The Potters host Fulham this midweek in a game that sees a team struggling against a team who are once again flying high in the top half. Stoke have a decent home record this season and have already beaten Burnley,West Ham, Sunderland and Portsmouth whilst only losing to Manchester United, Birmingham and Chelsea. Fulham's defeat to Chelsea just prior to Christmas was there first in nine games and they are on a flying run at present. In the 32 matches between these sides at Stoke, the Potters have won 14, the visitors 10 and eight have been drawn. Last season when the pair clashed at the Britannia the game ended 0-0. Stoke have not scored a goal against the Cottagers since 1994, six games ago. Overall Fulham have won 27 times to the Potters 23. Prediction: The Potters start the New Year with a hard earned victory, defeating Fulham with a Shawcross header just after half time
Stoke sit 12th in the Premier League but are still only a couple of results away from the bottom three and are in the middle of a tough set of fixtures. Fulham are flying high in the top half but haven't won an away league game since the opening day of the season.
The Met Office report that there will be clear skies, temperatures of a freezing minus 2 degrees celsius, very good visibility and a biting 21 mph wind.