Team News: Sunderland unchanged against Chelsea

Sam Allardyce fields an unchanged lineup as Sunderland host Chelsea in the Premier League this afternoon.

Jermain Defoe, who secured an injury-time draw against Stoke City last time out, leads the line as the Black Cats XI remains identical for the sixth consecutive fixture.

The visiting Blues display two changes from the side that fought back to dash Tottenham Hotspur's title hopes on Monday.

Thibaut Courtois takes his place between the sticks having served a two-match suspension, while the other change comes in the final third as Pedro makes way for Eden Hazard after the Belgian's goal-scoring performance off the bench against Spurs.

Sunderland: Mannone; Yedlin, Van Aanholt, Kaboul, Kone; Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M'Vila, Borini, Khazri; Defoe Subs: Pickford, Larsson, Rodwell, N'Doye, O'Shea, Lens, Watmore

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Diego Costa Subs: Begovic, Baba Rahman, Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy, Oscar, Traore, Pato

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