Chelsea
will begin life without Jose Mourinho for a second time when they host
Sunderland on Saturday.
Mourinho paid the price for the Blues' dismal start to the season when he
was sacked on Thursday, eight years after his first spell at the club came
to an end.
Guus Hiddink, who managed Chelsea on an interim basis in 2009, is expected
to replace Mourinho.
The defending champions are just a point above the relegation zone after
nine defeats from 16 league matches.
Sunderland are one of only four teams below them in the table and have
picked up more points than Chelsea since the start of October.
However, after wins over Crystal Palace and Stoke they have lost
back-to-back games against Arsenal and Watford.
Team news
Eden Hazard is a doubt for Chelsea after limping off with a hip injury in
the defeat at Leicester, while Radamel Falcao is unlikely to overcome a
muscle issue in time.
Lee Cattermole is still sidelined for Sunderland with a recurrence of a
long-standing back injury while Sebastian Larsson is at least two weeks from
a return with a knee problem.
Sebastian Coates is a doubt after missing training on Thursday due to
illness, but Younes Kaboul has recovered and is expected to be fit.
Opta stats
Chelsea have won 18 and lost two of their last 21 Premier League games
against Sunderland.
Chelsea have lost as many Premier League games this season (nine) as in
2013-14 (six) and 2014-15 (three) seasons combined.
In four of the last five Premier League games between Sunderland and
Chelsea, the team who scored first ended up losing the match while the other
ended 0-0.
Diego Costa has scored just three goals in 13 Premier League appearances
this season - in his first 13 league appearances of 2014-15 he had netted 12
goals.
Sunderland have allowed their opponents a league-high 99 shots on target in
the league this season.
Merson's prediction
The shackles are off Sunderland, they'll stick 10 men behind the ball and
frustrate Chelsea, but with Mourinho gone, the shackles are also off Chelsea
with the hope of a fresh start following the nightmare season so far.
I back Chelsea to bounce back each week and they don't do it. I've seen
Chelsea enough this season.
They have not lost nine games for no reason. Mourinho came out and said that
they won't reach the top four.
Every Chelsea fan was probably thinking before the Bournemouth or Leicester
game: "Let's just win this and we'll go on a seven-game winning streak and
reach the top four eventually." But Jose has straight up ruled it out. What
sort of message was that to the fans?
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (13/2 with Sky Bet)
top