Chelsea vs Sunderland – Chelsea have records in their sights
Published:Chelsea’s formidable defensive record at Stamford Bridge this season and the fact that Sunderland are without top scorer Darren Bent make it virtually impossible to look beyond another victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s team.
Match Odds
Ancelotti has seen his side win all six of their league home games without letting in a goal and another clean sheet will help set a new club record of ten in a row at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, a Chelsea win would also mean 12 successive victories against Sunderland, which would be a Premier League record.
Chelsea are 1/5 to beat Sunderland again and it could come down to a case of how many times they can score.
Sunderland have conceded 18 goals in their last four games with Chelsea, including seven when getting a drubbing at Stamford Bridge last season.
To reduce their chances further, Sunderland find away victories hard to come by at the best of times, winning just once in 24 Premier League games on the road.
They may not have beaten Chelsea anywhere since 2001, but they could have some joy if they could take advantage of Chelsea’s depleted midfield that misses both Frank Lampard and Michael Essien.
Sunderland are 12/1 to take the three points and much could come down to which team scores the first goal.
First Goalscorer
Chelsea have won all eight league games in the top flight this season where they have scored first, while Didier Drogba has proved particularly lethal at Stamford Bridge.
Drogba has nine goals in his last seven home games and is 11/4 to open the scoring against Sunderland.
With Bent absent because of a hamstring injury, the pressure will once again fall firmly on the shoulders of Asamoah Gyan to find the target for Sunderland.
The pair are the only two players to have scored in the league for Sunderland this season and the Ghanaian is 12/1 to strike first against Chelsea.
Chelsea have had more shots on target this season than any other Premier League team. See the whole Chelsea vs Sunderland match betting odds market.
