Didier Drogba makes his final Chelsea appearance as a starter in today’s game and wearing the captain’s armband.
Petr Cech has recovered from injury in time to also be named in the line-up and Willian returns in place of the suspended Cesc Fabregas.
Eden Hazard, despite being a doubt in the lead-up to this match due to dental surgery, does play so he,John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic start all 38 league games.
On the bench today are Chelsea Academy products Andreas Christensen, Jeremie Boga and Dominic Solanke.
Sunderland bring Vito Mannone in between the posts and Jack Rodwell into midfield in place of Lee Catermole. Steven Fletcher plays up front.
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Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:
Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry , Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Cuadrado, Willian, Hazard; Drogba (c).
Subs: Courtois, Filipe Luis, Christensen, Boga, Remy , Solanke, Diego Costa.
Sunderland are expected to line-up in the following 4-1-4-1 formation:
Mannone; Jones, O’Shea (c), Coates Van Aanholt; Rodwell; Johnson, Larsson, Wickham, Defoe; Fletcher.
Subs: Reveillere, Graham, Giaccherini, Cattermole, Vergini, Buckley, Pickford.
The referee is Lee Mason.