Good afternoon everyone! Following a stunning weekend of action in the FA Cup, the Premier League makes a welcome return. There are six games set to kick off at 3pm and our focus will be on the events taking place at the Stadium of Light, as Sunderland and Burnley go head to head in a vital clash.

It's been a pretty miserable month for Sunderland fans and their team are in real trouble of another relegation battle. They have lost their past three games in the league and sit just a point above the bottom three. In fact, their last win came before Christmas, when they beat rivals Newcastle 1-0 at St James' Park.

Making the trip to the North East is a Burnley side who are also struggling and are level on points with the Black Cats. Sean Dyche's side had a weekend off after their FA Cup exit against Spurs, with their last league game coming two weeks ago. On that occasion they allowed a two-goal lead to slip in an eventual 3-2 defeat against Crystal Palace.

TEAM NEWS: The hosts have made five changes to their side following last weekend's FA Cup match against Fulham. Adam Johnson, Connor Wickham, Jordi Gomez, Costel Pantilimon and Anthony Reveillere are the players who return. Meanwhile, Burnley manager Sean Dyche has named the same starting lineup for the ninth consecutive league match.

SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon, Van Aanholt, O'Shea, Vergini, Reveillere, Bridcutt, Larsson, Gomez, Wickham, Johnson, Defoe

BURNLEY XI: Heaton, Trippier, Keane, Shackell, Mee, Boyd, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Barnes, Ings

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannone, Coates, Jones, Graham, Alvarez, Giaccherini, Fletcher

BURNLEY SUBS: Gilks, Duff, Wallace, Kightly, Reid, Vokes, Jutkiewicz

The term 'six pointer' may be heavily overused these days, but there is no better way to describe today's clash. Burnley will have been expecting a tough battle to stay up, but Sunderland would have been more optimistic of their chances this season, following last year's extraordinary late surge in form that kept them in the Premier League.

However, things have not gone to plan and they have won just three games in the top flight all season. I mentioned that their last win came just before Christmas against Newcastle and that result was the only time they have picked up three points in their last 12 league outings.

It seems that their league form has followed them into the FA Cup, as they played out a goalless draw against Championship side Fulham last week. A replay at Craven Cottage on Tuesday evening is the last thing they would have wanted and another negative to come out of that fourth-round tie was a sending off for Jack Rodwell, who is suspended for today's match.

You get the feeling that the Black Cats will be looking to add to their squad in the final days of the transfer window. So far this month, they have only signed Jermain Defoe from Toronto, but they have been linked to a host of other players, including former Arsenal man Emmanuel Eboue.

Let's take a look at the visitors now, who will be hoping to avoid a quick return to the Championship. Having not won in their first 10 games, many people labelled them as favourites for the drop, but an upturn in fortunes in November gave them a real boost, thanks to back-to-back wins against Hull and Stoke.

Although they may have only won two of their past eight matches, there have been signs that the Clarets have the battling qualities needed to survive. Two of their most impressive results include coming from two-goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad, before fighting back to salvage a 3-3 draw against Newcastle.

Despite those performances, they have also allowed leads to slip in their past two games. They were dumped out of the FA Cup against Spurs following a 4-2 defeat, even though they were 2-0 up inside eight minutes. A few days later they took another early two goal lead against Crystal Palace, before eventually slipping to a 3-2 defeat.

The amount of goals they have shipped must be a huge concern to their manager. With 36 goals conceded, only Leicester (39) have leaked more this season. They will be hoping that the loan signing of Michael Keane from Manchester United earlier this month hopes to address that issue.

UPDATE: I can tell you that today's early Premier League match between Newcastle and Hull has finished and it's the Magpies who came out on top with a 3-0 win. That result is good news for fans of Sunderland and Burnley, as it leaves the Tigers a point behind them and still in the relegation zone.

Back to events at the Stadium of Light and both teams come into today's match level on 20 points in the league table. It was all square when they met earlier this season too, as that match back in September finished in a goalless draw.

