Chelsea FC Training and Press Conference
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Xabi Alonso manager / head coach of Chelsea celebrates with Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill
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Granit Xhaka and Xabi Alonso
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Brian Brobbey of Sunderland has a chance while under pressure from Wesley Fofana of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Chelsea at the Stadium of Light
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FBL-EUR-C3-SUNDERLAND-DINAMO
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Xabi Alonso, Manager of Chelsea
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TNT Sports pundit, Peter Crouch speaks prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea
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Chelsea predicted XI vs Sunderland: Estevao Willian keeps his place as £16m summer signing returns
Estevao of Chelsea celebrates scoring a goal, which is later disallowed following a VAR review
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Chelsea put defeats to Tottenham and Liverpool behind them with an important 2-0 victory over Manchester United last weekend. The Blues’ next opponents are bottom-of-the-table Sunderland, who they face at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Xabi Alonso’s side climbed above Liverpool into fourth place with their latest win, and another three points against Sunderland could see them overtake Brighton in third. Here is the starting XI Alonso is likely to name for the final game before the November international break.
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How Chelsea could line up against Sunderland
Emiliano Martinez should be available for the Sunderland game after recovering from his jaw injury ahead of schedule. However, with the goalkeeper still needing a protective face mask and Mike Penders having performed well recently, the Belgian should keep his place.
Maxence Lacroix’s hamstring injury leaves Chelsea short of centre-back options. This makes a back four more likely, with Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana expected to partner one another in the middle.
What is Chelsea's best XI when everyone is fit? Here is our team! – What do you think?
I hate to say it,we will lose today
Ahaha class. He’s got a great chant too so gotta love him
Hazard was definitely that type of player but the reaction Estevao gets is just different. He reminds me of that famous clip where Messi starts warming up and all the Barca fans go mad. 60 year old blokes shouting Stevo all game even when he’s on the bench 😂
Josh Acheampong should retain his place at right-back after becoming an integral part of Alonso’s side, but the opposite flank could change. £16 summer signing Pep Chavarria is better suited to playing as an orthodox full-back than Marco Palestra, who struggled defensively against Man Utd.
Having been the best player on the pitch against Man Utd, Romeo Lavia should keep his place in the starting XI. Starting three consecutive games raises fitness concerns, but the Blues have had a week to recover and prepare for Sunderland. Lavia is expected to partner Moises Caicedo in midfield.
Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are almost certain to start in the front four against a leaky Sunderland defence. Meanwhile, Estevao Willian deserves to keep his place on the right wing after getting the Stamford Bridge crowd on their feet throughout the previous match.
Alonso’s biggest decision is whether to use Pedro Neto as a false nine or bring Danny Welbeck in as a traditional centre-forward. Although Neto was not particularly effective against Man Utd, the Spaniard is a big admirer of the winger and will probably start him, leaving Welbeck on the bench.
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Penders; Acheampong, Colwill, Fofana, Chavarria; Lavia, Caicedo; Estevao, Palmer, Rogers; Neto