Chelsea
will lift the Premier League trophy after taking on Sunderland, who will
definitely be joining them in the top flight next season.
Jose Mourinho - who picked up the Premier League Manager of the Year award -
will see his side lift the trophy after confirmed their first title in five
years at the end of April, with Sunday's game live on Sky 1.
The Blues' 16-game unbeaten run came to an end with the 3-0 defeat at West
Brom on Monday Night Football, but that will not fail to spoil the party
mood at Stamford Bridge.
Sunderland, meanwhile, will also be in high spirits as they sit four points
clear of the relegation zone going into the final game, after their 0-0 draw
with Arsenal in midweek guaranteed their survival.
Team news
Eden Hazard could miss his first Premier League match of the season after
undergoing emergency dental surgery to remove his wisdom teeth.
Midfielder Cesc Fabregas is suspended after his red at West Brom, while
Mourinho says Diego Costa will start and youngsters Andreas Christensen and
Jeremie Boga will feature, but Kurt Zouma (knee), Ramires (kidney) and Oscar
(thigh) are all out.
Sebastian Larsson is a doubt for the visitors with a knee problem, while Lee
Cattermole is a caution away from a suspension for next season so he may not
be risked.
Dick Advocaat is still without Jordi Gomez (knee), Wes Brown (knee) and Liam
Bridcutt (ankle) for Sunday's game, while the Black Cats coach could promote
some of the club's youngsters to the bench.
Opta facts
If Chelsea fail to win they will be only the second champions in the last 12
seasons to end with fewer than 86 points (Man Utd 2010/11, 80).
Diego Costa needs one more goal to become the fourth player to score 20
Premier League goals in a single season for Chelsea (Drogba twice,
Hasselbaink twice & Lampard)
Chelsea have not lost successive Premier League games under Jose Mourinho
since May 2006 when they were also in the position of having won the league
already.
Sunderland have won only one of their 13 final day games in Premier League
history.
If John Terry plays the full game he’ll be only the second outfield player
to play every minute of every game in a PL season and win the league (after
Gary Pallister in 1992-93).
Chelsea have 70 goals this season. The average number of goals for the
champions in the 20-team PL era (1996 onwards) is 81.
Merson's prediction
I think Chelsea will finish on a high after the West Brom game. Sunderland
gave everything the other night but Chelsea will turn on the style this
weekend. Chelsea will be without Cesc Fabregas after his red card but I
don’t think he should be banned. Why didn’t they just use common sense?
Everybody does it in training every week. You could be sitting around having
a chat and someone fires a ball at you – Paul Scholes used to do it all the
time!
PAUL PREDICTS: 4-0 (14/1 with Sky Bet)
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