Chelsea vs Sunderland LIVE
Sunderland dealt Chelsea a 2-1 home defeat in the Premier League when substitute Chemsdine Talbi curled in a low shot deep into stoppage time on Saturday. The visitors, who have moved up to second place in the table, had gone behind in the fourth minute when Alejandro Garnacho claimed his first goal for Chelsea.
But the west Londoners' lead was cancelled out by Wilson Isidor's equaliser in the 22nd minute when the Frenchman stabbed in from close range after Chelsea failed to deal with a long throw. The game appeared to be heading for a draw, with Chelsea bossing possession but creating little, before Talbi ran onto a pass by fellow substitute Brian Bobbey in the third minute of added time and left Robert Sanchez with no chance.
Read the game back below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea vs Sunderland latest news
- GOAL! Talbi stuns Chelsea in injury time
- GOAL! Isidor levels it up from close range
- GOAL! Garnacho scores first Chelsea goal
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
17:03 , Alex YoungThe away end erupts. Sunderland have deserved that. Valiant in defence and incisive in attack.
It had been Chelsea who had hoped to move within two points of the top of the league. Instead it's newly promoted Sunderland who move up to second. Remarkable.
Full-time!
16:58 , Alex Young98min: The Black Cats have stunned Stamford Bridge and move up to second in the table!
Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland
16:57 , Alex Young97min: Stamford Bridge is already half-empty.
Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland
16:55 , Alex Young94min: Fernandez with a desperate attempt at goal from distance.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
16:54 , Alex Young93min: Talbi wins it for Sunderland!
A long ball over the top is held up by Brobbey, who lays it off for Talbi to roll home!
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
16:51 , Alex YoungChelsea haven't shown anything to warrant them taking all three points here.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:51 , Alex Young91min: Six minutes added on.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:49 , Alex Young90min: Chelsea deal with it and race up the other end and win another corner.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:49 , Alex Young89min: Santos booked for a clumsy foul, giving Sunderland a breather and a chance to sling the ball into the box.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:47 , Alex Young87min: Bit of barny outside the Sunderland area as James shoves Ballard over. Bizarre thing to do, but the referee isn’t too interested.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:45 , Alex Young85min: Santos and George are on, replacing Joao Pedro and Neto.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:43 , Alex Young83min: Chelsea really struggling to create much, and the Sunderland fans are loving it.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:38 , Alex Young78min: Fernandez is looking much livilier in this second half, linking up well with Estevao.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:37 , Alex Young76min: Tosin and Gittens are on for Chelsea, replacing Acheampong and Guiu.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:35 , Alex Young74min: Almost a stunning solo effort from Xhaka, who runs onto a ball over the top, and tries to cut inside onto his right but Acheampong does brilliantly to get the tackle in.
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
16:32 , Alex YoungChelsea are running out of time here. They've not created many openings in the second half.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:31 , Alex Young71min: Another effort from Fernandez, who lines one up from 25 yards but it’s straight down Roefs’ throat.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:28 , Alex Young68min: A very smart attempt at a volley, almost over his shoulder, inside the area, but it doesn’t have enough on it to properly test Roefs.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:26 , Alex Young65min: Cucurella is OK to continue.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:25 , Alex Young63min: Oh my, Cucurella hits the deck heavily after challenging Roefs for a cross.
It’s not so much the contact between the players but the way Cucurella hit the pitch. He’s being attended to.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:21 , Alex Young61min: The corner is sent deep, which Estevao keeps alive but Sunderland are able to eventually clear the danger.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:20 , Alex Young60min: Estevao almost scores with his first touch, running onto a loose ball in the area and his shot is deflected wide.
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
16:19 , Alex Young‘Come on Estevao’ come the cries from the Chelsea supporters. At 18, he is already Chelsea's saving grace.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:18 , Alex Young57min: Garnacho is not happy to come off, shaking his head, but it’s Estevao time.
He’s done well today, very busy.
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
16:13 , Alex YoungA physical start to the second-half, plenty of challenges flying in. Not a ton of quality on show, though.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:12 , Alex Young51min: Chelsea have barely been out of their own half since the restart but are almost gifted an opening thanks to some hesitation from Sadiki, but his team-mates bail him out.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
16:08 , Alex Young48min: Sunderland have started the half on top, attacking down Chelsea’s left and making headway.
