - to add some midfield steel.
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Zouma, Ivanovic, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Batshuayi
STOKE CITY SUBS: Given, Bardsley, Sobhi, Imbula, Whelan, Bojan, Bony
RESTART! Chelsea, protecting a one-goal lead from the first half, get us back under way at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were far from their best in the first half but do just about deserve their slender advantage.
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-1 STOKE CITY (BRUNO MARTINS INDI)
A first goal in English football for Bruno Martins Indi, who had the task of sweeping home from close range after getting on the end of Crouch's knockdown. It all came from a deep Adam cross, which the Blues have had some difficulty with this afternoon.
That Stoke leveller arrived just 55 seconds into the second half, from what was their first attempt on target all match. Now we will see exactly what Chelsea are made of, with plenty of time still left to play in West London.
CLOSE! Moses is allowed to run and run and run towards the box, with the ball eventually landing nicely for Willian to shoot. The Brazilian sent it narrowly wide of target when he should have been testing Grant.
A nice bit of thinking from Fabregas to dink the ball into a dangerous position, but none of his teammates could get to it first. Prior to that Grant had to get down to thwart a fizzed cross from the Chelsea right - good keeping.
The Blues really stepping things up now, with Hazard getting in behind but seeing his flicked cross cut out before a home player could get on the end of it. Stoke having to hold on, so perhaps Hughes may be thinking of a change or two.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1 STOKE CITY (WILLIAN)
Chelsea are back in front at Stamford Bridge thanks to a well worked team goal. Moses instigated the move down the right-hand flank, sending in a decent cross for Hazard to deftly touch into the path of Willian, who did the rest by rifling past Grant.
CHANCE! Stoke have looked to shaky since levelling things up 15 minutes ago, with Johnson passing the ball straight to Hazard. The Belgian looked to pick out Costa but it had just a tad too much on it. Fabregas now booked for a late challenge on Allen.
STOKE CITY SUBS! A double change made by Stoke boss Hughes, who has introduced both Imbula and Bojan - two players with a point to prove, perhaps. Shaqiri and Afellay the players to make way after a good shift in midfield and attack.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-2 STOKE CITY (PETER CROUCH)
Incredible! The double change has clearly paid off for Hughes, because his side have just levelled up the game for a second time. Much like with the Potters' first goal replicating their opponents' first, this second also had a sense of sameness. Bojan found Diouf out wide and in turn the ball found its way to Crouch to tap home.
GOAL! CHELSEA 3-2 STOKE CITY (WILLIAN)
No chance of a breather in West London, as Chelsea have restored their lead yet again just a couple of minutes after seeing Stoke draw level. It was a simple enough goal, with Fabregas slipping it through for Willian to sweep past Grant from a slight angle.
Chelsea back on top now after that crazy spell a few minutes ago. Willian sees his pass cut out before the rebound falls nicely back into his path, but he can only drag it wide of the target. A one-goal margin may not be enough at this rate!
YELLOW CARD! Mame Biram Diouf and Marcos Alonso are both shown yellows by referee Bobby Madley for their coming together. Pieters currently hobbling around following a heavy landing, but he appears to be OK to continue.
CHELSEA SUB! Nemanja Matic is introduced in place of Fabregas, who leaves to a strong applause from the home supporters. A little over 15 minutes to go in this one and we still have plenty to play for.
SHOT! Crouch gives the ball away to Willian, who starts a Chelsea counter. The ball is swept to Hazard who plays it inside to Fabregas, but Costa lifted his attempt over the crossbar. Stoke still looking to get at their opponents.
Chelsea dominating things in terms of possession in this second half, seeing almost two third of the ball, but they will not feel too comfortable at this stage. So often the Blues have led 1-0 in the closing stages of games, yet this feels different.
Stoke so close to another equaliser, as a ball in from the right is just about met by the toe of Azpilicueta to take if from Crouch's head. The Englishman causing all sorts of problems and heads on to the roof of the net moments later.
CHELSEA SUB! Branislav Ivanovic is on in place of Moses, which tells you a lot about how Conte is feeling right now. The Italian requires some defensive steel to help thwart the threat of lanky Stoke striker Crouch.
CHELSEA SUB! Two-goal Willian is replaced by Nathaniel Chalobah for the final five or six minutes of normal time - another defensive alteration. Likely to be all backs to the wall now for the home side.
GOAL! CHELSEA 4-2 STOKE CITY (DIEGO COSTA)
Well from absolutely nowhere Chelsea have sealed the points. Stoke failed to deal with a pretty straightforward ball into the box, allowing Costa to outmuscle Martins Indi and blast the ball past Grant. Surely - surely! - that will now be enough.
Alonso, who we have not seen a great deal today, cuts in from the right and sends a shot narrowly wide of goal. Three minutes of added time to be played at Stamford Bridge, apparently, so Chelsea very nearly over the line now.
Two minutes of added time to be played and it is the Premier League pacesetters who look the more likely to add the game's seventh goal. A real thriller in West London this afternoon, which is very nearly at its conclusion.
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 4-2 STOKE CITY
The full-time whistle sounds at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea have successfully got the job done to equal a top-flight record. The Blues came out on top 4-2 against a stubborn Stoke City in the end, twice being pegged back but earning the points thanks to Willian's second of the contest and a late Diego Costa strike.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Stamford Bridge. A full on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while updates from the truly massive evening kickoff between Liverpool and Manchester City is now under way elsewhere. Enjoy!
