Sunderland vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction
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This is more or less a playoff for European football as Sunderland, enjoying a brilliant campaign for them, face Chelsea, enduring a woeful season for them.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Peacock
Sunderland preview: Brilliant Black Cats
Regis Le Bris and his Sunderland side have been brilliant since gaining promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs last season and a win for the Wearsiders here would ensure at least a top nine finish, with Brentford failing to beat Liverpool ensuring European football for the hosts.
Sunderland come into this one on the back of a brilliant come from behind 3-1 defeat of Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last week, courtesy of goals scored by Brian Brobbey, Enzo Le Fee and Wilson Isidor.
Chelsea preview: Much-needed midweek win
Calum McFarlane will be replaced by Xabi Alonso this summer with Chelsea currently in a position where they will once again qualify for the competition they won last season – the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The Blues are there as a result of pulling off a 2-1 victory against rivals Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, a performance and victory that was purely pulled out to spite a Spurs side battling relegation.
Sunderland team news: Alderete likely to remain out
In his pre-match press conference, Regis Le Bris has said that ‘it might be difficult’ for Paraguay international centre-back Omar Alderete to recover in time for this one.
Chemsdine Talbi is sidelined for the hosts after a knock in training, with Northern Ireland international centre-back Daniel Ballard still sidelined for the hosts.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Geertruida, Mukiele, O’Nien, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Hume, Le Fee, Rigg; Brobbey
Unavailable: Moore (Injured), Ballard (Suspended), Talbi (Injured)
Questionable: Alderete (Injured), Mundle (Fitness), Traore (Injured)
Chelsea team news: Joao Pedro, James and Colwill train
Despite not being picked for Brazil in their FIFA World Cup 2026 squad, Joao Pedro is fit and returned to training this week with McFarlane hopeful that they would be available.
England international trio Reece James, Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer also all trained and should be available; with the latter two having been left out of the England squad by Thomas Tuchel.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
Unavailable: Derry (Injured), Estevao (Injured), Gittens (Injured), Mudryk (Disciplinary)
Questionable: Colwill (Fitness), James (Fitness), Lavia (Injured), Pedro (Fitness)
Sunderland vs Chelsea prediction
The fact that Chelsea won in midweek and were able to turn it on when they could be bothered is not too much of a shock because that is actually a theme of the players at the club for over a decade now. Sunderland, chasing Europe, with home advantage, will be motivated and hostile opposition and they should be backed to defeat the Londoners.
Sunderland vs Chelsea tip: Sunderland to win
