Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator

Stoke have won this fixture in two of the last three seasons, but despite frustrating Manchester City last time out, they will have to go to another level against the current league leaders.

Chelsea's consistency is there to be admired by everyone. Eighteen wins and just one defeat from the last 21 Premier League games tells its own impressive story.

Quite simply, they are title-winning statistics. However, Antonio Conte will not allow his team to take their foot off the pedal as he eyes a repeat of Carlo Ancelotti's league and cup double.

Mark Hughes' team have only lost twice in their last nine league games and will hope that the Chelsea machine isn't quite as well oiled as it has been for the majority of this season.

Just one of the top four sides in action this afternoon as leaders Chelsea head to Stoke.

The Blues have won their last four games in all competitions on the spin but a trip to Staffordshire is never easy for any Premier League side.

A potential banana skin for Antonio Conte?

PaulTheBoroFan: Blimey, even wrong numbers are being posted today, maybe I'll have a chance. Think Boro should be going for either Gary Neville or David Wagner.

That's better, Paul.

And hands off Wagner.

BBC Radio 5 live

And Harry Redknapp, who managed Defoe at Tottenham, says the forward will believe he has a chance of playing at the 2018 World Cup.

Redknapp told BBC Radio 5 live: "Jermain is a fantastic professional and good to have around the place. I'm sure he'll be a big influence on the younger players.

"He really does take care of himself and spends time on the training ground when everyone else is finished.

"He's never short of confidence and he'll be eyeing the next tournament with relish. He will feel he has a chance."

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe is back in the England squad, so here's a few of the prolific front man's best strikes.

Defoe, now 34, won the most recent of his 55 England caps against Chile in November 2013.

Gareth Southgate's side face Germany away in a friendly on 22 March before a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley on 26 March.

Image source, Getty Images

Nine of the bottom 10 sides in the Premier League are in action today including Sunderland and Burnley.

The Clarets have surely done enough to secure Premier League football for another season, but Sunderland are very much in a scrap for survival.

David Moyes' side are bottom of the league - six points from safety - and absolutely have to win today.

Massive game.

Mike, Wirral, via text: My Dad grew up in the 60s in a family of Evertonians. My grandad, my dad's uncles - all Blues. My Dad's got 6 younger sisters and all of the family are Blues. My Dad, Mum, sister and I are Reds. I am blessed my Dad was the only one with sense.

Keep your tweets and texts coming. If you tweet, send it to #bbcfootball, if you text make sure you add your name!

Bet you didn't expect to see Juan Mata in his underpants this morning, did you?

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce says he is only interested in winning games at this stage of the season.

"For me it's about trying to go undefeated for as long as possible now," said the former England boss. "We're disappointed if we draw matches, but it's still a point.

"We have to be at our very best, 100% every game between now and the end of the season. We can't let that drop off."

The Crystal Palace pitch is looking tip top this morning as the Eagles prepare for the visit of Watford this afternoon.

The Palace players got back recently from Morocco after Sam Allardyce took them for a bit of warm weather training. 

After a shaky start, Allardyce has led Palace to two successive wins and they are now a point above the drop zone. 

Allardyce has never been relegated from the Premier League. Is Big Sam going to do it again?

Mark and Tania: We're travelling to Birmingham from Sunderland to see family. Can you play Nellyville by Nelly and Kelly? Thanks.

Oh Mark and Tania, sorry to say you have sent this text to us at BBC Sport. Best I can do is post the lyrics for you to hum along to?

No matter what I doAll I think about is youEven when I'm with my boo..

Nah, that's not working is it?

Football Focus

An unexpected morning for Dan Walker as former Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal popped into the Football Focus studio to say hi. As you do.

Dan is in early doors today because Football Focus is on a bit earlier - 11:30 GMT on BBC One and online.

Paul from Bristol: I am a Man City fan for over 40 years. Three brothers, one a keen Arsenal fan, another a Leeds fan and the third supported several in his time but now favours local team Bristol Rovers. Sister is an ardent Liverpool fan. And mother has a soft spot for Arsene Wenger and therefore an Arsenal fan.

Image source, Getty Images

More from that Tony Pulis interview on BBC Radio 5 live, where the Baggies boss says Arsene Wenger could carry on managing for another five or six years.

"He has overseen the transformation of Arsenal's training facilities, they're as good as anyone's in the world, and the change over from Highbury to the Emirates," added Pulis.

"He's made sure financially they are always in good order, so he's managed well off the pitch too, and you don't always get credit for that.

"He probably sees himself managing in five, six years' time. So I don't think he's going to give up easily. If they finish in the top four and win the FA Cup, most Arsenal supporters will be pleased with that.

"I get the feeling Arsene most probably wants to get carried out in a box still managing a football club, he's football nuts."

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom boss Tony Pulis has been chatting to BBC Radio 5 live's Pat Murphy, and says Arsene Wenger is "one of the greats".

"He's overseen the club for 20 years, from the team he took over and integrating the players that he brought in - the Invincibles - right through," said Pulis.

"Every time you play against them you know the brand of football they are going to play and that on their day they are as good as anyone in Europe, never mind England.

"People will go back to Herbert Chapman, in my time George (Graham) did a great job there and set in stone what Arsene built on. The back four and the goalkeeper were absolutely fantastic.

"He (Wenger) is up there with one of the great managers in English football, and most probably Arsenal's greatest manager."

It's another big day for Arsene Wenger. 

The Gunners' only win in the last month came against a non-league side, meaning even their standard top four finish is under threat this season.

They travel to West Brom for the early kick off today.

Jay: In my family, we choose which team to support every week & 1 team can't have more than 1 supporter - keeps things interesting.

Never heard of this before!

Who's your team this week, Jay?

Andy Dunn
Football writer on BBC Radio 5 live's Friday Football Social

The intensity of the Premier League and what it takes out of you is just getting greater and greater.

There are games in Spain - the country which provides the most Champions League quarter finalists and they have a winter break - that are not as intense.

Bayern Munich prioritise the Champions Legaue over the Bundesliga, Barcelona over La Liga, but I don’t think Premier League clubs do. 

The Premier League is prioritised by English clubs over the Champions League.

Alexander Wheeldon: Not my family but the neighbours, the mum's Liverpool fan, the dad's a United fan, the kid is a City fan. Trifector of hate!   

Image source, .

It's another football manager based in Manchester who dominates the back of the Mirror today.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has been complaining about the amount of games his side has had to play in a short space of time.

United reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday with a dour win against Rostov, but that game came just three days after they played Chelsea in the FA Cup and they take on Middlesbrough tomorrow.