Sunderland vs Chelsea
Barclays Premier League
- Venue: Stadium of Light
- Date: Saturday, 10 September
- Kick-off: 1500 BST
- Coverage: Watch highlights on Match of the Day; listen on Absolute Radio and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
TEAM NEWS
Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is absent after picking up a hamstring injury in Ghana's defeat to Brazil.
Nicklas Bendtner is expected to make his debut after signing on loan from Arsenal, but John O'Shea is injured.
Chelsea are boosted by the return of Petr Cech, David Luiz and Daniel Sturridge, while Raul Meireles could make his first appearance.
Didier Drogba misses out as he is still recovering from the head injury sustained against Norwich.
MATCH PREVIEW
In the Stadium of Light shoot-out, will Sunderland's new ton-up kid outshoot Chelsea's six-gun attack? If he makes his debut, can the Black Cats' loan signing Nicklas Bendtner net on his 100th Premier League appearance to kick start Steve Bruce's season? Or will £100m of Chelsea goal threat finally discover form?
Last season's stunning away win at Stamford Bridge was the only happy moment in what has become a Premier League nightmare for Sunderland. Chelsea have won 12 of the last 13 meetings between the sides, scoring 38 goals along the way. So surely now isn't the time for Villas-Boas' men to fail to score in a third away game on the spin for the first time since 2002.
How will Villas-Boas keep his six strikers all happy this season?
They've looked well short of their best so far. The attack has lacked fluency, the defence has looked ponderous, but they're still unbeaten.
Sunderland need Bendtner to hit the ground running. They've only scored one goal in four matches and have a home hoodoo to contend with, given that they have lost seven of their last eight league games at the Stadium of Light.
How will Villas-Boas keep his six strikers all happy this season? That's a major problem. Will Fernando Torres ever regain his deadly form and razor sharp fitness of two years ago? Will he start in this one? Nicolas Anelka has looked more potent than the Spaniard so far and has scored seven goals for Chelsea against Sunderland. This also could be the fixture for Frank Lampard to prove that he still has lots to offer as he has scored in five of the last eight meetings.
Sunderland could be boosted by the return of Michael Turner, who came through a reserve team match after 10 months out injured. They'll need to be at their strongest to prevent another home defeat, but if they can rekindle the spirit of 1999 when chairman Niall Quinn scored two in a famous 4-1 victory over Chelsea, then anything is possible.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Chelsea have won on their last six visits to Sunderland.
- The Blues have won 12 of the last 13 Premier League meetings between these sides, scoring 38 times in those games. The only match they have lost was Sunderland's shock 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge last season.
- The clubs have met 112 times, with Chelsea leading by 52 wins to 39.
Sunderland
- The Black Cats have lost 11 of their last 17 Premier League games, collecting only 12 points in that time.
- Their 0-0 draw with Swansea last time out was only their third clean sheet in 19 league matches.
- Sunderland have lost their last three home league games and seven of their last eight.
- If selected, new loan signing Nicklas Bendtner is set to make his 100th career Premier League appearance, Kieran Richardson could make his 100th league start in a Sunderland shirt, and Phil Bardsley a 100th start in league and cup for the Wearside club.
Chelsea
- Chelsea have not scored in their last two away games in the league - they have not gone three league games on the road without a goal since April 2002.
- Fernando Torres has made more unsuccessful dribbles (13) than any other top-flight player this season, but Frank Lampard has created more chances than any other Premier League player this season (14).
- The Blues have only kept one clean sheet in their last seven league games.
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