Michael Owen states his prediction for Stoke v Chelsea

Michael Owen is tipping Chelsea to struggle against Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues head into the game as the heavy favourites to win the title this season after their impressive form under new boss Antonio Conte.

Chelsea have built a 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in recent weeks and their dramatic upturn in form this season has been in stark contrast to their struggles last term, when they ended up 10th and without a trophy.

The west London side head into the game fresh from their impressive 1-0 win over Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Monday night.

However, Owen is tipping the Blues to struggle in a low-scoring affair at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Writing in his column for BetVictor, Owen said: “If Chelsea win at Stoke I think they will have at least one hand on the PL title, but the Blues have only won two of their last seven in the Potteries and I expect to see a tight, close encounter with little goal-mouth action.”

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Chelsea will take on Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup semi-finals next month.