Chelsea v Bolton preview

Moneybags Chelsea are aiming to cement their position at the top of The Premiership when they entertain a thrifty Bolton Wanderers side at Stamford Bridge.

The contrast between the clubs' respective financial fortunes could not be greater with Claudio Ranieri given a blank cheque by Roman Abramovich to sign football's biggest names.

In comparison, Ranieri's Bolton counterpart Sam Allardyce is forced to scour the bargain basement in search of free transfers and other clubs' cast-offs.

This gulf in riches has also been translated on to the pitch in recent years with Bolton tasting defeat on their last nine visits to Stamford Bridge.

The Trotters must also seek to prevent this run stretching to double figures against a miserly Chelsea defence which has conceded just one goal in the last six league matches.

Chelsea have also won their last five league games on home soil, making Bolton's task on Saturday all the more formidable.

Blues boss Ranieri has the usual selection headache given the galaxy of stars at his disposal and he must decide whether to stick with the team which beat Besiktas in midweek or chop and change.

Argentinian striker Hernan Crespo could be available after missing the UEFA Champions League tie while Adrian Mutu is in contention after the Romanian was rested on Tuesday to avoid picking up a suspension.

Bolton travel to the capital minus Emerson Thome after the Brazilian defender picked up a chest infection although Simon Charlton has recovered from a similar illness.

Allardyce has also included young defender Danny Livesey in the squad after he returned from his loan spell with Notts County.