For the second time in eight years José Mourinho has been sacked by Chelsea and interest lies in just how the team reacts. They desperately need a win against opponents who also find themselves in relegation strife and the suspicion is that with Guus Hiddink poised to take over on a temporary basis again, the hosts will rise to the occasion now the man who accused them of a “betrayal” has left. Sachin Nakrani
Kick-off Saturday 3pm
Venue Stamford Bridge
Last season Chelsea 3 Sunderland 1
Referee R East
This season G8, Y24, R0, 3 cards per game
Odds H 1-3 A 12-1 D 19-4
Chelsea
Subs from Begovic, Amelia, Cahill, Rahman, Djilobodji, Mikel, Fàbregas, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro, Traoré, Kenedy, Rémy, Falcao
Doubtful Falcao (calf), Hazard (hip)
Injured None
Suspended None
Form LLWDLL
Discipline Y28 R3
Leading scorer Costa 3
Sunderland
Subs from Mannone, Brown, Yedlin, Matthews, Gómez, Watmore, Lens, Johnson, Borini, Graham
Doubtful Coates (illness)
Injured Cattermole (back, 26 Dec), Larsson (knee, 12 Jan)
Suspended None
Form LLWWLL
Discipline Y33 R2
Leading scorers Defoe, Fletcher 4
