It's confirmed: Playmaker leaves Chelsea.

Done deal: Santos Laguna confirm signing of Ulises Davila from Chelsea

Dávila joined Chelsea in the summer of 2011 on a five-year deal, with the attacking midfielder becoming the first Mexican to sign for the Blues.

Only three teams created more chances than Santos Laguna in the Apertura of the 2015/16 Liga MX.

However, Dávila failed to play a single game for Chelsea, but he did have five different loan spells away from Stamford Bridge. Dávila spent time at Vitesse, Sabadell, Córdoba, Tenerife, and most recently Portuguese club Vitória.

Santos Laguna have now announced that the 24-year-old has returned to his homeland, signing a three-year contract

Mourinho's pressure steps up to another level

The pressure on Jose Mourinho just stepped up another level with the news that sacked doctor Eva Carneiro is taking legal action against him.

The BBC report that the Chelsea boss is set to become embroiled in the fallout from her exit from the club.

Mourinho is said to be the subject of 'individual legal action' as Carniero sues the Blues for constructive dismissal.

He told Sportsweek: “Let me tell you what I know on the Chelsea story. My information comes from a Chelsea first team player.

"The information was actually passed to me by a football contact.

"Here's a staggering quote. One player said recently, 'I'd rather lose than win for him'.

"Now that last quote may well have been said in the heat of the moment, but it perhaps gives an insight into the mood of some of the players."

I'm not going anywhere - Mourinho

It just keeps getting worse and worse for Jose Mourinho and Chelsea.

Liverpool added to Chelsea’s woes on Saturday by erasing an early deficit and scoring three unanswered goals in a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge. Ramires put the struggling Blues ahead after just four minutes, but a Philippe Coutinho brace and Christian Benteke strike flipped the script and gave the Reds three road points.

Coutinho canceled out the early goal three minutes into first-half stoppage time, and found the back of the net again to put Jurgen Klopp’s men in front in the 74th minute. Benteke, who assisted on Coutinho’s winner, then added an insurance tally in the 83rd to ensure that there would be no comeback from Chelsea.

The defeat was Chelsea’s second in a row, and dropped the club to 15th place in the Premiership table. The Blues have 11 points through 11 matches, and the pressure continues to pile on Mourinho. Liverpool fans even chanted “You’re getting sacked in the morning” after Coutinho’s second tally.

Despite the bookies making him favourite to be the next Premier League boss to be sacked after the home defeat against Liverpool, the Chelsea manager insisted he is staying in his job.

When asked if he thought yesterday's defeat could be his last in charge, he snarled: "No, I don't."

Mourinho also hit back at suggestions that he may have 'lost' the Stamford Bridge dressing room.

He said: "I have no doubts. If you saw some individual performances below a normal level, there were not many. I would say there were, a maximum, a couple.

"Even these ones, they suffered because they are not able to do more. The team is together.”

Chelsea crash out of League cup after losing 5-4 to Stoke City on penalty shootout

Holders Chelsea crashed out of the League Cup in the fourth round after Jack Butland's penalty shootout heroics earned 10-man Stoke City a 5-4 spot-kick win that cranked the pressure up on Jose Mourinho.

Butland, who pulled off a string of fine stops throughout normal and extra time, saved from Eden Hazard after all the previous nine spot-kicks had been converted to decide a tense contest that Chelsea had dragged themselves back into at the death in normal time.

Jonathan Walters struck a goal worthy of winning any contest to give Stoke the lead early in the second half before Loic Remy’s injury-time equaliser took the tie the distance at the Britannia Stadium.

Despite seeing his team outplay Stoke for much of the game on Tuesday, Mourinho was subjected to 'sacked in the morning' taunts from the home side's supporters as Chelsea suffered another significant setback following a poor start to their Premier League title defence. An injury blow to Diego Costa compounded matters further.

For Stoke, who had Phil Bardsley sent off, the victory was a welcome return to the form that saw Mark Hughes' men win four games in a row before defeat against Watford on Saturday, and few sides will want to face them in the League Cup quarter-finals.

