Chelsea prepare to welcome Sunderland to Stamford Bridge as they return to Premier League action tomorrow afternoon.
The Blues head into the match on the back of a 5-1 thrashing against Ajax in the Champions League. They made history by scoring three goals from three teenagers – Marc Guiu (who, in Sunderland, will be facing the club for whom he briefly played on loan earlier this season), Estêvão Willian and Tyrique George – for the first time ever the Champions League.
They’ve also beaten Benfica, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in an unbeaten last four games, the latter of which the final straw for Ange Postecoglu’s City Ground career.
Chelsea are currently fifth in the league table, just five points off league leaders Arsenal and one point off the top four.
Enzo Fernández has joined Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Benoît Badiashile and Levi Colwill on the injury list.
The home side have won their last three home league games against Sunderland by an aggregate score of 11-3, most recently on the final day of the 2016/17 campaign, when Chelsea won 5-1.
Meanwhile, Sunderland have gained 14 points from their last eight Premier League games. It’s their best return at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1999-2000, when they also had 14 points and won their ninth game.
The Black Cats are unbeaten in their last 13 away league games against London sides, winning four and drawing nine, since a 2-1 loss against Fulham in April 2018.
Régis Le Bris’s side travel to Stamford Bridge on the back of a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United and a recent 2-0 win victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
They are seventh in the Premier League table and could rise into the top four should they beat Chelsea. In fact, both sides are currently sat on 14 points and only goal difference splits them.
Sunderland will be without Habib Diarra, Leo Hjelde, Romaine Mundle, Dennis Cirkin, and Omar Aldrete for the match in London.
The match won’t be broadcast in the UK due to the 3pm black out rule, but fans in the US can catch the match live on Peacock.