Chelsea ended second in the previous edition of the EPL and have begun this season with two wins and a draw and yet, are behind the two teams from Manchester, who have won all their three games. So, when they take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in their fourth round game, they would be hoping for a good win, followed by a poor result for either or both of Manchester United and Manchester City.
Sunderland go into the game with a couple of draws from their opening three matches. Of course, what would have pleased the manager Steve Bruce is that he was able to rope in Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner on the last day of the transfers, which will give him a chance to get going. He wasn’t getting too many chances for the Gunners but will now walk into the 11, next to someone of the class of Asamoah Gyan.
Bendtner is the ninth signing for Bruce, prompted in no small way by the draw against Swansea, which had followed an earlier defeat by Newcastle United. These two results had come on close heels of a drawn game against Liverpool, something that should have fuelled their appetite. Instead, they looked satiated in the next two games and the results went the other way.
Sunderland will be without their best goalkeeper Craig Gordan as also John O’Shea, while with central defender Anton Ferdinand having departed to Queens Park Rangers, it could mean that Titus Bramble could get a chance to take on Chelsea in the game.
Chelsea, on the other hand, got in Liverpool mid-fielder Raul Meireles for approximately £12 million, a costly deal given that he is no more a youngster. However, before passing the judgement one would have to look at how he gets along in the game.
Petr Cech may have started training but he could continue to miss this game, even as Michael Essien continues to miss out on this game. Luiz and Didier Drogba should be seen in this game, with the latter having copped a serious-looking concussion in their second game. The big question now is whether Villas-Boas can get Meireles into his squad.
The other player to watch out for would be Fernando Torres who is yet to score a goal this season.
While Sunderland would be happy with a home game to begin with against Chelsea, it will need them to suddenly start performing to more than the best that has been on display this season. Even if they did that, a drawn game is the best that can be expected out of the side, against the strong Blues.