Chelsea who climbed up to the second position on the league table past weekend, will face Sunderland away this mid-week as the Blues try to consolidate their challenge for the title.
DATE & TIME: December 4, 2013 at 12:45 EST; December 4, 2013 at 19:45 GMT; December 4, 2013 at 20:45 WAT; December 4, 2013 at 21:45 CAT; December 4, 2013 at 22:45 EAT; December 5, 2013 at 01:15 IST.
VENUE: Stadium of Light, United Kingdom.
TV/STREAMING NEWS: The match will be telecast live on Fox Sports EPL On Demand in Australia, Sportsnet Ontario/East/West/Pacific in Canada, Al Jazeera Sport HD6 in Egypt, Fox Sports HD in Italy, J Sports 3 in Japan, Canal+ Multideporte 2 in Spain, Al Jazeera Sport HD6 in UAE and DirecTV in USA.
The match is available online on Supersport Streaming in African sub-continent and NBC Sports Live Extra in USA.
Chelsea TV will have live audio of the game.
CHELSEA FC SQUAD NEWS: Mourinho, in his pre-match presser confirmed that David Luiz and Oscar will miss out Wednesday’s game. Samuel Eto’o is fit however.
Predicted Starting XI: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Schuerrle, Mata, Hazard, Torres.
SUNDERLAND AFC SQUAD NEWS: Sunderland will miss centre back Carlos Cuéllar. Modibo Diakité and Keiran Westwood are doubtful as well. John O’Shea will face a late fitness test. However, Gus Poyet has confirmed that there are no fresh injury concerns.
Predicted Starting XI: Mannone, Bardsley, Browne, Roberge, Dossena, Sung-Yueng, Giaccherini, Larsson, Gardner, Borini, Fletcher.
REFEREE: Philip Dowd.
FORM INDEX: Sunderland – LWLWLD l Chelsea – WWLDWW.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ENEMY: Poyet had some appreciative words about his adversary for tomorrow & also emphasized on how the Black Cats have to be on top of their game against the Blues.
“I know him [Mourinho] and I admire him a lot. He’s a different-class person and manager. I know him in football ways and as a person and I am looking forward to seeing him before the game. Then the game is the game and I hope everything goes all right and there are not any problems in the game between the benches. We know they are one of the best teams in the country and that we need to be very, very good.”
FUN TRIVIA:
- Chelsea have won 16 of their last 17 matches against Sunderland in all competitions.
- Sunderland have won all three of their home matches under Gus Poyet so far.
- Chelsea are undefeated in 19 of their last 21 Premier League matches.
IN A NUTSHELL: Chelsea have not been very convincing on the road this season. But Mourinho’s men will look forward to take three points off the struggling Sunderland who have been boosted by the appointment of former Blues midfielder Gus Poyet. A good performance at the Stadium of Light will help Chelsea cut short Arsenal’s lead on top of the table as the Gunners play later on Thursday.
