Sunderland vs. Chelsea: Premier League Preview, Team News, Projected Lineups

Sunderland hosts Chelsea on Saturday in an extremely important Premier League fixture for both sides.

The Black Cats are just outside the relegation zone, albeit with one game in hand. Chelsea are currently third in the Premier League after a poor run of results.

The last time these two teams played it was Chelsea who ran out 1-0 winners (via ESPN Soccernet).

Sunderland Team News

According to the PhysioRoom.com, the Black Cats will be without a host of important players. Club captain Lee Cattermole and leading goal-scorer Steven Fletcher head that list. 

Sunderland has not won in four of their last five games and need a positive result to steer clear of relegation.

Chelsea Team News

Chelsea has not won in their last seven Premier League games. As a result, the club is now 10 points away from the first place position they held early in the season.

Things haven't gone too well in Europe either as the Blues closed out their Champions League campaign on Wednesday.

Chelsea became the first Champions League winners to get knocked out in the group stage despite an impressive 6-1 victory against FC Nordsjaelland (via UEFA.com).

Sunderland Projected Lineup(4-2-3-1)

Mignolet; Bardsley, Cuellar, Kilgallon, Rose; Gardner, Larsson; Johnson, Sessegnon, McClean; Wickham

Chelsea Projected Lineup(4-2-3-1)

Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole; Ramires, Obi-Mikel; Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Torres