Hello hello! As the bulk of fixtures in England enter crunch time in the second half, we're starting our build-up to Sunderland vs. Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. The team news is just reaching us...

SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon; Vergini, O'Shea, Brown, ReveIllere;Cattermole, Rodwell; Johnson, Larsson, Wickham; Fletcher
Subs: Mannone, Coates, Bridcutt, Gomez, Alvarez, Buckley, Altidore

One change for the Black Cats from last week's goalless draw at Sunderland - Jack Rodwell replaces Jordi Gomez in midfield.

CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Costa
Subs: Cech, Zouma, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Schurrle, Remy, Drogba

Unsurprisingly, Jose Mourinho names an unchanged side. He certainly has a favourite team at the moment and they really are firing on all cylinders.

This game offers Chelsea a big opportunity to stretch their lead at the top from their nearest rivals. Southampton and Manchester City play each other tomorrow and will be nine and 11 points adrift respectively if Chelsea win. Click here to see the latest table.

As you can see, Sunderland currently lie 15th in the table as things stand and are just two points above the drop zone and three above the bottom with Queens Park Rangers beating Leicester City at the moment. Worrying times for Gus Poyet's side.

Something that will make Poyet happy is the return of Ricky Alvarez. The playmaker hasn't played for over two months because of injury but could feature today. Emmanuele Giaccherini was also said to be closing in on full fitness, but he's not quite ready to play today.

H2H: Chelsea go into this game as heavy favourites and they certainly have a good record against the Black Cats to back that up. The Blues have won 17 of the last 19 Premier League games against the Wearsiders.

However, one of those two victories did come in the two sides' last meeting back in April. It was a memorable win as Sunderland came from behind to win 2-1, inflicting a first home league defeat on Jose Mourinho during his two stints at Chelsea.

Last year's league game at the Stadium of Light was a classic, too, as Chelsea won a seven-goal game 4-3. Eden Hazard scored twice on that day and here's one of the two. Great finish.

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These two also met in the North-East two weeks after that thriller in the Capital One Cup semi-finals and on that day Sunderland won 2-1 in extra time to knock Chelsea out and advance to the semi-finals. They would go on to reach the final but lose out to Manchester City at Wembley.

So, although Sunderland aren't in form and big underdogs today, they are chasing a third straight win against Chelsea! One thing they will try to take advantage of is that this exact same Chelsea lineup is the one that started in Schalke in the Champions League on Tuesday. Will they be a wee bit tired playing their third game in a week?

However, this Chelsea team went to Germany and won 5-0 - a hugely impressive result on the road in Europe. An outfit that would test anyone in the world at the moment.

That's, in part, down to the two big summer signings Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa. The pair have been brilliant and there are ominous signs for Sunderland too. Fabregas has scored four goals against the Black Cats, more than he has against any other side.

Costa, meanwhile, has scored 11 goals in 10 Premier League appearances. Compare that to Sunderland's Jozy Altidore, on the bench today, who has scored two in 65!

It will certainly be a tough task for John O'Shea and Wes Brown up against Costa. It's key for Sunderland that their wingers Johnson and Wickham track back whenever possible to limit the threat of Willian and Hazard.

STAT: Sunderland have lost their last nine Premier League home games against Chelsea. Another win for Chelsea would set a Premier League record for consecutive home defeats to the same opposition.

PREDICTION TIME! As you see in the Sports Mole Sofa video below, I go for a 4-1 Chelsea win, while my colleague Barney goes for a 3-1 away victory. It's just so hard to look past the league leaders.

Less than 10 minutes until kickoff now. Although Sunderland are just three points off the bottom, they can climb as high as 12th with a win.

Today's referee Kevin Friend leads the two teams out of the tunnel. Great atmosphere at the Stadium of Light on this chilly Saturday evening.

Handshakes done, kickoff now moments away at the Stadium of Light. Can Chelsea go nine points clear at the top?

KICKOFF! We're underway on Wearside.

Not the best start from Chelsea as they cheaply give Sunderland a throw-in. They have the ball back in no time and work a crossing position for Ivanovic, but his centre is deflected into the arms of Pantilimon.

Chelsea are simply pinging the ball around at such leisure at the moment. The Sunderland fans are getting a little impatient.

Poyet comes out to the edge of his technical area to tell his players to close Chelsea down more and the fans echo his sentiments. Chelsea's patient passing eventually comes to an end when Fabregas tries to pick out the run of Willian but just overhits it.

