Chelsea will look to secure their place in the Premier League’s top four when they face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
The Blues won 2-0 at home to Manchester United in their last outing and are now fourth in the table with 16 points from their opening nine games.
Sunderland lost 3-1 away at Coventry City last weekend and were then booed off after losing 2-0 at home to Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League.
Sunderland v Chelsea kick-off time
Sunderland v Chelsea kicks off at 2pm GMT on Sunday, November 8 at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland v Chelsea how to watch
The game will be shown live in the UK via Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting from 12.30pm.
BBC Radio Sports Extra 3 will provide full match commentary.
Sunderland team news
Sunderland made six changes to their starting line-up for the game against Dinamo Zagreb, but should now revert back to their strongest side.
That would see Trai Hume, Luke O’Nien, Reinildo, Noah Sadiki, Enzo Le Fee and Brian Brobbey play from the start.
Omar Alderete serves a one-game ban after being shown two yellow cards at Coventry, but Nordi Mukiele should be out of concussion protocols in time to replace him.
Habib Diarra recently returned from a hamstring injury, but has now picked up a fresh muscle injury in training and is set for six weeks on the sidelines.
Daniel Ballard remains unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury while representing Northern Ireland in September, and Romaine Mundle is a long-term absentee following undergoing surgery on a knee injury.
Chelsea team news
Emi Martinez has missed the last three Chelsea games after suffering a fractured jaw, with Mike Penders filling in between the sticks.
But the Argentina international returned to training after getting a mask fitted and could now reclaim his place in the starting line-up.
Moises Caicedo and Geovany Quenda missed training earlier this week with minor issues and are set for late fitness tests before the trip to the Stadium of Light.
Jordan Henderson is available again after missing the win over United with illness, and he could replace Caicedo in the middle of the park.
Estevao made his first Premier League start of the season last weekend and should keep his place in the side after his impressive performance.
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Aaron Anselmino has stepped up his recovery from injury by returning to training, and he could be named in the matchday squad.
Jorrel Hato (back), Jamie Gittens (ankle) and Joao Pedro (thigh) remain sidelined, while Reece James (knee) and Maxence Lacroix (hamstring) aren’t expected to return until 2027.
Sunderland v Chelsea odds
Chelsea are fully rested after no European commitments, and they are favourites to win the match at 21/20.
Sunderland are 14/5 to record their first league win since August, while The Draw is 11/4.
In the outright betting, Chelsea are 4/6 to finish the season in the top four and Sunderland are 13/8 to get relegated.
Sunderland v Chelsea prediction
Sunderland completed a Premier League double over Chelsea last season, winning 2-1 at Stamford Bridge before beating them by the same scoreline at home on the final day of the campaign.
That win at the Stadium of Light saw Sunderland qualify for the Europa League, but they’ve since struggled to balance their domestic and European commitments.
The Black Cats are at the bottom of the table with just five points from their opening nine games, and Regis Le Bris is under a lot of pressure.
His side have also scored just two goals across their six home games in the Premier League and the Europa League this season.
Chelsea are looking stronger defensively and have two clean sheets in their last three league games, so we’re backing a Chelsea win to nil at 11/4.
All four of Sunderland’s home Premier League games have been goalless at half-time, while Chelsea’s last three league games have been 0-0 at the interval.
That leads us to back Draw-Chelsea in the Half-Time Full-Time market at 9/2. A Draw at half-time is also available at 27/20.
Each of Chelsea’s last three league games have also finished with a 2-0 scoreline, with the Blues beating Everton and Manchester United but losing against Tottenham.
A 2-0 win for the visitors is available at 10/1.
Cole Palmer was the headline omission from Thomas Tuchel’s 25-man England squad to contest this month’s Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain.
The 24-year-old scored Chelsea’s only goal in this fixture last season and will be determined to prove his worth. He’s 2/1 to get on the scoresheet at the Stadium of Light.
Morgan Rogers has scored the opening goal in Chelsea’s last two games, and is 13/2 to break the deadlock for a third game in a row.
