Last Word on Football brings you the latest team news and the predicted lineups ahead of the Sunderland vs Chelsea Premier League clash on Sunday afternoon.
The Black Cats are desperate to get their league season going after winning just once so far. Their results and performances have caused huge concerns amongst fans, and a much-improved display is needed.
The Blues are currently fourth in the league table, but are always likely to concede goals, having seen 15 go in against them in their nine league games so far. However, they do come into this game having kept a clean sheet against Manchester United last weekend.
Sunderland vs Chelsea: Latest Team News and Predicted Lineups
Date: November 8th, 2026
Venue: Stadium of Light
Kick-off: 2 pm GMT
Last Meeting: Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea (Premier League, May 24, 2026)
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Current odds: Sunderland 11/4, Draw 13/5, Chelsea 19/20
Sunderland Team News
Chemsdine Talbi
(Chemsdine Talbi of Sunderland, who scored the winner at Stamford Bridge last season, will be hoping to start the game – Credit IMAGO / Every Second Media)
The Black Cats will be without several players. Dan Ballard (hamstring), Romaine Mundle (knee), Habib Diarra (hamstring), and Omar Alderete (suspended).
Nordi Mukiele is a doubt, but Regis Le Bris believes that he should be available, which will be a huge boost to the under-pressure head coach.
Regis Le Bris on Sunderland’s form
“We can’t find at the minute the solution to shift the momentum.
We have to keep going. No choice. It’s uncomfortable. That’s clear, we don’t like it.
Big clubs experience runs without winning. It’s important to stick together, because in football it’s a question of momentum.”
Chelsea Team News
London, England, 12th September 2026. Joao Pedro of Chelsea during the Chelsea vs Hull City Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London.
(Chelsea’s Joao Pedro remains unavailable. Image credit – Imago / Paul Terry Sportimage)
Jorrel Hato (unknown injury), Maxence Lacroix (hamstring), and Joao Pedro (thigh) remain unavailable and are expected to be out until after the forthcoming international break. Reece James is also out, having had surgery on a minor injury in October.
Moises Caicedo and Emiliano Martinez are doubts, and a late decision will be made on whether they are able to feature.
Xabi Alonso on the trip to Sunderland
“We have a tough opponent, a tough visit to Sunderland, we know what it takes to win there.
We know how demanding it will be.
The table doesn’t matter. I think that they deserve more points than they’ve got and it’s going to be a tough away game.”
Sunderland vs Chelsea Predicted Lineups
Sunderland
Roefs
Meunier
Mukiele
O’Nien
Xhaka
Sadiki
Le Fee
Angulo
Talbi
Brobbey
Chelsea
Penders
Acheampong
Fofana
Colwill
Palestra
Henderson
Lavia
Estevao
Palmer
Rogers
Neto
The Last Word on Sunderland vs Chelsea
Unless Sunderland can begin to display their form and performances from last season, it’s going to be a very long and tough campaign for them. Chelsea have the forwards to punish the Black Cats, but they can look back to last season for confidence when they beat the Blues both home and away. Fans will be hoping head coach Regis Le Bris is more forward-thinking in his tactics and personnel, and if he does, they have the quality to cause Chelsea many problems.
Don’t expect a 0-0 here as both struggle to keep the opposition at bay in front of goal. Sunderland must produce a performance tomorrow, a performance that they and their fans know they are capable of. If they don’t, Chelsea will benefit, and the pressure on Regis Le Bris will increase.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-2 Chelsea
Further Reading