Sunderland vs Chelsea: Preview, team news, h2h, lineups & predictions

Former English Premier League champions Chelsea travel to Tyne and Wear on Saturday afternoon to take on Sunderland in what could potentially be a banana-skin for them.

Coach Xabi Alonso has had a topysy-turvy start to life this season, but the maximum three points from this fixture will do him and his lads a world of good as they head into the international break.

Sunderland, on the other hand, seem to be regressing after an impressive 2025/26 camaign. The maximum three points could not be more important on Sunday, as anything other than that could see coach Regis Le Bris looking over his shoulders to keep his job safe.

Next up: #SUNCHE 👊 https://t.co/HWp8EMwJ13

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) November 7, 2026

Match Radar

⚽ Sunderland vs Chelsea
Competition	Premier League, Matchweek 10
Kickoff	Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM GMT (3:00 PM Nigeria time)
Venue	Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Where to Watch	Sky Sports (UK), Peacock (USA)
Fourth-placed Chelsea visit a Sunderland side with one goal in four home league games.

Sunderland and Chelsea Form: A Bottom-Placed Side Meets a Top-Four Contender

The Blues sit fourth on 16 points after a 2-0 home win over Manchester United on October 31, a result that followed a 0-2 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and a League Cup exit on penalties away to Liverpool.

Everton’s 3-1 win over Coventry City on Friday took them level on 16 points, leaving Xabi Alonso’s side ahead only on goal difference.

On the road they have won twice and lost twice, winning 3-2 away to Fulham and 2-0 away to Everton but losing 2-1 to Arsenal and 3-0 to Brentford.

The west Londoners lead the division in shots on target with 53 and rank second for shots on target faced with 50, so a goal difference of only +4 sits beside 19 goals scored.

Nine of those 19 goals arrived within the opening five minutes of a half, while no other side has more than three.

At the foot of the table, Sunderland have five points from nine games and have lost five of their last six league matches. The 3-1 defeat away to Coventry City on October 31 ended with Alderete sent off in stoppage time, so the centre-back misses Sunday’s game.

Home form is the sharper problem, with Regis Le Bris’ side scoring once in four league games at the Stadium of Light, beating Fulham 1-0 before losing 0-2 to Arsenal and Brighton and drawing 0-0 with Leeds United.

The Black Cats have conceded first in seven of nine league games and are the only side in the division yet to lead at half time.

Thursday’s 2-0 home defeat to Dinamo Zagreb was the first loss of their Europa League league phase, and a 3-2 League Cup win over Brentford on October 28 is the only victory in their last six matches across all competitions.

Brian Brobbey’s three league goals all arrived in the 5-3 defeat away to Manchester City on September 20, and Sunderland have found the net once in the four league games since.

Sunderland vs Chelsea Head-to-Head Record

The Black Cats swept last season’s league double, winning 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on October 25, 2025 and 2-1 at home on May 24. The final-day victory lifted Le Bris’ side to seventh and into the Europa League, while the west Londoners ended the season outside Europe.

💪 #SUNCHE 🗓️ Final game of the season Sunderland must win to qualify for Europe…. https://t.co/yVUVwXhVEj

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) November 7, 2026

The overall series favours the visitors, with 61 wins from 127 meetings against 44 for the hosts and 22 draws.

In the Premier League, Chelsea have won 23 of 34 meetings, and their last victory on Wearside came in December 2016, a 1-0 win courtesy of Cesc Fabregas just before half time.

Another home win would give the Black Cats three in a row over the Blues, a run they have not managed since a spell between December 1999 and March 2001.

Le Bris has won both of his games against the Stamford Bridge club, while Alonso is meeting Sunderland for the first time as manager.

Sunderland vs Chelsea Team News and Predicted XIs

Alderete is suspended and Ballard (hamstring), Habib Diarra (muscle injury) and Romaine Mundle (knee) are out, so the hosts lose two centre-backs.

Nordi Mukiele is questionable after concussion protocol, though Le Bris expects him to be available, and he is predicted to partner Kevin Danso in central defence.

Thomas Meunier is predicted to start on the right of the attacking line, with Trai Hume at right-back and Reinildo Mandava at left-back.

Maxence Lacroix, Reece James, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Jorrel Hato are all out for the visitors, and Alonso has indicated that the latter needs several more weeks.

Emiliano Martinez trained this week in a protective mask after jaw surgery and could return in goal if fit, with Mike Penders available as the alternative.

Moises Caicedo missed training with discomfort and is a doubt, so Jordan Henderson, back from illness, could start alongside Romeo Lavia.

Geovany Quenda has a muscle problem and Aaron Anselmino is only just back in training, so both are doubtful.

Sunderland	Chelsea
Alderete (suspended) Ballard (hamstring) Diarra (muscle injury) Mundle (knee) Mukiele (concussion protocol, doubt) Juan Riquelme Angulo (contact injury, doubt)	Lacroix (hamstring) James (knee) Joao Pedro (muscle injury) Gittens (ankle) Hato (knock) Martinez (jaw surgery, doubt) Caicedo (discomfort, doubt) Quenda (muscle problem, doubt) Anselmino (back in training, doubt)

Star Player Comparison: Brobbey vs Rogers

Brobbey, Sunderland’s leading league scorer, meets Rogers, the England international who has played more league minutes than any other Chelsea player.

Brobbey Striker · Sunderland	Stat	Rogers Attacking midfielder · Chelsea
3	League goals	5
35	Touches in opposition box	45
10	Fouls conceded	10

The Managers: Le Bris and Alonso

Le Bris, 50, took charge in June 2024 with the club in the Championship, won promotion through the 2025 play-off final against Sheffield United, and led the club to seventh place in the Premier League last season.

Alonso, 44, was appointed on May 17, 2026 on a four-year deal after Liam Rosenior was sacked following 106 days, and the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen coach is in his first Premier League season.

Alonso has said the hosts deserve more points than they have, while reports say the Wearside board is standing by Le Bris despite the results.

Tactical Preview: Fast Starts Meet Slow Ones

A 4-2-3-1 is predicted for both teams, with Xhaka and Sadiki shielding the Sunderland back four and Henderson and Lavia doing the same for Chelsea.

The hosts concede first so often that the visitors’ habit of scoring early could decide the game before half time.

Palmer, who has three league goals and three assists, and Rogers will look to drift inside against a back four that now includes Mukiele returning from concussion protocol.

Sunderland’s route to goal runs through Le Fee, who has two league goals including the penalty at Coventry, and Brobbey, whose 35 touches in the opposition box lead the squad.

Fofana, who recovered from a difficult first half against United, must hold the line for Chelsea with Lacroix and James out.

A visiting win without conceding is the most plausible outcome, because the Blues create more shots on target than any side in the division.

The Naija Slip: Sunderland vs Chelsea Tips

Sunderland vs Chelsea Score Prediction

🔮 Sunderland 0 – 2 Chelsea

The Blues arrive rested with a front line that scores early, and the hosts have not found the net at home since August 30. Likely scorers: Rogers and Palmer.