Chelsea began brightly and Costa's cross-cum-shot was cleared off the line by Glenn Whelan, while former Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic had barely had a touch in the Chelsea goal when Marko Arnautovic fired a looping overhead kick just over the crossbar after 25 minutes.

Costa, who had picked up a knock, was removed after half an hour, while Hazard and Ramires felt the force of some heavy Stoke tackling as the hosts tried to unsettle Chelsea.

But the visitors continued to pile forward and Butland made a top-corner save from Hazard to keep the scores level, before John Terry's close-range finish was ruled out for offside.

Despite Chelsea's dominance, the best chance of the first half fell to Walters, but he failed to beat Begovic from point-blank range.

Walters more than made amends for his miss seven minutes after the break as he broke the deadlock in style. Charlie Adam's pass found him on the edge of the penalty area and Walters flicked the ball up before hitting a scorching half-volley into the top of the net, giving Begovic no chance.

The goal ignited the atmosphere inside the stadium, as the home crowd sensed they put Mourinho on the brink, and Walters went within inches of adding a spectacular second when he fired a scorching shot just over from 20 yards.

Just as it seemed Stoke's battling performance had drained the fight out of Chelsea, Kurt Zouma flicked a corner on to Remy, who lashed the ball into the top of the net from close range.

Stoke were then reduced to 10 men when Bardsley was shown a second yellow card for a cynical challenge on Kenedy.

Chelsea were buoyant in extra-time and Hazard came close to winning it when he hooked a shot just wide with Butland at full stretch.

Butland's outstanding performance in the first 90 minutes continued throughout extra-time and it was his save from Kenedy in the dying moments that took the tie to penalties.

After nine out of the first nine spot-kicks were clinically despatched - with the likes of Adam, Arnautovic, Oscar, Remy and Willian successful - Hazard saw his attempt brilliantly saved by Butland, who earned his side a place in the last eight.

Chelsea and Mourinho charged by FA

Jose Mourinho has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for misconduct during Chelsea's Premier League clash with West Ham.

Coach Silvino Louro has also been charged with the same offence while both clubs face accusations of failing to control their players.

"Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct in relation to his language and/or behaviour towards the match officials in or around the dressing room area at half-time," read an FA statement.

"Chelsea coach Silvino Louro has also been charged with misconduct in relation to his behaviour which led to his 45th minute dismissal from the technical area.

"West Ham have been charged for failing to control their players in the 44th minute of the game and Chelsea have also been charged with the same offence for an alleged breach in the 45th minute of the game.

"All parties have until 6pm on Thursday [29 October 2015] to reply."

Chelsea boss Mourinho remains subject to a suspended stadium ban following comments relating to the match officials made after the 3-1 loss to Southampton at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.

However, that related to post-match media comments where he "alleged and/or implied bias" on the part of the officials, meaning this latest charge is unlikely to trigger the ban.

The Portuguese has since been critical of the FA punishment meted out to him - declaring on Friday he would not give the media "good and funny headlines" due to a "lack of respect".

Mourinho: One mistake cost Chelsea

Jose Mourinho has likened referee Damir Skomina in Chelsea's 0-0 Champions League draw with Dynamo Kiev to rugby official Craig Joubert.

Joubert refereed Australia's quarter-final Rugby World Cup victory over Scotland at the weekend, and awarded a controversial penalty for accidental offside that enabled the Wallabies to come from behind and win in the closing stages.

And Mourinho believes Skomina's decision not to award Chelsea a penalty after Cesc Fabregas was brought down by Sergiy Rybalka in the first half in Kiev on Tuesday was just as impactful.

"Our performance was solid, we had control of the game for 75 minutes. We hit the post, [should have] had a penalty," Mourinho said.

"It was a clear penalty. I don't know, the referee didn't see it, he didn't want to give it - I don't know.

"One mistake cost Scotland in the rugby. Here, one mistake cost Chelsea."

Mourinho labelled the Slovenian official "weak and naive" immediately following the clash in Kiev.

When asked whether he believed he would be fined for his comment, Mourinho gave a light-hearted reply: "Okay, it was not a penalty."

Mourinho worried over under-achieving stars

Chelsea Manager unhappy with unacceptable form after defeat to Crystal palace.