Second half
16:05 , Alex Young46min: Back underway.
Sunderland have gone toe to toe with Chelsea and matched them so far.
Fernandez and James deep in discussion as the players head down the tunnel.
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
15:51 , Alex YoungLevel at the break. Chelsea started excellently and looked like they were in complete control.
One long throw was all it took to undo their good early work. Sunderland know they are in this game.
Half-time!
15:49 , Alex Young49min: We go into the break level.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
15:48 , Alex Young47min: Chelsea finishing the half on top, really pushing Sunderland back.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
15:47 , Alex Young46min: Three minutes added on.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
15:43 , Alex Young42min: Another break from Sunderland as Traore drives from the right, cuts inside and tests Sanchez with a low, curling effort.
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
15:42 , Alex YoungIt's all been a bit flat from Chelsea since the equaliser. This is quickly turning into a tricky afternoon for the Blues, with Sunderland also providing a threat on the break.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
15:41 , Alex Young40min: Almost a second for Garnacho as a corner falls to the Argentine at the back post, but Roefs makes a strong save.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
15:38 , Alex Young37min: Another one as this time Joao Pedro hits the deck after a shove by Geertruida, but again VAR are not fussed.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
15:38 , Alex Young35min: Half a penalty shout as Hume has hands on Cucurella in the area, but the referee - and most of the players - are not interested.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
15:33 , Alex Young31min: Sunderland happy to stand off Chelsea as the hosts enjoy an extended period of possession. Not making too many in-roads just yet though.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
15:29 , Alex Young28min: Isidor spins smartly onto a Xhaka pass and into the area before firing into the side netting.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
15:28 , Alex Young26min: A good move from the right through Neto, who jinks one way and then the other before slinging in a cross, which Sunderland take two attempts to deal with.
Decent game, this.
Chelsea 1-1 Sunderland
15:26 , Alex Young24min: Tempers flaring as Cucurella is triupped by Mukiele, and the Chelsea defender makes a right meal of it.
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
15:25 , Alex YoungSunderland love a long throw and Chelsea haven't learnt their lesson from the Brentford game. Level at the Bridge.
GOAL!
15:23 , Alex Young21min: A goalmouth scramble and Sunderland are level!
It’s another long throw, which causes panic and Isidor is on hand to prod home inside the six-yard box!
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
15:21 , Alex YoungChelsea are hunting for a second. Garnacho is at the heart of everything good for the Blues, who don't look for a second like they are missing Estevao.
Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland
15:19 , Alex Young18min: Ballard wipes out Pedro, and is probably lucky to avoid an early yellow.
Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland
15:19 , Alex Young16min: Cucurella tries to send Guiu running through the centre, but the ball has a little too much spice on it.
Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland
15:14 , Alex Young12min: Corner comes in and falls to Cucurella unmarked in the area to fire at goal. His shot is blocked and lands at Caicedo’s feet, whose shot deflects behind.
Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland
15:13 , Alex Young11min: Sunderland defending their box well, but Garnacho is giving Hume and Mukiele plenty to do.
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
15:11 , Alex YoungGarnacho get his first goal for the Blues. That's a huge moment for the Argentinian after being hooked at half-time against Forest.
Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland
15:09 , Alex Young8min: Fernandez whips in a low cross, which Cucurella bows to meet but cannot get enough on it with Ballard breathing down his neck.
Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland
15:08 , Alex Young7min: Garnacho tries to create another opening, but his pass to Pedro inside the area is cut out.
Chelsea firmly on top.
Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland
15:07 , Alex Young6min: That has quitened the Sunderland fans, who had seen their team start well only to concede from Chelsea’s first attack.
GOAL!
15:05 , Alex Young4min: Sunderland have been on top but it’s Chelsea who open the scoring!
Garnacho takes the ball on the left, drives into the area and fires between Roefs’ legs!
Chelsea 0-0 Sunderland
15:04 , Alex Young2min: Sunderland aren’t messing around, carving open a couple of half chances in the opening minutes.
Acheampong required to block Isidor inside the area.
Kick-off
15:00 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Teams are coming out of the tunnel.
Sunderland have made the best start by a newly promoted team for eight seasons. It is their best start since the 1999/00 season. Can they shock Chelsea this afternoon?