Fabulous touch from Wickham as he brings down a ball on the left of the box, bringing it inside Ivanovic before having his shot blocked.

Chelsea come back the other way and it's a fabulous cross from Willian across goal that Vergini has to turn behind for a corner at the back post.

SHOT! First real shot of the day comes from Wickham as it opens up 20 yards out and he curls it a yard or so over the bar. Decent effort, but Courtois knew it was going over.

Hazard has Chelsea's first attempt with a shot from a tight angle on the right of the box that he blazes so far over the top. How has he got that far under it?

Oscar is given space 20 yards out and has a go. Cattermole is out to him quickly and gets enough on it to take the power off it, making it an easy save for Pantilimon.

OFF THE POST! Willian is so close to the opening goal as he slaps a snap-shot low and hard against the right-hand post with Pantilimon beaten.

Chelsea have had 71% possession in the opening quarter of an hour. Mighty impressive away from home.

Oscar fires a low shot similar to Willian's that hits his own man Ivanovic. So much of the play is happening in the Sunderland third of the pitch, but so far they're defending pretty well.

Wickham's early sighter remains Sunderland's only shot at goal so far. Main striker Fletcher has barely had a kick.

Fabulous defending by O'Shea as he slides in to nick the ball away from Costa after a defence-splitting pass by Fabregas.

SHOT! Good hit by Rodwell as he fires a sweet left-footer at goal that's just too close to Courtois. Easy save for the Belgian.

Hazard shifts the ball quickly onto his right foot and then looks for the top corner with a well-struck shot that's blocked by Cattermole. The latter has made several blocks already.

Sunderland supporters boo referee Friend after he fails to award them a free kick for what appeared to be fouls on Johnson and Fletcher.

Great wing play by Wickham as he keeps the ball under close attention from Ivanovic before digging out an inviting cross that Courtois can only punch in the direction of Johnson. Fabregas beats Johnson to the ball and the latter handballs it.

CHANCE! First clear sight of goal for Chelsea as Willian feeds Ivanovic. It's a tight angle for the Serbian so he just hits it as hard as he can. Pantilimon makes himself big and produces the save.

Free kick about 30 yards out for Sunderland that is greeted by a huge cheer...

It's too far for Larsson to shoot so he curls it to the back post where Chelsea just about get it clear.

OFF THE BAR! Sunderland so close to a shock lead as Vergini's hooked effort in the area grazes off the top of the bar. The chance came his way thanks to a deflected cross that went perfectly into his path. Both sides have hit the woodwork now.

By the way, Sunderland assistant Mauricio Taricco has been sent to the stand after his reaction to Friend finally awarding them a free kick.

Great stuff again from Wickham down the left as he uses his physical superiority to hold off the challenge of Oscar and win a corner. Remember, he's most comfortable as a striker so is doing well out on the wing.

Ooh, O'Shea is a lucky boy for me there. He challenged Costa from behind and then definitely took a swipe at the Spaniard after the whistle had been blown. Costa reacts and perhaps should also be booked. Both get away with a warning. By the way, Costa is on four bookings this season, one more and he's suspended.

One minute of added time.

It looked like a case of when, not if Chelsea would score early on, but Sunderland have steadied themselves and can be pleased with the way they've played in that first half.

The goals will come, I promise...

Chelsea have had 67% possession and 12 shots to Sunderland's two, but they've only managed to get two of those on target. On the woodwork count, it's one apiece. Willian hit the outside of the post for Chelsea, while Vergini missed the best chance of the first half by hooking against the top of the bar.

Here's a nice snap of Hazard trying to get the better of Verginin:

This is Chelsea's strongest XI without a doubt at the moment so I don't expect Mourino to make any changes soon. No need to panic.

There's plenty of talk on Twitter that Costa should have been sent off for that retaliation, but for me if he had to go so did O'Shea. They both kicked out at each other and Friend opted to let them off.

KICKOFF! We're back underway at the Stadium of Light. No changes from either manager.

CHANCE! Chelsea have a couple of early corners and the second results in a chance as Cahill meets it but can only head straight at Pantilimon. Either side and that's a goal.

SHOT! Willian now with an effort of his own and it's a rasping shot from a tight angle on the right that zips wide of the goal.

