This is a Chelsea predicted lineup for their final game of the 2025/26 season as they take on one of the Premier League’s surprise packages in newly promoted Sunderland. The Black Cats beat the Blues earlier in this campaign. With new manager Xabi Alonso watching on as he prepares to take charge in the next term, there will be some added motivation to earn a Europa League spot for the new coach.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup & Latest Team News vs Sunderland
How Chelsea Have Lined Up Recently
Rob Sanchez is the first choice goalkeeper whem healthy with Filip Jorgensen coming in briefly when the former was out with a head injury. In the back line we have seen Josh Acheampong, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato, Marc Cucurella, Wes Fofana, and Trevoh Chalobah all play in some combination of a back four or back five.
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James has also played in midfield where Moises Caicedo has partnered Andrey Santos or Roemo Lavia in recent outings. Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer have been utilised as inside forwards for the most part with Cucurella deployed as a left-winger/left wing back to provide width on the left. Pedro Neto came back in to play on the wing against Tottenham.
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Up front, Joao Pedro is the in-form striker but was missing from the squad in midweek and was replaced by the out of form Liam Delap who is set to finish his debut campaign with the Blues on only two goals in 1600 minutes.
Chelsea Recent Form & Tactics
The Blues have fluctuated between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-4-2-1 depending on personnel available and the ideal defensive setup. They do still aim to control possession but there is a greater emphasis on stretching the opposition either with the wing backs in the 3-2-4-1 or by using the full backs better in the 4-2-3-1.
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The team isn’t in the best of form with just two wins in their last eight. A draw to Liverpool arrested the worst of their slide in the league but they were put back into their place in the FA Cup final when they were fairly toothless in a 1-0 loss to Manchester City. The goals have largely dried up as they haven’t scored more than once in a fixture since Port Vale in April, taking lower league opposition out of the equation takes us back to March 11 in the 5-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Latest Chelsea Team News
According to PremierInjuries, there are a number of injuries and fitness issues that will impact the squad. Attackers Jamie Gittens, Estevao, and Mykhailo Mudryk have all been out for some time. Romeo Lavia had an extended run of fitness before suffering a small issue before the FA Cup final and has been out of the squad.
Pedro and Colwill were absent from the squad in midweek for precautionary issues, they are both being assessed before the Sunderland fixture and will be late decisions.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Sunderland for May 24
GK – Rob Sanchez
LB – Marc Cucurella
CB – Jorrel Hato
CB – Trevoh Chalobah
RB – Reece James
DM – Andrey Santos
DM – Moises Caicedo
W – Pedro Neto
W – Cole Palmer
AM – Enzo Fernandez
ST – Liam Delap
Featured Image Credit
IMAGO / Every Second Media