English Premier League: Will the Black Cats ‘Sunder’ Chelsea’s unbeaten record
The last time the two sides met was in April when Gus Poyet's Sunderland's side — then rooted at the bottom of the table — pulled off a shock win at Stamford Bridge.
The defeat brought an end to Mourinho's 77-game unbeaten home league run in two spells as Chelsea manager and helped derail the Blues title bid.
Mourinho's side have not lost in the league since and last weekend's one-sided dismissal of West Bromwich Albion helped extend the club's lead at the top of the Premier League to six points after just 12 games.
The 5-0 victory at Schalke in midweek confirmed Chelsea's place in the knockout stage of the Champions League and extended the Blues’ unbeaten start to the season to 19 games in all competitions.
Despite the good start, Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic is taking nothing for granted. "We are playing as a team at the moment. It's still an early stage of the year and we know how many games we have to play until the end of the season to win trophies,” he said. “We have games every three days now. At the moment we are very calm and everyone is thinking in the same direction."
Cesc Fabregas had a hand in four of the goals against Schalke and the Spain midfielder said he was playing the best football of his career following his switch from Barcelona. "I am playing next to great players and they are playing very well and are helping me," said the former Arsenal playmaker. "We have a young, talented team and the mood at the training ground is great."
However, Connor Wickham, who scored in Sunderland's 2-1 win in west London seven months ago to help them pull off their escape from relegation, insisted another surprise result shouldn't be ruled out. "We know we can do it from our performances last year," said Wickham. "We just need to play the way we have been playing, and hopefully it'll happen again.”
Former Chelsea midfielder Poyet is relishing his latest meeting with the Blues after helping the club lift the FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup during a successful four-year spell following his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 1997. “I had a great time there, but my focus is fully on Sunderland,” he said. “It will be nice to catch up with a few old friends, but as soon as the game kicks-off, I won't see anything other than our red and white.”
Arsenal, Liverpool looking for improvement
Arsenal's poor form has seen manager Arsene Wenger's 18-year stewardship called into question amid concerns that a climate of tolerated under-achievement has infiltrated the club.
However, Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League saw Arsenal reach the last 16 for the 15th consecutive season, boosting morale ahead of Saturday's trip to West Bromwich Albion.
"We have to show character and that is what makes me really happy for the next few games, because we have to sharpen up in the Premier League as well," said German centre-back Per Mertesacker. "Saturday is a good chance to show to everyone that we are still alive. We have to come back in the Premier League and that is the next target."
Liverpool, meanwhile, host Stoke City having slumped to 12th place in the table after successive defeats to Newcastle United, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Welsh midfielder Joe Allen, however, remains upbeat. “It's up to us to turn it around [in the Champions League] and it is now back to Premier League action at the weekend. We are looking forward to giving everything to get three points.”
Today’s fixtures
West Brom v Arsenal
Burnley v Aston Villa
Liverpool v Stoke City
Man United v Hull City
QPR v Leicester
Swansea City v Crystal
West Ham United v Newcastle
Sunderland v Chelsea
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