Premier League 2025-2026: Chelsea-Sunderland, the likely lineups
Reduced by the clear victory in the Champions League against Ajax (5-1), Chelsea dives back into the Premier League with the ambition to continue the positive series of October, which began with the home success against Liverpool (2-1) and continued with the 3-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest. Ahead of the Blues there’s a tricky opponent, the newly promoted Sunderland, which after eight games has the same points as Enzo Maresca’s team, 14.
The Italian coach will confirm, barring surprises, the lineup with four defenders, two midfielders, three trequartisti and a central reference in attack: the latter should be Guiu, with Joao Pedro moved further back along with Estevao and Neto. Instead, Caicedo and Fernandez will be tasked with filtering the middle of the field.
On the other hand, Sunderland, which has lost only one of its last five games (2-0 against Manchester United on Oct. 4) is relying on a clearly offensive-inspired 4-3-3-3 to keep dreaming: in the offensive zone space for Talbi, Isidor and Romanista Meteor Le Fee, behind confirmed Mukiele, defender-goleador against Wolves in the previous day.
Probable lineups
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto; Guiu. All. Maresca.
SUNDERLAND (4-3-3): Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Reinildo; Rigg, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Isidor, Le Fee. All. Le Bris.