Sunderland actually have the better head-to-head record against Burnley, having won 45 of their clashes, compared to 36 victories for the Clarets. Before this season, it had been four years since their last Premier League meetings. Burnley had won the first match 3-1 at Turf Moor, before the Black Cats claimed a 2-1 win a few months later at the Stadium of Light.

PREDICTION: I must admit that I am not expecting to see a classic this afternoon. It's fair to say that each side are struggling to find their best form and there could be a few nerves, given how huge this game is. It could be a very cagey affair and I feel the key to winning the match will be whoever dominates the midfield. Having said all that, I am going to sit on the fence and predict the match to finish in a 1-1 draw.

With just five minutes to go until kick off make sure you check out our video preview of today's match.

The two teams are out on the pitch and pre-match formalities are now taking place. The start of the match is just three minutes away!

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadium of Light!

It's been a really scrappy opening to the match, with neither side dominating the possession. They are both giving the ball away very cheaply and we are still yet to see our first attempt on goal.

We have just seen a couple of decent openings for each team. Trippier gets free down the right for the visitors and then whips a decent ball into the box, that Boyd is just unable to do anything with. Then, Sunderland break at pace and the move ends with Defoe drilling in a low shot across goal that is blocked behind for a corner.

Burnley are just starting to see more of the ball at the moment and you feel that if they can get in front early on, then the home fans could turn against their team.

This is a lot better from Sunderland. They put together a decent team move, with Johnson slipping in Reveillere down the right, but a great challenge stops the full back in his tracks. Moments later Wickham drills a low shot into the corner for the Black Cats, but it is ruled out for a foul on Trippier in the build up.

SAVE! Trippier delivers a teasing free kick into the box that causes the home defence real problems. Pantilimon comes off his line to collect the cross, but he ends up getting nowhere near the ball. It then falls to Jones at the back post, but the keeper is up to block his effort. The flag was actually raised at the end of all that, so it may not have counted.

CHANCE! Burnley are creating some good openings now and they come close again from a set piece. This time it's Jones who swings it in and Barnes arrives to meet it at the front post, but he can only direct his header wide of the target.

Sunderland may have been coming under pressure from the visitors, but it is they who take the lead. Reveillere gets free down the right and he then whips a great cross into the middle that Wickham meets to plant a firm header past Heaton and into the net.

That goal has really lifted the crowd here at the Stadium of Light and as I mentioned earlier, had they conceded first it could have been so different. Of course, there is still a long way to go in this match and Burnley have shown enough already to suggest that they can get on the scoresheet.

Defoe is looking is looking lively at the moment and he does well to skip away from a couple of challenges before winning a free kick down the right. Johnson whips the resulting set piece towards the back post, but Defoe is adjudged to have been standing in an offside position as he headed the ball across goal.

SAVE! This is a really good chance for the visitors. Ings manages to find Boyd in the box and the winger then turns and fires in a low drive. It is a decent effort, but Pantilimon stretches and holds on to the ball.

Defoe has been brought in to Sunderland to score goals and he has got his first for the club here. It's a good move from the hosts, as Van Aanholt gets in behind down the left, before playing a great ball across the box that is touched in by Defoe from just a few yards out. Burnley really have it all to do now.

The visitors are looking for a quick response as they try to cut the deficit before half time. There is a lot more urgency in their play and Boyd has a slight chance on the edge of the box, with a volley on the turn that he ends up putting well wide of the post.

SHOT! Burnley have another attempt on goal, but once more it's not a clear-cut chance. Jones is the man who threatens, as the ball sits up kindly for him to volley on the edge of the box, but he can only slam his effort wide.

SHOT! The Clarets attack once again with Barnes finding space around 25 yards out from goal. He then looks to fire a low strike into the bottom corner, but it fails to trouble Pantilimon and swerves wide of the post.

We are going to have two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

The whistle blows for half time and Sunderland will head into the break with a two-goal lead. Connor Wickham and Jermain Defoe have both scored and it means the Clarets will have a tough task of getting anything from this match now.