Jose Mourinho has branded as unacceptable the form of the core of his title winning team this season and warned he will make changes if his stars are still not achieving the desired result

Jose Mourinho will demand his leading players, including Eden Hazard, improve after Chelsea's chastening start to the season.

The Barclays Premier League champions have four points from four games and sit eight points behind leaders Manchester City after Saturday's 2-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace.

It was Mourinho's second loss in 100 home league games as Chelsea boss and he was frustrated by individual and collective performances.

"If you are the best in the Premier League, I think it should be a good responsibility to have a similar season as in the previous season," Mourinho said.

"I don't want to analyse individual performances. When you have six or seven performing and three or four who are not (at) an acceptable level, it is difficult for a team to be consistent in the performance."

Whether he turns to the transfer market in search of answers ahead of Tuesday's 6pm deadline remains to be seen.

Mourinho said: "If you ask me, will I accept this, cross my arms, sit in a nice chair and wait calmly for the performance level to be back? No.

"I have to work, I have to react, I have to analyse and if I feel the players are not in conditions to react and give more, I have to make changes. I have never had a problem with that."

Asked whether his team retained the appetite to defend their title, the Portuguese said: “If that is the point, it is very, very sad because, for me, I feel the opposite. When I win, I want to win again. 

My medal is at home, in a drawer, [because] I feel fantastic motivation for more. If you win it once and the next [year] you are not on fire, not ready at least to fight for more, that is sad.

Aguero taking no risk for Chelsea clash

Sergio Aguero has revealed he may not be ready to start Manchester City's mouth-watering Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday.

The prolific striker came on as a second-half substitute when City started their top-flight campaign with a 3-0 victory at West Brom on Monday.

Argentina international Aguero returned for pre-season training late due to his participation in the Copa America and has hinted that he may have to settle for an impact role off the bench at best against the champions.

"Whether I start or not remains to be seen," the former Altetico Madrid frontman told City's official website.

"I'm trying to get there and be in top condition, but arriving for pre-season later having taken part in the Copa America with Argentina means I need some additional time.

"With the whole season in mind, what matters the most is that I get in top form and don't take any risks."

Chelsea finished eight points clear of second-placed City last season, but Aguero is expecting a more dramatic title race this time around. 

"One thing you can say about the Premier League is that every year, it gets better," he added.

"Once again, many teams have made very important additions and that means there's no single rival for us this season.

"It'd be very naive to think that Chelsea will be the only team competing for the top position - there will be many of us and each one will challenge in their own style.

"We'll stay hungry for glory, we'll do our jobs, we'll win all we possibly can and see where that takes us."

Mourinho: Rivals trying to buy the title

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was accused of 'buying' the Premier League title during Jose Mourinho's first spell at Stamford Bridge, but the Portuguese believes the boot is now on the other foot.

Reigning champions Chelsea have had a relatively quiet transfer window so far - bringing in Asmir Begovic from Stoke City and Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco as their only major signings so far.

Meanwhile, a number of their rivals have indulged in eye-catching close-season activity, with Manchester City recruiting England internationals Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph, and both Manchester United and Liverpool moving to strengthen their squads with a raft of new signings.

Mourinho said of Chelsea: "Basically you cannot say we have a lot of new players. We just made some adaptations in our squad to replace [Didier] Drogba and Petr Cech - we have Falcao and Begovic. The squad is the same, other squads are not the same.

"They are buying some of the best players in the country. They are buying some of the best players in Europe. So other squads will be very strong.

"So as people told me many many times in the beginning of Mr Abramovich coming to Chelsea, Chelsea was buying the title.

"Now, all of them, they are buying the title, and it's up to us to be strong and to fight them and obviously try to win the title again, even without the big investments.

Oscar rejects Chelsea exit talk

Chelsea midfielder Oscar has rejected talk of a move away from the Premier League champions, amid interest from Juventus.

The Brazil international was picked out by Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri as a potential signing last month.

However, the player's agent has already distanced him from a move, and Oscar has now reiterated his desire to stay at Stamford Bridge and build on his three trophies since arriving in 2012.

"I will be staying at Chelsea," he said. "The aim for this season -- to win as many titles as possible."

