Two clubs in the bottom half of the Premier League table will do battle today in a league match between Sunderland and Hull City. The first-division clash scheduled for 10 a.m. ET will be held at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland and can be live streamed here free.

What They're Saying

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet (via the Guardian): "To ask footballers to play this many games in December is unreasonable. It's quite crazy. We could start the season earlier, finish it later and keep the tradition of playing on Boxing Day or even New Year's Day, but then we stop. The England team would be much, much better in July and August. Other nations fit winter breaks around World Cups. It's only England that doesn't."

Hull City manager Steve Bruce (via the Mirror): "The one thing this game always does is test you to the limit. I don't enjoy seeing my team at the bottom of the league, but I quite enjoy the challenge of getting them out of that situation."

Tactical Preview

Player to Watch: Jozy Altidore's future at Sunderland remains a question mark, and for good reason. The 25-year-old is yet to open his league account in 10 appearances and has failed to impress since joining the side. With a congested holiday schedule ahead, look for Altidore to receive one final opportunity to impress before the January transfer window.

Sunderland's Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1): Pantilimon; O'Shea, Brown, Coates, Vergini; Cattermole; Buckley, Gomez, Larsson, Johnson; Altidore

Hull City's Projected Lineup (3-5-2): Harper; Bruce, Davies, Chester; Robertson, Quinn, Meyler, Ramirez, Elmohamady; Hernandez, Jelavic

Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (statistics and lineups via WhoScored).

Standings

RnkTeamMPWDLGFGA+/-Pts
1Chelsea17133138132542
2Manchester City17123236142239
3Manchester United1795330181232
4West Ham United1794429191031
5Southampton1792628131529
6Arsenal177643021927
7Tottenham Hotspur178362223-127
8Swansea City177462219325
9Newcastle United176561823-523
10Liverpool176472124-322
11Everton175662727021
12Aston Villa175571121-1020
13Stoke City175481823-519
14Sunderland1731041524-919
15West Bromwich Albion174581723-617
16Queens Park Rangers1752102032-1217
17Crystal Palace173681927-815
18Burnley173681226-1415
19Hull City172781524-913
20Leicester City1724111529-1410