Let's take a look at the statistics from the opening 45 minutes. Both teams have seen their fair share of the ball, with Sunderland's 51% of the possession edging them slightly ahead. Burnley have had six attempts on goal compared to four from their opponents, but it is the hosts who have made their chances count.

Given Sunderland's return of 19 league goals before today's match, the signing of Defoe is already starting to look like an inspired piece of business. The England international has shown how deadly he can be inside the box and you feel that there are plenty more goals to come from him in the months ahead.

Sunderland take the kick off and get the second half started!

CHANCE! Within moments of the second half it really should be 3-0 to Sunderland. Johnson slips a great ball through to Van Aanholt, who then looks up and spots Defoe in the middle. The striker is just a few yards out and looks to direct his effort into the corner, but instead the ball goes straight into the arms of Heaton.

Burnley have now had their first shot of the half, but it's not one to remember from Marney. The midfielder receives the ball in the middle and decides to let fly from range, but it is a poor attempt that goes miles over the bar.

The Clarets have seen a lot of the ball in the opening minutes of this half, but they are not really doing anything with it. They have managed to get into some decent positions, with their final ball letting them down on more than one occasion.

CHANCE! Burnley haven't created too many decent chances, but they waste a big opening here. Boyd is the creator, as he works some room on the left, before standing up a great cross into the box. Marney arrives to meet the delivery, but he can only plant his downward header straight at Pantilimon.

CHANCE! This is much better from the visitors, who are looking really threatening at the moment. This time it's Barnes with the effort, as he makes some space to shoot inside the box, before drilling in a low effort that deflects just wide of the far post.

DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make a couple of changes here, as Wallace and Jutkiewicz come on to replace Boyd and Ings.

SHOT! For the first time in a while the Black Cats get into their opponents' half and Wickham has a good chance to score. He is found just inside the box by Johnson, but he can only place his strike over the bar.

YELLOW CARD! Johnson is the first player this afternoon to pick up a card for a late foul on Trippier. In fairness, the Sunderland man tried to pull out of the challenge, but it was his momentum that took him into the full back.

You do feel that if Burnley are to take something from today's match, then they will need to score a goal pretty soon. They haven't looked quite as threatening since Boyd and Ings went off and I'm sure if the scoreline stays the same then fans may point to that decision as the wrong call from the manager.

SUBSTITUTION: Defoe's afternoon comes to an end, with the England international being replaced by former Burnley striker Fletcher.

SUBSTITUTION: The Black Cats have made another change, as Graham comes on for Wickham.

SUBSTITUTION: Burnley are also making a change, with Vokes taking the place of Barnes.

Burnley are still pushing for a goal here, but it just does not look like it's going to come. They almost work an opening when Jutkiewicz shows his strength to take down a long ball, before firing in a volley that heads just over. If he had found the net it wouldn't have counted though, as the official's flag was raised on the far side.

CHANCE! This is another really good opening for Burnley and they should have scored at least once today. A decent corner is whipped into the box and Mee gets free from his marker, before planting a header high and wide of the far post.

SUBSTITUTION: Poyet makes his final change of the afternoon, as Alvarez comes on for the closing minutes in place of Johnson.

CHANCE! It's Sunderland's turn to threaten from a corner as Gomez whips a decent ball towards the near post. O'Shea is there to attack the ball, but he can't quite get enough contact and ends up heading wide.

YELLOW CARD! Larsson is the second player to be booked today for a foul on Arfield.

We are going to have three minutes of stoppage time.

CHANCE! Burnley have one last chance to find the net, as Vokes meets a corner from Wallace, before planting his header straight into the keeper's arms. There was a bit of a scuffle afterwards, with Marney and Pantilimon both picking up yellow cards.

It's all over here and Sunderland have won in the league for the first time in nearly six weeks. They weren't at their best, but took their chances and have now moved four points clear of the relegation zone. As for Burnley, they are still deep in trouble and have now suffered back-to-back league defeats.

Well, that's all we've got time for here. Make sure you stay with us throughout the weekend, as we will have plenty more live coverage for you to enjoy. Until next time, goodbye!