Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Sunderland and Chelsea.

Without doing the research, I'm assuming that we have already had a top-versus-bottom encounter this season given the changes at both end of the table but this match really feels like its tag. Should they continue their winning streak, Chelsea will run away with the title race while the Sunderland hierarchy have suggested that there will be very few new arrivals in January. There's only two points separating Sunderland from safety but it is not going to be easy for them to stay up.

It could be a different story at Chelsea, who are reportedly close to selling out-of-favour Oscar for £60m. Not only do they possess the in-form players in the division, Conte will have a considerable warchest to use should he wish to strengthen his all-conquering squad. At this stage, he is probably against any new arrivals but that may change if his team slip up in a game like this.

Anyway, without further ado, let's get cracking with the team news from the Stadium of Light. Both managers have made alterations...

SUNDERLAND XI: Pickford, Kone, Djilobodji, O'Shea, Jones, Denayer, Kirchhoff, Van Aanholt, Borini, Defoe, Januzaj

SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTES: Mannone, Larsson, Khazri, Love, Asoro, Maja, Honeyman.

CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Diego Costa, Pedro

CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Chalobah, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi

Let's start with the visitors, who make two changes to the team which started the 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at the weekend. It was public knowledge that Eden Hazard would miss out because of an ankle injury so Willian comes in to take his place. There is also a start from Cesc Fabregas, with Nemanja Matic dropping down to the bench. There are a couple of notable inclusions on the bench too with Kurt Zouma and Ruben Loftus-Cheek both featuring among the replacements.

As for Sunderland, David Moyes has made four alterations to the side which succumbed to a tame 3-0 defeat at Swansea City. John O'Shea, Jan Kirchhoff, Adnan Januzaj and Fabio Borini have all been included but Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar do not make the squad. Papy Djilobodji starts in the centre of defence against his former side, who he played just one minute for in a League Cup match away at Walsall.

It's unusual for so many Premier League fixtures to be played on a midweek night but you are spoiled for choice this evening! I don't think you are going to go wrong by following this match with me but we have plenty of other games on offer if you want to take a look here.

HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's match represents the 124th time in which these two teams have met in a competitive fixture, with Chelsea winning 59 times compared to 42 victories for Sunderland.However, while you would expect Chelsea to have had the better of their last six meetings, that is not the case. The Black Cats have won three times and record a draw, with Chelsea only having two 3-1 triumphs at Stamford Bridge to their name. It means that the North-East outfit are unbeaten in their last three matches with Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.

The most recent showdown between the two teams came in May when Sunderland pulled off a sensational comeback victory by a 3-2 scoreline. The home side - then managed by Sam Allardyce - went 1-0 down but they ended up recording a win which was crucial to their survival in the top flight. Want to look back at that game? Of course you do. Click here to read about a classic encounter.

It's pointless taking a look at our Stat Centre to read the form guide because we know that Chelsea have won their last nine matches, but it's worth noting that Sunderland have performed well recently. It was reported that Moyes was facing a fight to keep his job but three wins from five outings has at least brought the club back in with their rivals. At one point, it appeared that they were going to be cut adrift at the bottom but if they can keep picking up points here and there, they will hope that their home form is good enough to get them out of trouble.

This news may have plenty of relevance to Chelsea supporters. Earlier today, Gary Rowett was remarkably sacked as boss of Birmingham City and it has now been confirmed that Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has replaced him. That could result in Chelsea farming some of their young crop out to St Andrew's over the course of the next 12 months. Zola is going to be joined by Pierluigi Casiraghi and Kevin Hitchcock. It's a proper Stamford Bridge reunion.

Let's get back to this game and speak about the inclusion of Cesc Fabregas. It's a big call by Conte with Matic having started all but one of Chelsea's Premier League fixtures this season, as well as providing six assists, but despite rumours about his future, Fabregas has been coming up with the goods when he has been given the opportunity. He set up Chelsea's winner at Watford at the start of the season, he played a key role in the Blues' victory over Manchester City a couple of weeks ago and he helped set up Diego Costa's goal against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend. He may be lacking regular game-time but expect the Spaniard to contribute again tonight.

Sunderland's key man is, of course, Defoe. The experienced forward was starved of service against Swansea at the weekend but he will be hoping for improved fortunes against Chelsea tonight. Defoe has scored in four of his last five outings at the Stadium of Light and he will relish the chance to come up against David Luiz, who was carrying a knock at the weekend.

