Josh Acheampong gets instructions from Xabi Alonso. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Josh Acheampong gets instructions from Xabi Alonso. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Josh Acheampong gets instructions from Xabi Alonso. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Chelsea are preparing to take on Sunderland in the Premier League this afternoon, and the teams for the game are in!
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Xabi Alonso has a few key players still absent from his Chelsea team, and is forced to make do.
In goal, as we suspected, the coach sticks with Mike Penders, despite the fact that Emi Martinez trained this week. The risks of using the goalkeeper with his jaw still broken are obvious, so Penders keeps his place.
There’s a first Premier League start at full back for Marco Palestra, who seems to have taken Josh Acheampong’s spot at right back. The defender isn’t in the squad at all.
Centrally it’s Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana, with Pep Chavarria returning to start at left back.
Ahead of them it’s a three man midfielder of Moises Caicedo, Jordan Henderson and Romeo Lavia. The front three looks like it will work the same way it did against Man U a week ago – Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers will flank Pedro Neto playing as a false 9.
You can see the team in the post from Chelsea here:
Your Chelsea side today! ✔️#CFC | #SUNCHE pic.twitter.com/ciaILJeAuu
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 8, 2026
Chelsea prepare to take advantage of struggling Sunderland
Aaron Anselmino in Chelsea training.
Aaron Anselmino in Chelsea training.
This is not our best team but it should be enough to get the job done against a struggling Sunderland side. Score early in this one and it could be a cruise to victory.
In other news…
Aaron Anselmino is finally back in the Chelsea squad, and Xabi Alonso spoke about his return yesterday.
Cole Palmer named Romeo Lavia as one of the most underrated players in the Premier League in a Sky Sports interview.