Saturday 30 April 2016 16:46, UK
Sam Allardyce has a healthy squad to pick from as Sunderland bid to take a step closer to top-flight safety at out-of-form Stoke.
The Black Cats seemed down and out a few weeks back, but superb displays against Norwich and Arsenal have taken them out of the relegation zone for the first time since early March with just four games remaining.
Mark Hughes' Potters will be attempting to bounce back from a run of three successive defeats in each of which they have conceded four goals.
Team news
Jakob Haugaard will start in goal for Stoke after Shay Given - understudy for the injured Jack Butland - was forced off with a groin problem at Manchester City.
Leading scorer Marko Arnautovic also limped off last weekend with a groin injury and will undergo a late fitness test but fellow forward Jon Walters could return for the first time since having a knee operation.
Xherdan Shaqiri (hamstring) has also returned to training while Erik Pieters returns from suspension.
Allardyce has a full complement at his disposal after midfielder Jeremain Lens shook off the virus which prevented his participation against Arsenal last weekend.
Full-back DeAndre Yedlin, who was a doubt for the 0-0 draw with the Gunners because of an ankle problem, started and got through the 90 minutes with no ill effects.
Opta stats
Sunderland have lost just one of their last nine Premier League meetings with Stoke (won five, drawn three).
Sunderland have allowed their opponents a league-high 200 shots on target in the Premier League this season.
Jermain Defoe is enjoying his best goalscoring season in the Premier League (13 goals) since 2009-10 at Tottenham Hotspur (18 goals). This is his highest tally of away goals in a single Premier League season (10 goals).
Sunderland have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four Premier League games, including in each of their last two. They haven't kept three in a row in the top-flight since May 2015.
However, the Black Cats have also failed to score in three of their last four Premier League matches.
The Black Cats have failed to score in four of their last seven away league trips to Stoke, netting just four goals in total in this period.
Stoke have lost their last three Premier League matches - they haven't lost four in a row since February 2012.
Stoke's last three Premier League games have seen them concede 12 goals and score just once.
Stoke have won five and lost just one of their last eight league meetings with Sunderland at home.
Jack Butland saved 74 per cent of shots this season in the Premier League prior to his injury, but his replacements Shay Given and Jakob Haugaard have saved just 33 per cent of shots combined.
Merson's predictions
About four weeks ago this was a hard game for Sunderland. Now I look at it and think Sam Allardyce's side have a real chance. Stoke have let in four goals three games on the trot, and have to be careful they're not complacent.
But they do have some players who can hurt you, whoever they're playing. This is the hardest game to call because Sunderland are playing for their lives, but surely Stoke are going to get better. I think it will be a bad result for Sunderland this.
Paul predicts: Stoke 1-1 Sunderland - Ryan Shawcross to score first
Betting
Sky Bet can't separate Stoke and Sunderland in the betting, pricing them both at 13/8 to pick up a win on Saturday. With four of Stoke's last six games ending in draws and five of Sunderland's last seven also ending in stalemate the bookies believe that a draw will be the most likely outcome in this game and Sky Bet have given odds of 23/10 on for this result to happen.
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe is Soccer Saturday pundit Matt Le Tissier's pick to score the first goal and Sky Bet have Price Boosted the selection from 9/2 to 11/2. See all the match odds and bet here.
