Chelsea will go into a bottom of the table clash with relegation rivals Sunderland without manager Jose Mourinho in the hope of putting some daylight between themselves and the bottom three.
And the Blues will be sweating on the fitness of star winger Eden Hazard, who is still suffering from the hip injury he sustained in Monday night’s defeat to Leicester City.
However, Blues duo Pedro and Baba Rahman are thought to be pushing for recalls and will hope to prevent Chelsea from slipping to another embarrassing defeat.
Sunderland will still be missing key duo Lee Cattermole and Sebastian Larsson with respective back and knee complaints.
In defence, Sebastian Coates could still be missing after he was absent from training this week with a flu virus, but Younes Kaboul could be in line for a return.
Sunderland will likely stick with a five-man defence, but the Blues undoubtedly have the necessary attacking talent to break them down.
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