Oscar lifted his first Premier League title last season, making 26 starts as Jose Mourinho's side finished eight points clear of Manchester City.

Cahill is England´s best centre-back, says Terry

Chelsea captain John Terry believes team-mate Gary Cahill is the best centre-back in the Premier League.

Cahill has seen his spot in the Chelsea starting XI come under threat from promising France defender Kurt Zouma but, since vowing to silence his critics last month, he has nailed down a place in a team poised to win the league.

Earlier in the month former England manager Fabio Capello called on Terry - who retired from international football in September 2012 - to return to the national team.

But Terry insists Cahill is the best option for current England boss Roy Hodgson.

Terry said: "Gary is a big character. He was obviously disappointed to be left out of the Chelsea side a few months ago, but he has come back and taken his chance again.

"He has been different class and is England's best centre back. For me he has been brilliant all season long.

"The manager [Jose Mourinho] has taken him out and stuff, but for me he has been playing at a very high level. In the big games he has a lot of experience and he steps up to the plate."

Mourinho: Abramovich delighted with Chelsea season

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says owner Roman Abramovich is happy with the club's campaign as they look on course to claim the Premier League title.

Sunday's goalless draw with Arsenal saw Chelsea edge a step closer to the club's first title since 2010 after they also claimed the League Cup in March.

Chelsea were the subject of 'boring' chants from Arsenal fans as they ground out a point at the Emirates Stadium with Abramovich having previously been keen to see attacking football following his takeover in 2003.

Mourinho stated the Russian businessman was delighted with the season and further defended suggestions his side were boring.

"He [Abramovich] is very happy," Mourinho explained.

"I saw him hugging the players in the dressing room after the game and, yes, I think he’s happy and I think every Chelsea fan is happy if we win the title.

"He can be in Russia and live the game the same way he lives it in a box at Stamford Bridge.

"If we do [win the title], we will have had a fantastic Premier League season.

"For me, the 'beautiful game' is to go to every match knowing exactly the way you have to play and what you have to do.

"At Arsenal we were brilliant. Brilliant. A game where we were brilliant from the first minute."

Arsenal v Chelsea: Mourinho not focusing on record over Wenger

Leaders Chelsea visit Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, with manager Jose Mourinho not focusing on extending his unbeaten record against counterpart Arsene Wenger.

Mourinho has enjoyed dominance in this fixture thanks to an undefeated streak stretching back 12 matches across various competitions.

This weekend's meeting at the Emirates Stadium affords Chelsea the chance to move one step closer to a fourth Premier League title - victory against Arsenal followed by three more points at Leicester City on Wednesday will see them secure the trophy with four games to spare.

The relationship between the two managers has been fractious in the past, with Wenger shoving Mourinho during the reverse fixture in October, but the Chelsea boss has played down any suggestions of ill feeling.

"For me he is not my rival, I don't feel that. I just feel he's the manager of a big club in the same city where I work and live," the Portuguese said.

"We're big clubs with the same objectives and because of that there will always come a little bit of rivalry but for me it's no different to when I was at Inter with the Milan managers or in Real [Madrid] with the Atletico managers.

"I'm not proud [of his record over Wenger], for me an achievement is to win [on Sunday], not the other 12 matches that we played before against Arsenal, I don't look to this.

"Every match is a match, no relation to the previous or the next one, what they [the players] care about is the way we work all week and the way we prepare ourselves for the game."

Mourinho confirmed that Didier Drogba is fit to play after an ankle problem, although Diego Costa (hamstring) and Loic Remy (calf) remain doubts, with academy player Dominic Solanke potentially in line for a Premier League debut.

Cesc Fabregas is set to make his first return to the Emirates Stadium since departing for Barcelona in 2011, but Mourinho is not concerned about the midfielder receiving a hostile reception, while Wenger has called on Arsenal fans to respect the Spain international.

If Wenger is to break his duck against Mourinho, Sunday might represent his best opportunity for some time, with Arsenal coming into the clash on the back of eight consecutive league victories.

Second-placed Arsenal are 10 points behind Chelsea, but Wenger remains confident his side can close that gap.

"When you are fighting for the championship - and I know that well - when you are on a good run, sometimes you take points that in another season if you were two or three places behind, you would not take," he said.

