TEAM NEWS
Chelsea are expected to be without Eden Hazard, who had three wisdom teeth removed on Wednesday.
Ramires, Oscar and Kurt Zouma are ruled out with injuries, while Petr Cech is doubtful because of a calf problem and Cesc Fabregas serves a one-game ban.
Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson is fit despite a midweek knock but Lee Cattermole is one booking from a ban and may not be risked.
Goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon is ruled out with a knee problem.
Jordi Gomez, Wes Brown and Liam Bridcutt remain sidelined by injuries, and Danny Graham is doubtful with an ankle problem.
With the Black Cats now safe, youngsters Duncan Watmore, Tommy Robson and Liam Agnew could be named as substitutes.
MATCH PREVIEW
Sunday will be a day of celebration for both clubs. Chelsea will lap up the Premier League trophy presentation. They deserve to. They won more games and lost fewer than anyone else.
No club conceded fewer goals. No-one created more than Cesc Fabregas. No-one played better than Eden Hazard. No captain led his team with more authority than John Terry.
There'll be plenty of title festivities. Chelsea fans can sign a special tribute wall. They can wave champions flags given out free. Banners of club legends will be draped at the Matthew Harding Stand. How he would have loved a day like this.
Heroes of the 2005 title side will parade on the pitch before kick-off. That was Jose Mourinho's first Premier League crown. Petr Cech and Didier Drogba were brought in to win it that year. This weekend, Mourinho may have to finally wave them tearfully goodbye.
Both belong in the Chelsea pantheon. Drogba may enjoy another season under the patronage of Roman Abramovich but Cech wants first-team football.
Despite Mourinho's reluctance, the talismanic Czech should be snapped up by a title rival. They should both play a part in an emotional and uplifting finale.
Lawro's prediction |
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"Sunderland's players have probably been on their jollies this week, and why not. You can understand why they would be enjoying themselves since they made sure they would stay up with their draw at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night."
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Sunderland's final whistle merriments should be muted. They have survived for another year. But they should never have been in a struggling position. Their campaign has been drab at best, mismanaged at worst.
Players in the twilight of their careers need replacing. Too many transfer market gambles have not paid off. Team selection has been haphazard.
There hasn't been enough fire in bellies to win nitty-gritty games against fellow strugglers - they have claimed just 16 points from 42 against teams in this season's bottom eight.
But Dick Advocaat deserves praise. He's waterproofed a leaky defence and inched them to safety with a five-match unbeaten run.
His tears at Arsenal were touching and genuine. Sunderland need someone with his knowledge to build solid foundations for longer-term prosperity.
Chelsea fans have seen the best home record in the Premier League. They've earned this party. Sunderland fans have probably spent more than £25m at the Stadium of Light this campaign and seen just 16 goals from their team there. They deserve far better.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Sunderland are unbeaten in their last two games against Chelsea (W1, D1), having lost 17 of their previous 18 league meetings.
- Victory on Sunday would be the Black Cats' third in five Premier League games at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea
- If Chelsea fail to win they will be only the second champions in the last 12 seasons to end with fewer than 86 points. Manchester United took the title with 80 points in 2011.
- Jose Mourinho has only once experienced back-to-back Premier League defeats. That was in May 2006 when Chelsea lost their final two games (against Newcastle and Blackburn), having already clinched the title.
- Mourinho has won only four of his last 10 Premier League games against Newcastle and Sunderland.
- John Terry could become only the second outfield player to play every minute in a Premier League season and win the title, following in the footsteps of Manchester United's Gary Pallister in 1992-93.
Sunderland
- The Black Cats have won just one of their 13 previous games on the final day of a Premier League season.
- However, Sunderland have only lost one of their last seven league games (W3, D3).
- The Black Cats have been involved in nine 0-0 draws in this season's Premier League - four more than any other side.
- If booked, Lee Cattermole will become the first player to receive 15 Premier League yellow cards in a single season. He would also incur a three-game ban.
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