This game is also another chance for Patrick van Aanholt to come up against his former side. The left-sided player made just eight appearances for Chelsea earlier in his career but he has established himself as a key part of Sunderland's squad, scoring seven goals in 86 matches from the left side of the pitch. He sometimes comes in for criticism for his defensive contributions but there's no doubting that his pace will be an asset against a team playing with a 3-4-3 formation.

PREDICTION! We are not writing off Sunderland in this match - as we've mentioned, they haven't lost in the last three games with Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. However, we would be foolish to not predict a Chelsea win, and we think they will be able to run out 3-1 victors, even without Eden Hazard.

It's time for the two teams to start making their way out at the Stadium of Light. The home supporters are certainly up for this one. We will see if they can spur their team on over the next couple of hours.

Sunderland get us underway.

Chelsea have quickly set into the rhythm of spraying the ball about the pitch but a long spell on the ball ends with a speculative shot from Alonso which is blazed over the crossbar.

Decent response from the home side, who manage to release Jones down the right flank. However, his driven cross into the box avoids everyone and goes out for a goal kick.

Januzaj manages to get a foot in to dispossess a Chelsea player in the left corner but he only ends up conceding a corner. However, from the resulting set piece, Chelsea soon commit a foul.

It hasn't been the most exciting of beginnings but Chelsea look classy on the ball, as you'd expect. Sunderland are having to play within themselves and are sitting deep but again, that's to be expected.

The difference with Chelsea tonight is Willian dropping a lot deeper than Hazard normally would. It's going to be interesting to see how this match unfolds because I'd expect Conte to be instructing the Brazilian to be playing on the shoulder of one of the full-backs. Sunderland will prefer to have him in front of them, like he is now.

Chelsea's best move of the match sees Alonso released down the left flank but rather than try to pick out a man, he drives the ball across the box and it's well defended by Sunderland.

While many of Chelsea's passes are being played at a slow pace, Sunderland show them how it's done with a blistering break which sees several one-touch passes before a corner is won. The ball is delivered by Januzaj but Courtois is able to claim at the second opportunity.

Neither Costa or Defoe have had any impact whatsoever in either final third. It's been that kind of game. Lots of huffing and puffing in the middle of the pitch but absolutely nothing in the way of shots any nearer than 35 yards out.

SHOT! There we go, that's a shot. Januzaj is played in down the right side of the pitch and after cutting inside onto his left foot, he attempts to find the far corner. It's a decent effort but his strike is deflected wide by Cahill.

CHANCE! Given his recent form, this has to be consider a chance, but a difficult one at that. Alonso's pass is fizzed into Costa, but his attempt at a first-time volley is poor and his shot is miscued towards the corner flag.

Most of Chelsea's threat is coming through Alonso but while some of his crosses from the left are being played into the right areas, they are not finding a man. On this occasion, Costa is to blame for not being available in the centre of the penalty area. If he was, it's probably a goal.

Chelsea are putting Sunderland under a bit more pressure now. The final ball is still way off for a team of their quality but they are at least forcing the issue a bit more. Willian is still insistent on dropping deep to collect the ball.

I wish I could provide a few different comments but this is as bad a game as I have seen all season. Chelsea are dominating possession but there is literally no end product. Sunderland are more than content to continue like this until they are forced to change their setup.

Chelsea win a free kick around 30 to 35 yards from goal but it's not really in a shooting position, Luiz has seen enough, however, and decides to try to test Pickford. He gets his effort on target, via the aid of a deflection, but the goalkeeper is able to claim it without having to move.

It definitely hadn't been coming but Chelsea finally show something of a high standard in the final third as they break the deadlock at the Stadium of Light. It comes through Fabregas, who was set up by a disguised pass by Willian before he was able to fire the ball past Pickford.

BOOKING! Just minutes after opening the scoring, Fabregas is clattered by Defoe and the Sunderland forward deservedly goes into the book.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

BOOKING! O'Shea follows Defoe into the book for a late challenge on Costa.

The half-time whistle goes at the Stadium of Light and Chelsea lead a poor game by that effort from Fabregas five minutes before the break. Chelsea haven't done a whole lot right tonight but they have been better by Sunderland, who must throw caution to the wind after the break.

The two teams are slowly making their way back out for the second half. I'd like to promise you a better second half but let's see how things go.

Chelsea get us back underway. There have been no changes for either side.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Sunderland at the start of this second half. Defoe picks out Januzaj on the right of the penalty area and he only has Courtois to beat. However, the Belgian stopper stands up well to divert the ball behind for a corner.

CHANCE!