Sunderland vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Sunderland are struggling badly at the moment as The Black Cats now welcome an inconsistent Chelsea side to the Stadium of Light on Sunday

Kick-off date/time: 8 November 2026 at 2:00 pm

How to watch on TV & online: UK – Sky Sports & Sky Go / USA – USA Network & Telemundo

Sunderland preview: Struggling Sunderland

There is a feeling that Regis Le Bris may well be set for the sack over the international break regardless of what happens here but a stirring victory could delay that after a really poor start to the campaign for Sunderland across all competitions.

Rock-bottom in the Premier League after a hapless performance in a 3-1 defeat to Coventry City last week, Sunderland backed that up by losing 2-0 to Dinamo Zagreb in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League on Wearside in midweek.

Chelsea preview: Inconsistent Chelsea

Xabi Alonso has overseen an inconsistent campaign for Chelsea thus far but The Blues do begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting in the top four with surely the goal for this season simply being to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

After a defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and then a penalty shootout loss to Liverpool in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, Chelsea earned a much-needed 2-0 defeat of Manchester United at Stamford Bridge last week.

Sunderland team news: A few issues

Sunderland have issues at the back for this one as Nordi Mukiele is a fresh doubt with Dan Ballard ruled out due to injury and Omar Alderete missing through suspension for the hosts.

Further forward, Juan Angulo missed last week due to a knock in an U21 match and so he remains a doubt with Habib Diarra unavailable alongside Romaine Mundle.

Further details will appear here following pre-match press conferences…

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Hume, Danso, O’Nien, Reinildo; Sadiki, Xhaka; Rigg, Le Fee, N. Angulo; Brobbey

Unavailable: Ballard (Injured), Alderete (Suspended), Diarra (Injured), Mundle (Injured)

Questionable: Mukiele (Injured), J. Angulo (Injured)

Chelsea team news: Martinez could return

Xabi Alonso said that Emiliano Martinez could return before the international break but Mike Penders put in an excellent display last week and so the Belgian may well be preferred one last time before the break.

Jordan Henderson missed that game due to illness and Jorrel Hato remains an injury doubt with Maxence Lacroix joining Reece James and Joao Pedro on the sidelines.

Further details will appear here following pre-match press conferences…

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, Lavia, Chavarria; Palmer, Estevao; Rogers

Unavailable: Lacroix (Injured), James (Injured), Gittens (Injured), Joao Pedro (Injured)

Questionable: Martinez (Injured), Hato (Injured), Henderson (Illness)

Key stats

• Sunderland won both Premier League meetings with Chelsea in 2025/26, 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on 25 October 2025 and 2-1 at home on 24 May 2026. 
• Sunderland last won three successive Premier League meetings with Chelsea between December 1999 and March 2001. 
• Chelsea still dominate the overall Premier League head-to-head: W23 D2 L9 in 34 meetings since 1992/93; Sunderland's home record in the fixture is W5 D2 L10. 
• The 34 Premier League meetings between the sides since 1992/93 have averaged 3.65 goals; Chelsea's 7-2 home win on 16 January 2010 is the highest-scoring, and their joint-biggest win in the fixture along with 5-0 on 1 November 2008. 
• Sunderland are bottom coming into Matchweek 10 with five points (W1 D2 L6) and are winless in seven league games (D2 L5) since beating Fulham 1-0 on 30 August. 
• Sunderland have scored only once in four home league games this season and have failed to score in their last three at home (0-2 vs Arsenal, 0-2 vs Brighton and 0-0 vs Leeds). 
• Only three of Sunderland's 17 previous Premier League seasons since 1992/93 started with fewer than five points from nine games, the lowest being two in 2016/17 – a contrast with 2025/26, when they finished seventh. 
• Sunderland have lost their last three away league games, but are W1 D1 L2 at home. 
• Chelsea are fourth with 16 points (W5 D1 L3) and beat Man Utd 2-0 at home in Matchweek 9. 
• Chelsea's matches have averaged 3.78 goals this season, the highest in the division (19 scored, 15 conceded). 
• Chelsea's 15 goals conceded after nine games are their second-most at this stage in 35 Premier League seasons since 1992/93, behind only 17 in 2015/16. 
• Chelsea have won two of four away league games this season (W2 L2): 3-2 at Fulham and 2-0 at Everton. 
• Chelsea are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games with Jarred Gillett (W4 D2) and have never lost away under him (W3 D2). 
• Sunderland have drawn both of their Premier League games with Gillett (0-0 vs Man City and 1-1 at Bournemouth). 

'Key stats' are Premier League only (not all competitions)

Sunderland vs Chelsea prediction

Whatever Regis Le Bris has sought to do with his tactics and team selection this season has yet to work. With just one win in nine matches and the complications of having to deal with European football, too, Sunderland find themselves in a tough spot heading into the winter. With Le Bris looking towards the exit door, a comfortable Chelsea victory seems the likeliest outcome for this one at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland vs Chelsea tip: Chelsea to win -1 handicap