Good afternoon everyone! It's another packed day in the Premier League, with no less than eight games taking place. Our coverage here sees relegation-threatened Sunderland travel to the Britannia Stadium in search of vital points against Stoke City.

The Potters have had another solid campaign and they are on course to break their record points tally in the Premier League. Their form started to trail off slightly towards the end of March, but they seem to be back on track after last weekend's victory over Southampton.

It is the complete opposite for Sunderland, who are in real danger of going down. The Black Cats have lost three of their last four games and they are now just a point above the relegation zone. If results go against them today, then they very may well return to the bottom three.

STOKE XI: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters, N'Zonzi, Adam, Walters, Ireland, Arnautovic, Diouf

SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon, O'Shea, Coates, Jones, Van Aanholt, Cattermole, Rodwell, Gomez, Wickham, Buckley, Defoe

STOKE SUBS: Butland, Bardsley, Whelan, Wilson, Sidwell, Odemwingie, Crouch

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Bridcutt, Reveillere, Mannone, Vergini, Graham, Honeyman, Agnew

Stoke have made just one change from the team that beat Southampton, as Charlie Adam returns to the midfield in place of Glenn Whelan. It means that Mame Biram Diouf once again leads the attack and the Senegal international will be looking to score for the fourth consecutive home match. Peter Odemwingie is also back on the bench after seven months out injured.

Meanwhile, Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat has made two changes to the side that were beaten by Aston Villa two weeks ago. Sebastian Coates replaces Santiago Vergini at the back and Will Buckley comes in to for the injured Steven Fletcher. However, there is no place in the squad for Adam Johnson.

Let's get back to our build up for today's match and take a look at each side, starting with the hosts. Stoke are well on their way to another top-half finish and a seventh-consecutive season in the Premier League. They are currently ninth in the table, but could move up a spot if they better Swansea's result against Newcastle.

They are also close to breaking their record points tally in the Premier League of 50, which they set last season. With 46 points already on the board, they will be confident of picking up enough in their remaining five games of the season to further emphasize the good work that Mark Hughes has done during his time in charge.

It did seem that they were heading towards a rather disappointing end to the season following three defeats on the spin to West Brom, Crystal Palace and Chelsea, but a last-gasp equaliser from Marko Arnautovic deep into stoppage time earned them a 1-1 draw against West Ham two weeks ago to stop the rot.

The Potters finally got back to winning ways last weekend by coming from behind to beat Southampton and they will be hoping that their good form at home can be repeated today, as they have won three of their previous four games at the Britannia.

While Stoke are heading for mid-table safety, Sunderland could be dropping down to the Championship if their poor run of form doesn't quickly improve. They have won one of their last nine league matches and it has left them just a point above the bottom three.

Their misery was further compounded last weekend by a 4-1 hammering by Crystal Palace, with all of the Eagles goals coming in the space of 15 second-half minutes. Just last month they suffered the same embarrassment in a 4-0 home defeat against Aston Villa, which brought back memories of their eight-goal mauling away to Southampton earlier this season.

That defeat against Villa led to Guy Poyet being dismissed, with Dick Advocaat taking his place in the dugout. The Dutchman's first game in charge didn't go according to plan, as Diafra Sakho struck a late winner to give West Ham the points at Upton Park.

Advocaat then guided them to a morale-boosting victory against their fierce rivals Newcastle, but all the good work from that match was ruined by the Palace defeat. Their problems aren't just on the pitch this season, as on Thursday Adam Johnson was charged with three offences of sexual activity with an underage girl.

Sunderland claimed all the points when these teams last met, as they ran out 3-1 winners at the Stadium of Light in October. Connor Wickham gave the Black Cats the lead, before Charlie Adam quickly levelled the scores. However, Steven Fletcher then struck twice to give Sunderland what was their first league victory of the season.

These teams have been quite evenly matched in recent seasons, with two wins apiece from their last six meetings. It could be quite a feisty affair though, as there has been a red card shown in four of the previous seven games between them.

PREDICTION: Sunderland are in desperate need of the three points and Advocaat will be looking for a response from his players after their abject performance two weeks ago. It may help that they are not playing at home, due to the pressure from their own supporters, although it's hard to see them picking up anything at the Britannia. Stoke haven't always performed well against the teams towards the bottom of the league, but they are back in form so I'm going to tip Mark Hughes's side to pick up a 2-0 win.

Don't forget that we've got live coverage of all of today's Premier League matches. There are six games kicking off at 3pm, while in this evenings later match FA Cup finalists Aston Villa will be looking to keep up their improved form at Manchester City.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Britannia!

