Chelsea are playing well at the moment and have crept up the league, taking 14 points out of a possible 18. They have won their last three games at home, with strikers Zola, Gudjohnsen and Hasselbaink in fine form, scoring 17 goals between them.

Sunderland, on the other hand, despite better results under new boss Howard Wilkinson, lost 1-0 at home to lowly Birmingham last week, which shows the severe lack in quality in the side. Sunderland having only taken 3 points out of a possible 18 away. They have, howver drawn their last 3 away games. Coming up against a class act like Chelsea at home, however will be too much for them. The Blues simply have too much firepower for Sunderland. There are rumours of star striker Marcus Stewart leaving the club, and Sunderland do not have a strong enough squad to compete. Chelsea have shown recently that they can dispose of the lower teams easily, beating Birmingham 3-0 (a team Sunderland lost to at home last week) and beating high flyers Middlesbrough 1-0. There is no other result other than a home win. High Stake.