Ba to start ahead of Torres? Sunderland – Chelsea predicted line-up and stats preview

Sunderland – Chelsea

Date: Wednesday 4th December

Venue: Stadium of Light

KO: 19.45

Nineteenth placed Sunderland host second-placed Chelsea, with the Black Cats looking to build on their away draw against Villa, while the Blues are looking to extend their winning Premier League run.

Team News

Sunderland

Sunderland will be without defender Carlos Cuellar and should continue to be without Keiren Westwood. Other than that there are no fresh injury concerns for Gus Poyet and his side.

Chelsea

Samuel Eto’o is still out for Chelsea whilst David Luiz is doubtful to regain his place in the side, given that he has been out with a knee injury. Oscar went off early against Southampton so is unlikely to feature for Chelsea whilst Marco van Ginkel remains a long term casualty.

Predicted line ups

Sunderland

Sunderland picked up a point at Aston Villa at the weekend so might persist with a similar line-up. Adam Johnson could return to the side but the back five will certainly be the same given they kept a clean sheet at the weekend.

Sunderland XI: Mannone, Bardsley, O’Shea, Brown, Dossena, Ki, Larsson, Gardner, Giaccherini, Johnson, Fletcher.

Sunderland Predicted XI vs Chelsea

Chelsea

Chelsea will be without Oscar who went off injured against Southampton meaning that Juan Mata should continue to start. Ramires and Lampard flourished in the second-half in centre-midfield so might start together on Wednesday.

Chelsea XI: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Lampard, Ramires, Schurrle, Mata, Hazard, Ba

Predicted Chelsea XI vs Sunderland

Recent Form

Sunderland have been slightly better under Gus Poyet and have won two of their last five, including a 1-0 victory over Manchester City at home, meaning that Poyet’s side shouldn’t be pushovers in this fixture, despite sitting 19th in the Premier League.

Chelsea’s away form has been a mixed bag this season with the club winning just twice on the road. That being said they have faced tough away games in the shape of travelling to Manchester United, Spurs and Everton so far this season and the club did win their last away trip at West Ham.

Players to Watch

Sunderland: Ki Sung-Yeung

Ki is never spectacular but he is a player who can keep the ball and use it effectively for his side. Against Aston Villa he completed 89% of the 66 passes he attempted, more than any other Sunderland player. At the base of the midfield he’ll attempt to keep the play ticking over for his side and his influence could be crucial if Sunderland are going to get anything from this tie.

Chelsea: Juan Mata

Against Basel, Chelsea did not manage a single shot on target, some fan questioned Jose Mourinho’s reluctance to play Mata in the Champions League tie. However, against Southampton, Chelsea’s number ten started and had a sole game, he created five chances getting one assist.

Prediction

Away win. Chelsea have won their last two Premier League fixtures and whilst starting poorly against Southampton they were a lot better in the second-half, in which they scored three goals to come from behind to get the three points. Sunderland probably won’t be easily beaten, but it’s difficult to look past Chelsea, even if they do ooze inconsistency at the minute.