What a stunning start to this match! Sunderland take a an early lead, as Buckley's right-wing cross is spilled by Begovic into the path of Wickham, who follows up and sees his first attempt saved by the keeper, before scrambling home the rebound.

SHOT! Stoke look for a quick response and Adam is found just outside the box. He then looks to bend a strike beyond Pantilimon, but it is far too central and the keeper makes a comfortable save.

The hosts are getting into some good positions and they win a free kick right on the edge of the box. It's Arnautovic who steps up to take the set piece, but he strikes it against the wall and Sunderland manage to clear the danger.

PENALTY APPEAL! Stoke have a decent shout for a penalty when Adam is clipped by Buckley as he heads the ball on inside the box. There did appear to be contact between the players, but it was purely accidental and would have been a harsh one for the referee to give.

SAVE! It's all Stoke at the moment and they very nearly score from a wonderful team move. The ball is fed to Diouf on the edge of the box and he slips it to his right for Walters. He then drives in a low strike which is well saved by the keeper, but as Ireland goes to follow up he is flagged offside.

Stoke keep piling on the pressure, but the Black Cats are defending well at the moment. It will be a big ask for them to hang on for the rest of the match, considering the amount of goals that they have leaked recently.

CLOSE! It really does that it is only a matter of time until Stoke find the net. They almost get a very fortunate goal here, as Ireland volleys in a strike from range that takes a huge deflection of Coates and trickles inches wide of the post.

YELLOW CARD! Cattermole picks up the first booking of the match for bringing down Walters just outside the box.

Adam takes the resulting free kick, but he blasts his effort into the wall. The Scot has looked the most lively player on the pitch for Stoke and moments later he fires a strike from long range over the bar.

Once again Adam is involved, as he whips a brilliant cross into the middle from the left, but Walters is unable to connect and it heads harmlessly out of play. Hughes will be pleased at the response from his players after falling behind, but it just hasn't quite happened for them in the final third yet.

CHANCE! This really is a massive change for Sunderland to double their lead. Cattermole plays a wonderful ball over the top that is missed by Wollscheid and comes through to Defoe. It is at a slightly tight angle, but the striker drives in a first-time shot that ends up crashing into the side netting. A player of his quality should have at least found the target and his side may regret that miss by the end of the afternoon.

Stoke are back on level terms and it's another cracking goal from Adam. The ball is touched back to the midfielder just inside the box by Arnautovic and he hammers a great strike into the top corner that leaves the keeper with no chance.

I spoke about Sunderland regretting that missed chance by Defoe and moments later Stoke found the equaliser. It would have been a big ask for the hosts to come back from two goals down, but now they look like the only team who are going to win today.

CHANCE! Shawcross has a decent opportunity for the hosts when he rises highest to meet Adam's corner, but he directs his header over the bar.

SHOT! Stoke are still very much on top and they work another shot on goal when Arnautovic cuts in from the left and fires in a strike from range. He gets enough power on it, but it is too close to the keeper who comfortably holds on.

Whenever Sunderland have got forward they really have looked dangerous and they waste another chance to test the keeper when Defoe is picked out on the edge of the box. However, a poor touch sees the ball run away from him, when he had Gomez running clear to his left.

I've lost count of the amount of crosses that Stoke have put into the box this afternoon. Adam and Arnautovic has sent in so many brilliant deliveries, but Diouf has looked a bit flat. I'm sure that Crouch would be licking his lips if he was on the pitch and I would be surprised not to see him come on in the second half.

SHOT! Adam pops up again on the edge of the box, but this time his powerful drive ends up heading wide of the post. He has been the best player on the pitch this afternoon and Sunderland just can't handle him.

The pressure from Sunderland has just dipped slightly as we enter the final minutes of this first half. It's actually the visitors who have the latest attempt on goal, but Wickham's long-range free kick is poor and is smashed straight into the crowd.

SHOT! Some good play from Buckley down the right sees Sunderland win a corner and he goes over to take it short to Gomez. The Spaniard's cross into the middle is poor, but it drops kindly to Van Aanholt on the edge of the box, who slices his effort just wide of the far post.

We are going to have a couple of minutes added on to the end of this first half.

O'Shea is just receiving some treatment at the moment after Wollscheid's boot catches him in the face. It was purely accidental, but that might need a few stitches from the medical staff during the break.

It's half time at the Britannia and we're level between Stoke and Sunderland. Connor Wickham had given the Black Cats the lead inside the first minute, but Charlie Adam fired in a great equaliser, in what has been a very entertaining game of football.

Here's how the statistics are looking after the first 45 minutes. Stoke have dominated and they have seen a massive 69% of the possession. They have also had 12 attempts on goal, while Sunderland have managed four efforts and have scored with their only shot on target.