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
14:45 , Alex YoungMarc Guiu and Joao Pedro have just head down the tunnel together. It will be interesting to see how the pair get on this afternoon, with Maresca hailing Guiu as a traditional No9 in his pre-match press conference.
Joao Pedro, meanwhile, will be allowed to drop deeper, having struggled to lead the line as a lone striker.
Not long until kick-off now.
Here’s our man at the Bridge.
🗣️ "Sunderland have looked really impressive this season."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) October 25, 2025
Here's @tabueauS ahead of kick-off!
LIVE: https://t.co/VOd7uAFaPN#CHESUN | #CFC pic.twitter.com/R2AIXv0qxD
Maresca responds to long throw hype with Delap return inbound
14:24 , Alex YoungEnzo Maresca has not ruled out utilising long throws at Chelsea in the future, but admits he currently has no plans to take advantage of the latest Premier League trend.
Long throw-ins have taken the top flight by storm this season, with Brentford leading the way, having scored seven goals from the set-piece since the start of the 2024-25 season.
Chelsea, however, despite hiring the Bees’ former set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva last season, have yet to catch on to the long throw hype.
Maresca, though, is not remotely concerned, with his side having scored the joint-most goals from set-pieces (8) this season.
“If we don't do it, it's probably because I don't like it,” Maresca said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“But I said before, you never know, you need to evolve in football. So probably one day I will do that, in this moment we don't plan to play long throw-ins. But again, it's a matter of evolution, probably one day we're going to start also with the long throw-ins, but not in this moment.
“I think there are different ways to win matches.”
The weather is looking quite ominous.
Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge
14:03 , Alex YoungEight changes in total for Chelsea after their 5-1 rout of Ajax in the week.
That said, the biggest surprise is who keeps their place in the side, with Marc Guiu handed his first Premier League start.
Chelsea have looked re-energised in recent weeks, but Sunderland, level on points with the Blues, present a real test.
So, it’s a first Premier League start for Marc Guiu, against the team he spent 26 days on loan at earlier this season. Joao Pedro is in at No10.
Elsewhere, Enzo Fernandez comes back into midfield so Romeo Lavia is rested. Reece James returns to right-back, with Malo Gusto suspended.
Confirmed team news in full
13:51 , Alex YoungChelsea XI: Sanchez; James; Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Joao Pedro, Garnacho, Guiu
Subs: Jorgensen, Tosin, Fofana, Hato, Lavia, Andrey Santos, Estevao, Gittens, George
Sunderland XI: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Reinaldo, Geertruida, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee, Traore, Isidor
Subs: Patterson, Neil, O'Nien, Talbi, Rigg, Brobbey, Mayeda, Jones, Masuaku
Sunderland XI
13:45 , Alex Young...and the visitors!
RLB's XI to take on Chelsea! 👊#CHESUN pic.twitter.com/n85vf2dirN
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) October 25, 2025
Chelsea XI
13:45 , Alex YoungHere’s how the hosts line up!
🥁 Presenting your Chelsea XI. #CFC | #CHESUN pic.twitter.com/YHunUBI8Vw
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 25, 2025
Team news is imminent. We’re expecting plenty of changes.
The atmosphere is building.
Le Bris on losing Guiu
13:24 , Alex YoungSunderland manager Regis Le Bris has shrugged off the prospect of facing Marc Guiu.
The young striker joined the Black Cats on a season-long loan from Chelsea in August only for the deal to be terminated less than a month later due to an injury crisis at Stamford Bridge.
"We appreciated the short spell we had with Marc, but now it's another story," added Le Bris.
"The market is the market and sometimes you have to face unpredictable situations."
Match odds
13:12 , Alex YoungThe bookies are predicting a relatively comfortable Chelsea win today.
- Chelsea win: 4/11
- Draw: 3/1
- Sunderland win: 6/1
(Odds via Betfair, subject to change.)
Marcel Desailly exclusive interview: 'Chelsea are the future'
13:04 , Alex YoungMarcel Desailly admits being more than a little sceptical of what might be achievable when Enzo Maresca took over as manager of a very young Chelsea side last summer.
The Blues, who host Sunderland today, achieved Champions League football for themselves, though, as well as winning the Conference League and Club World Cup.