"The focus and belief is there and is a bit stronger that we can take these points. The difference between the teams is not only measured by the difference in points.

"But nobody has given Chelsea the points. They had to fight for it and they made it."

Wenger described defender Per Mertesacker as "50-50" for this game with an ankle problem, with Gabriel Paulista set to deputise, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring) and Mikel Arteta's lack of match fitness means they remain absent.

Terry ´no chance´ of England return - Capello

Former England manager Fabio Capello believes there is "no chance" of John Terry making an international return.

The Chelsea captain has helped his team to the top of the Premier League, but has been retired from England duty since September 2012.

Capello resigned as manager of England in February of the year, days after the Football Association stripped Terry of the captaincy.

Despite Terry's form, Capello said the 34-year-old had no hope of playing for England again.

"John Terry has no chance of playing with the national team again," the Italian said.

"There are some young players who played with me who are improving. [Chris] Smalling is playing. [Phil] Jones is playing. I'm happy because they are players that I brought into the national team and they are playing now.

"Also Ashley Young is playing really well."

Capello also spoke about another former England captain, Steven Gerrard, who is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season to join the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The 68-year-old said he understood Gerrard's decision.

"Steven Gerrard, I have really good memories of him. He was a fantastic player. He played really well for Liverpool. He played well for the national team," Capello said.

"He has retired from the club. I understand why. A lot of English players are going to the USA."

CHELSEA STAR ON HIS WAY TO PSG THIS SUMMER

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit for the past few months and it now looks as though he will be moving to France with Paris Saint-Germain, as former Blues player and coach Ray Wilkins has claimed the move is done.

Cech has struggled to see regular action under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea this season following Thibaut Courtois’ return from Atletico Madrid and the Czech Republic international has said he is not willing to spend another season sitting on the bench.

At 32, Cech still has several years ahead of him, and PSG look to have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Inter Milan to his services if Wilkins is to be believed.

Wilkins made his comments regarding Cech’s future while speaking on beIN Sport during PSG’s 3-1 Champions League loss to Barcelona on Wednesday night.

Current PSG ‘keeper Salvatore Sirigu could be on the way out of the club after some disappointing displays, while the signing of Cech would mean that Spurs star Hugo Lloris would be unlikely to leave White Hart Lane this summer, as he has also been linked with a move back to France with Paris Saint-Germain.

It was reported last week that Cech was close to agreeing a deal to join Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan but it now looks as though PSG will be his next club after making 331 appearances for Chelsea during his 11 seasons at the club.

Hazard the best in Premier League - Oscar

Chelsea midfielder Oscar believes clubmate Eden Hazard deserves to be seen as "the best player in England".

Hazard is tipped by many to sweep this season's player of the year awards, as Chelsea close in on a first Premier League title since 2010.

And Oscar says such accolades would be entirely justified for a player who has chipped in with 12 goals and eight assists in the league this term.

"In my opinion he is the best player of Premier League at this moment," the Brazilian told Perform. "It's very hard pointing out who's the best here or there, especially here with so many good players.

"But Hazard has been so consistent and he deserves to be considered as the best player in England.

"Obviously we have other good players like Willian, he is only 25, or Diego Costa.

"We still have room for improvement, [but] if we keep this winning mentality I can't see why not other stars can't rise here."

Chelsea sit seven points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and host third-placed Manchester United on Saturday.

Mourinho to raid Atletico again for Joao Miranda

Jose Mourinho's side are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League thanks in no small part to the performances of Diego Costa and Thibaut Courtois, two of Atletico Madrid's key players in their 2013-14 title-winning side.

Brazilian left-back Filipe Luis hasn't had quite the same success at Stamford Bridge as his former Atletico teammates, but that won't stop Jose Mourinho plundering Diego Simeone's side for more defensive talent, according to AS.

Joao Mirando has formed one half of a strong partnership in the heart of Atletico Madrid's defence, but could he be tempted to join Chelsea?

The Spanish outlet reports that the Blues sent technical director Michael Emenalo to watch centre-back Miranda during Atletico's 2-2 draw at Malaga on Saturday evening.