Adam's goal was actually his third in his last four games for Stoke. Of course one of those was the sensational effort that he scored from inside his own half against Chelsea. He hasn't always been a first-choice starter for his club this season, but he is finishing the campaign in great form.

Sunderland take the kick off and get the match back underway!

SUBSTITUTION: The Black Cats have made a change at half time, with Graham coming on for Buckley.

SHOT! Decent chance for Gomez at the start of the half, as he is picked out on the edge of the box by Van Aanholt, but he ends up scuffing his first-time effort and it runs through kindly to Begovic.

CHANCE! This has been a good start to the half by Sunderland they have another promising moment when Defoe is slipped in by Wickham. He then fires in a low strike, but Begovic gets down well to parry the ball behind.

More good play from the visitors, as a dangerous ball is swung into the box and Stoke just about scramble it clear. They are only able to get it as far as Van Aanholt, who has time and space on the edge of the box, but he places his strike high and wide of the target.

Sunderland are on top at the moment and whatever Advocaat has said at half time has worked a treat. They look a real threat in the final third and from set piece situations and it is Stoke who are finding themselves under huge pressure.

UPDATE! Here's a big goal to tell you about from Turf Moor. Leicester have just taken the lead against Burnley and if results stay as they are now then Sunderland will be in the relegation zone by this evening.

YELLOW CARD! Diouf is booked for the hosts after catching Pantilimon as he went to close the keeper down. It is a bit of harsh decision from the referee, as any contact was purely accidental.

CHANCE! Wollscheid loses the ball cheaply inside his own half and Wickham pounces to charge into the box. Just as he is about to pull the trigger, Shawcross gets across and makes a wonderful tackle and prevents his side from falling behind.

YELLOW CARD! Wollscheid is the second Stoke player in three minutes to pick up a card.

YELLOW CARD! The cards are starting to pile up now and O'Shea sees yellow for dragging back Begovic.

SAVE! How many more chances are Sunderland going to get in this match? This time Wickham finds Jones inside the box, but he sees his close-range attempt turned behind by Begovic.

Down the other end of the pitch Stoke show that they are still a threat and Pieters whips a great ball into the middle that is met by Walters, who puts his header over the bar under good pressure from O'Shea.

SAVE! What a brilliant save this is by Pantilimon. Adam whips in another great free kick that drops kindly to Diouf at the back post. The striker takes it down on his chest and fires in a strike, but the keeper spreads himself and makes a wonderful block to turn the ball behind.

SUBSTITUTION: Stoke make their first change of the match, with Crouch coming on for Diouf.

It is slightly surprising that we haven't seen any goals since the break, due to the amount of chances that each team have created. Wickham has been one of Sunderland's most dangerous players and he picks the ball up in space just outside the box, before lashing an effort over the bar.

Sunderland are coming under a bit more pressure at the moment and they have the height of Crouch to contend with now. The striker very nearly makes the difference, as he takes down a cross brilliantly inside the box, before turning and firing in a strike which is well blocked.

It's end to end at the moment and after a very good spell of passing from the visitors, they lose the ball enabling Stoke to break. Ireland leads the charge and he picks out Adam on the right, who crosses for Crouch. He then lays it off to Ireland who fires in a strike from the edge of the box, which is once again blocked by the Sunderland defence.

YELLOW CARD! Jones is the third Sunderland player to be shown a card this afternoon for hauling back Arnautovic.

SUBSTITUTION: Here's a great moment for Odemwingie, who replaces Walters and makes his return after more than seven months out injured.

Wickham very nearly has a chance for the Black Cats, after latching onto a ball in behind, before Pieters gets across to make a last-ditch tackle and puts the ball out for a corner. Sunderland can't make anything of the resulting set piece though, as they fail to even get it into the box.

SAVE! This would have been another stunning goal from Adam. He fires in a swerving drive from all of 30 yards, but Pantilimon gets across his line to tip the ball behind.

SUBSTITUTION: Final change for Stoke, as Bardsley comes on for Cameron.

There are going to be four minutes of stoppage time.

SHOT! Very decent chance for Cattermole to score a late winner, as he is found just outside the box by Van Aanholt, before firing in a low strike that heads wide of the post.

This really is poor. Sunderland get everyone forward into the box for a late corner, but Gomez's delivery swings out of play first. That could be it for both teams, as it looks like we are now out of time.

The whistle blows and the game has ended at the Britannia Stadium, with the points shared by Stoke and Sunderland. They both had plenty of chances to win it late on, but a draw probably sums up a fair result this afternoon.

Right, that's all we've got time for here. I'll be back with analysis and player ratings of today's clash, so stick around for that. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Goodbye!