While Desailly thinks this season still comes too early for a first Premier League title under the Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly ownership, he believes next season, 2026-27, could be a very successful campaign indeed for the Blues. Chelsea, he is convinced, are “the future”.
“The Premier League is super difficult,” he says in an interview with Standard Sport. “You need to have experienced players in your squad, because you have to play at some grounds that are difficult. Your squad has to be ready for the battle.
“I believe that the intensity of the Premier League will not allow them to have the required consistency to be able to win. Look what happened to Liverpool at home against Manchester United. Liverpool are tactically stable, won the league, and then got hammered by United. So it is difficult to keep that consistency and gain enough points.
“So I think Chelsea are still building up and surely you need to have that super player — a famous player with good stats to be able to be that addition that Chelsea is looking for, to eventually win that Premier League title. Not the Club World Cup, not the Conference League, the Premier League. It is something different.
“They had a good season last season. But I'm not sure they are ready to be able to compete to win the Premier League.”
Maresca's warning to Guiu
12:56 , Alex YoungEnzo Maresca has revealed the message he sent to striker Marc Guiu having been unhappy with how he was training at Chelsea.
Guiu was recalled from his season-long loan spell at Sunderland after only 26 days in August after Liam Delap’s hamstring injury and the respective exits of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson.
The 19-year-old initially struggled for game time upon his return to Chelsea, and Maresca has now admitted that he had not been impressed with the way he was training.
“We had a chat with Marc two weeks ago,” the Italian said on Friday. “I told him that I didn't like the way he was training and he needed to change. He changed.”
Quizzed on what Guiu had not been doing well at Cobham, Maresca said the teenager had needed to get better in every aspect, but acknowledged he had seen a marked improvement since their chat and hailed Guiu as a traditional No9.
“He was not training well in all the ways. Since we chatted, he's been fantastic. It's good,” Maresca continued.
“Marc is a typical No9. He is physically strong, a box player. Again, he can improve and do many things better. We are working with him every game to try and help him. In terms of Joao Pedro, we know he can play as a No9 or a No10. He's very good in both positions.”
Score prediction
12:49 , Alex YoungSeventh-placed Sunderland have been one of a handful of surprise packages this term, and perhaps the pick of the bunch.
They have quietly gone about their business, surreptitiously climbing the table and into European contention.
As already mentioned, they have plenty of weapons that can hurt Chelsea, but really, the Blues should still see this as a must-win game.
They have the firepower, regardless of their injury issues, and they have the form to go with it.
Chelsea to win, 3-1.
Early Sunderland team news
12:42 , Alex YoungAs for Sunderland, they also have a number of players out for this one. Big-money signing Habib Diarra is sidelined until December, while Leo Hjelde is also ruled out with an Achilles issue.
Winger Romaine Mundle and left-back Dennis Cirkin are also not expected to be involved with thigh and wrist injuries respectively, while Aji Alese is also out with an injured shoulder.
There is a boost, however, for Le Bris, with former Atletico Madrid defender Reinildo back from suspension after his red card against Aston Villa, where he kicked out at Matty Cash.
Early Chelsea team news
12:35 , Alex YoungChelsea head coach Enzo Maresca can make wholesale changes to his team this afternoon.
Maresca made 10 changes against Ajax from the side that beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 last weekend, with only midfielder Romeo Lavia retaining his place in the starting lineup.
It is likely that Joao Pedro will return to the lineup against Sunderland after serving a Champions League suspension against Ajax, but he could operate in the No10 role behind Marc Guiu, who scored his first Champions League goal against Ajax.
The teenager spent the first 26 days of this season on loan with Sunderland but was recalled early by Chelsea on August 31 due to a shortage of strikers following Delap’s injury and the exits of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson. He could face his former team at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca may look to rest Lavia against Sunderland by starting the fit-again Enzo Fernandez next to Moises Caicedo in midfield. Malo Gusto was shown a second yellow card late on at Forest so must serve a one-match suspension.
Welcome
12:29 , Alex YoungGood afternoon and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Sunderland.
It is a first clash between these two teams since 2017, with the Blues looking to maintain a fine record against the Black Cats after 21 wins in 26 games.
But Sunderland have started the season impressively, and will surely be no pushovers today.
We have Sam Tabuteau at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, with kick-off at 3pm. Stick with us.
