• Premier League

Cech absence gives Schwarzer chance against Sunderland

ESPN staff
April 19, 2014

Goalkeeper Petr Cech is missing from the Chelsea team to face Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

The No.1 has a minor illness and is replaced by substitute 'keeper Mark Schwarzer. Manager Jose Mourinho has also selected Samuel Eto'o to lead the line in place of Demba Ba, who started and scored in the 1-0 victory over Swansea last Sunday.

A win for Chelsea will see them go to the top of the Premier League above Liverpool for 24 hours at least, with the latter facing Norwich City on Sunday.

Sunderland are bottom of the table, six points from safety having lost seven of their last nine games with their last victory coming against Newcastle United on February 2.

Chelsea starting XI: Schwarzer, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Matic, Willian, Oscar, Salah, Eto'o.

Substitutes: Hilario, Luiz, Mikel, Lampard, Torres, Schurrle, Ba.

Sunderland starting XI: Mannone, Vergini, Alonso, Brown, O'Shea, Cattermole, Colback, Larsson, Johnson, Borini, Wickham.

Substitutes: Celustka, Altidore, Ba, Giaccherini, Scocco, Mavrias, Ustari.

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