Stoke City v Chelsea line-ups: Cahill left out as Blues make changes, Stoke duo missing

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Chelsea have made three changes from their last league line-up for the visit to Stoke, with captain Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas both left on the bench.

With David Luiz suspended, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen come into the back three, alongside stand-in skipper Cesar Azpilicueta.

Tiemoue Bakayoko starts alongside N’Golo Kante in midfield, but Eden Hazard is again among the substitutes.

The changes are indicative of Chelsea’s busy September schedule, with Blues boss Antonio Conte shuffling his pack ahead of the midweek Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.

Stoke have made enforced changes at the back with on-loan Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma ineligble and Kevin Wimmer nursing a hamstring strain.

Former Blues defender Glen Johnson returns to the side and Erik Pieters drops back from wide midfield, with Ramadan Sobhi coming in.

Stoke: Butland; Johnson Martins Indi, Pieters; Diouf, Allen, Fletcher, Ramadan; Shaqiri, Jese, Choupo-Moting.
Subs: Grant; Berahino, Tymon, Afellay, Adam, Crouch, Souttar

Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso; Willian, Morata, Pedro.
Subs: Caballero, Zappacosta, Cahill, Fabregas, Musonda, Hazard, Batshuayi.