Good evening and welcome to LIVE coverage of Stoke City's Premier League clash with table-topping Chelsea. Jose Mourinho's men are targeting a positive result that would see them remain at the summit at Christmas. The action gets underway at the Britannia at 8pm GMT.

Comedy scenes as Stoke's corner is countered by Chelsea who have men over - only for the referee to get in the way of the ball and let Stoke off the hook!

Bojan floats the corner towards Crouch who nods down, but Matic stabs it clear. Stoke come again though and Walters sees a shot from the left side of the area blocked.

GOOD SAVE! Courtois gets down well to push Nzonzi's deflected effort past his near post.

Stoke furiously surround the referee as Bardsley is booked for a late, high lunge on Hazard on the left touchline. Mourinho is also fuming. Could that have been a straight red?

Fabregas' left-wing corner is hacked away at the near post. Mikel retrieves but gets his ball back towards the Spaniard all wrong and fires it straight out for a goal kick, much to the amusement of the home support.

As I say, not bad for a centre back!

Commanding play by Courtois who comes a long way off his line to catch the right-wing delivery.

Cameron hoists a long throw from the right towards Crouch but Cahill gets across to concede the corner.

Play is back underway with Stoke looking to build some momentum.

Wondering about ways back in this for Stoke? Look no further than Bojan who has played a part in two goals in his last two PL home matches (1 goal, 1 assist). He could score in back-to-back domestic league home matches for the first time since April 2010, when he scored four goals in three matches for Barcelona in La Liga.

A break in the play after Costa tangled with Shawcross. The Spain international is receiving treatment.

Hazard has scored three goals, and provided one assist, in his last four Premier League appearances. Danger man.

Muniesa rakes a ball from one flank to the other, but it ends up as a Chelsea throw. Sums up Stoke's night at present. Nothing going right.

Awesome stat for a centre back... and amidst this stat-attack, Costa comes within a whisker of getting a toe on Hazard's fizzing low cross from the right. One-way traffic thus far.

The visiting crowd belting out their 'Jose Mourinho' anthem. They will be delighted with this opening - as will the Chelsea boss.

Proof of just how FAST that Chelsea start was...

A lovely Chelsea counter sees Ivanovic cut the ball back for Costa who drags wide from the edge of the box.

Some cracking stats linked to that goal...

STAT: Stoke City have now conceded a goal in each of their last 11 Premier League games; the longest run without a clean sheet in the competition this season.

This has been a very bright start by the visitors. Stoke have barely got out of their own half.

Variety.