The 30-year-old has a year left on his Rojiblancos contact and has been linked with a move to Manchester clubs United and City, but just last week said he was planning on staying in Madrid despite being "proud" at the transfer links.

However, Atletico are reportedly open to selling the defender for what the Mirror calls a "cut-price fee" rather than losing him for nothing in 2016, and Chelsea's Brazilian contingent could pave the way for another deal between the two clubs.

Cesc Fabregas jets off to Italy to fix his nose after a clash with Adam Johnson

Cesc Fabregas showed off the result of a nasty-looking clash with Charlie Adam's arm during Chelsea's victory against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Blues extended their lead at the top of Barclays Premier League to seven points with a 2-1 win but it didn't come without cost for Spain international Fabregas.

The former Barcelona midfielder was left bloodied after being caught by a flailing arm following a tussle with Adam, the scorer of a 66-yard wonder goal.

     

Fabregas took to Instagram after the game on Saturday to show off his battle scar - a large gash across the top of his swollen nose.

'At least I might be able to fix my nose after all... Good win today!' Fabregas wrote alongside the picture on the social media site.

It is not the first time that the 27-year-old's hooter has been in the wars. While an Arsenal player in 2008, Fabregas suffered a broken nose playing for Spain.

Mourinho: Costa out for at least two weeks

Jose Mourinho expects Diego Costa to be out for at least a fortnight after the Chelsea striker suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury in the 2-1 Premier League win over Stoke City.

Mourinho named Costa on the substitutes' bench and stated ahead of Saturday's game at Stamford Bridge that it would be a "gamble" to play the Spain international.

The Chelsea boss brought Costa on at half-time after Charlie Adam had cancelled out Eden Hazard's penalty with a sensational strike from his own half just before the break.

Costa lasted only 11 minutes before he pulled up again and it was left to Loic Remy to score the winner for a second game in a row, sending Chelsea seven points clear at the top of the table.

Mourinho admitted it was a risk to bring Costa on, but has no regrets and laid no blame at the door of his medical department.

He told Sky Sports: "If my medical department decides to take four weeks to recover Diego this would not happen, but in football we need risks. I risk sometimes, as a manager in a result I don't like.

"We played more offensive and if the opponent scores I don't kill myself for that.

"But in all the scans they did two days ago the muscle was clear, the image was clear and the player trained twice 100 per cent, when he did much more than he did today.

"We put him in dozens of actions and the result was correct. My medical department is fantastic so there is no problem. Next week plays Remy and (Didier) Drogba, we wait for Costa again. For sure with that injury it will be a couple of weeks minimum."

Mourinho was pleased with the persistence shown by his side in a victory which kept them on course to win the title.

He added: "The most important thing is the three points. The importance is obvious, we started the game needing six wins and one draw [to be assured of finishing top of the table] and now we need five wins and one draw. It was difficult and deserved.

"We controlled the game and had the ball in the first half, tried to penetrate through a well-organised defence, we try and try and finally scored a goal with a great combination.

Terry sign new Chelsea deal

John Terry has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Premier League title favourites Chelsea until the end of next season.

The 34-year-old's previous deal at Stamford Bridge had been due to expire at the end of the current campaign, but Jose Mourinho always expected his captain to stay into an 18th term in the club's first team.

Speaking on March 3, the Chelsea boss guaranteed Terry would still be part of his plans in 2015-16 and the defender duly agreed terms on Thursday.

The former England international has been in superb form for Chelsea this season, making 40 appearances in all competitions and helping them to win the League Cup earlier this month.

"I'm delighted to have signed an extension to my contract with Chelsea," he told the club's official website.

"After adding another major trophy to my collection this month I hope myself, the players and manager can continue to bring success to our club.

"Playing for this great club makes me so proud. And as always I would like to thank the fans who have continually supported me."

Mourinho was equally delighted to have his defensive stalwart signed on for another year, insisting there was no sentimentality in awarding him a new deal.

"This new contract is not to say 'thank you very much'," said the Portuguese. "It is because John continues to perform. He is a top defender.

"I am happy that he completely deserves this new contract after a season where he has already played 40 matches."

Chelsea sit six points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand, and welcome Stoke City after the international break.