Gameweek 9 of the 2025/26 Premier League continues on Saturday, and the proceedings will begin at a later time than usual. The action on the day will start with four simultaneous matches, including Chelsea vs Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s recent run has brought some optimism back to the West London club after a run of only one victory in five matches across all competitions. Since then, the Blues have embarked on a four-game winning run, including a 5-1 triumph against Ajax in the UEFA Champions League, with their performances improving with each outing.
On the other hand, Sunderland could not have hoped for a better start to the 2025/26 season after returning to the Premier League after a long time in the wilderness. The Black Cats have lost only two games thus far while amassing 14 points. That has left Regis Le Bris’s charges in the seventh spot in the Premier League standings, ahead of bigwigs like Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United.
The most recent Premier League clash between Chelsea and Sunderland ended in a 5-1 win for the West London outfit in May 2017. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Enzo Maresca has received a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Chelsea manager will be bereft of the services of as many as seven first-team players vs Sunderland on Saturday.
Joao Pedro will return after missing the UEFA Champions League clash with Ajax due to a one-match suspension. However, Malo Gusto is unavailable after being sent off against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
The French defender has joined Levi Colwill (knee), Benoit Badiashile (muscular), Dario Essugo (thigh), Cole Palmer (groin), and Liam Delap (hamstring) on the sidelines. Finally, Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable due to a suspension after failing a doping test several months ago.
Robert Sanchez will retain his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Sunderland on Saturday. The backline will feature Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the double pivot. Estevao Willian will likely reprise the no. 10 role, with Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho being the two wide attackers. Finally, Joao Pedro will lead the line for Chelsea against Sunderland on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Neto, Estevao, Garnacho; Pedro
Like his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Regis Le Bris has a new issue hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. The Sunderland manager will be without half a dozen first-team players on Saturday.
Omar Alderete is the latest absentee due to concussion protocols after sustaining a head injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. The Paraguayan defender has joined Leo Hjelde (Achilles), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Aji Alese (shoulder), Habib Diarra (groin), and Romaine Mundle (hamstring) in the treatment room.
However, Reinildo Mandava is available after serving a three-game suspension. The Mozambican full-back will accompany Trai Hume, Nordi Mukiele, and Dan Ballard in the backline. Robin Roefs is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Sunderland lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Saturday.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Chris Rigg, Granit Xhaka, and Noah Sadiki in the middle of the park. Finally, Wilson Isidor will spearhead the Sunderland attack against Chelsea, with Enzo Le Fee and Chemsdine Talbi being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Reinildo; Rigg, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Isidor, Le Fee
While Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian, and Granit Xhaka were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Robin Roefs as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.
The Dutch goalkeeper has conceded six goals (excluding own goals) in the Premier League this season from an xGoT of nine. His record of preventing three goals is the highest of any Premier League goalkeeper this term. So, the onus will be on Roefs to continue his excellent displays between the sticks and earn another impressive result for his side.
None of the 16 Premier League meetings between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge have ended in a draw (13 Chelsea wins, 3 Sunderland). That run may end this weekend, as the away side will take the game to the Blues, thus leaving nothing to separate the two teams.
With Cole Palmer still unavailable, the onus of providing the creative impetus in the final third will fall on Estevao Willian and Pedro Neto. That may be up Sunderland’s alley, and the visitors will keep the home side at bay for long periods.
Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka will provide progression from the middle of the park, setting up at least one goal for Sunderland. However, neither side will have enough quality to clinch three points, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw between Chelsea and Sunderland this weekend.
