With three games to go, Chelsea will look to finish the season on a strong point and gather some momentum ahead of the new campaign under Antonio Conte. The blues will visit the Stadium of Light this Saturday, to face Sunderland who are in an intense relegation battle. These kind of games offer results in a spirited performance from the side fighting for survival and Hiddink’s men cannot afford to be complacent because Sunderland can cause damage to the league’s former Champions.
Chelsea sit 9th in the table and the blues have completed an unwanted record of the poorest title defense in Premier League history. Under Hiddink, the away results have been brilliant and from last 9 away games, Chelsea have lost just two and conceding just four goals. Sunderland’s record is miserable against the blues with just two wins in the last 22 League games against Chelsea.Sam Allardyce has been in this position many times and can still save black cats from relegation and the blues have to play at their best after the much needed 2-2 draw against Spurs.
Team News :
The good news for the blues is the return of Thibaut Courtois from suspension and John Terry will start against the black cats. Loic Remy and Kurt Zouma are the long term absentees and Falcao may make the bench again.
Sunderland have a fully fit squad and Sam Allardyce is expected to start a same lineup that secured a point against Stoke City.
Tactics :
Eden Hazard was surprisingly not given a start against Spurs, but played an important cameo saw him scored the all important equalizer. The Belgian will feature centrally and him combined with Costa can inflict damage on the pairing of Kirchhoff and Kaboul. The centre back are a weak link for Allardyce’s men and the free roaming role assumed by Fabregas can do wonders for the blues.
Sunderland have largely dependant on Jermaine Defoe and if the striker can work his magic and save them from relegation, it will be the biggest achievement of Defoe’s career. With Khazri and Borini, the black cats have attackers that can put pressure on the defense of Chelsea.
Predicted Lineups :
Sunderland : Mannone, Yedlin, Kone, Kirchhoff, Kaboul, Van Aanholt, Cattermole, M’Vila, Borini, Khazri, Defoe.
Chelsea : Courtois, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Fabregas, Pedro, Hazard, Willian, Costa.
Prediction :
Sunderland 0 – 1 Chelsea
Betting odds :
Sunderland win : 15/8
Chelsea win : 31/20
Draw : 5/2