BOOKING! First yellow card of the day is shown to Costa and that's him ruled out of the midweek match against Spurs. Bad news for Chelsea and my Fantasy Football team. There's already been calls for him to be sent off and he's just clattered Brown in the face with a flailing arm. Completely unnecessary but a red card would have been harsh.

The Sunderland fans didn't like Costa already but he's now guaranteed to be booed every time he gets it. Will Mourinho keep him on, or go for Loic Remy or Didier Drogba?

Chelsea continue to try their luck from distance as Hazard and Fabregas have shots. One was blocked, one was straight at Pantilimon.

Shouts for a penalty by Sunderland as Johnson meets a cross at the back post and heads back into the danger area. Azpilicueta is there and sticks out his chest to make the block. Definitely not handball.

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Rodwell is replaced by Jordi Gomez in midfield while up front it's Jozy Altidore on for Fletcher.

It might only be 0-0, but it's a fabulous contest to watch this one. The atmosphere inside the stadium is good and with Sunderland really fired up, there's every chance they could be the first team to beat Chelsea this season.

Altidore and then Wickham both win headers before charging into the box where Larsson sends the cross that's well defended by Cahill.

And now a free kick for Sunderland out on the left that Larsson can whip in...

Shocking from the Swede, who had plenty of options in the middle, as he barely gets it up in the air.

SHOT! Boom! What a hit from Matic! That's the crispest strike you'll see today but it's straight into Pantilimon's belly. Anywhere else on target and that's causing big, big problems.

Sunderland have certainly defended well today and that's evident in Chelsea's shooting stats. Fourteen of their 18 shots at goal have been from outside the box.

SHOT! Fantastic strike from Wickham as he unleashes a bullet from 20 yards that's too hot for Courtois to handle. Still a good stop by the Belgian.

Less than 20 minutes left now and surely Mourinho will be thinking about a change soon. Drogba? Remy? Schurrle?

BOOKING! Clear booking for O'Shea as he hacks down Costa who was looking to start a counter. You can tell the Sunderland man actually enjoyed the chance to make that tackle and put one in on Costa.

CHELSEA SUBS: Double change from the visitors - Oscar, Costa off, Drogba and Remy on. Two up front for Chelsea.

Drogba is involved instantly with a low shot that Pantilimon holds well. Had he spilled it, Remy was right there to tap it in. Down the other end, Wickham with another long-ranger that is sliced well wide.

With a little over 10 minutes remaining, this really is anyone's game. You would have thought that it would be Chelsea making all the running, but Sunderland look dangerous too.

SHOT! Patient play on the edge of the Sunderland box from Hazard and Fabregas before the latter feeds it into Drogba who turns his man and shoots quickly but drags it across goal.

CLOSE! Sunderland so close to taking the lead as Wickham loses the ball but Altidore picks it up and manages to squeeze off a shot that's blocked by a combination of goalkeeper and defender.

CHANCE! Another great chance for the home side! The Stadium of Light is rocking as Altidore's shot is blocked but comes straight to Johnson. Unfortunately for the hosts, it's on his weaker right foot and he pulls it wide.

CHELSEA SUB: Third and final change for the home side as Schurrle comes on for Willian down the right.

BOOKING! Matic brings down the surging Wickham in the middle of the pitch about 35 yards out. Sunderland on top at the moment.

CLOSE! Johnson's given loads of space to run into and shoots just wide of the upright with a bouncing shot. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's all Sunderland!

BOOKING! Vergini bodychecks Hazard and isn't happy with the decision so is booked for slamming the ball into the turf in anger. Free kick for Chelsea out wide on the left...

Pantilimon tips it out for a corner with no-one behind him. He could have left that, but better safe than sorry.

It's been a frenetic game with no interruptions so just two minutes of added time.

Fabregas has a go from 25 yards...that's just been caught high up in the stand.

BOOKING! Gomez jumps in dangerously on Cahill and is booked.

Hats off to Sunderland for a heroic effort. It's the first time that Chelsea haven't scored this season and the Black Cats fully deserve at least a point. They were pegged back for much of the first half, but were excellent in the second, especially late on. Poyet will be proud.

Chelsea will be disappointed with just a point, but they still extend their lead at the top to seven points from Southampton. Click here to see the latest table after today's games.

Time for us to say goodbye. We hope you enjoyed that goalless draw as much as we did! Come back tomorrow for more live Premier League action with Southampton vs. Man City and Tottenham vs. Everton. Analysis and player ratings from this match at the Stadium of Light will be live in the next hour. Good night!