Sunderland vs Chelsea LIVE
Sunderland beat ten-man Chelsea 2-1 on the final day of the Premier League season to pip the Blues to a place in the Europa League. Chelsea led their hosts in the table as they headed up to Wearside and knew a win would have been enough to qualify them for either the Europa or Conference League. Trai Hume’s volley and Malo Gusto’s own-goal ensured their defeat, in spite of Cole Palmer’s long-range consolation strike which narrowly beat Robin Roefs, and Brighton’s loss to Manchester United ensured the Black Cats would finish seventh and qualify for the Europa League.
Wesley Fofana’s sending off as Chelsea chased the game did little to help, and the Blues will now play no European football as Xabi Alonso takes over the team next season.
For Sunderland, the win completes a stellar first season back in the top flight, exactly one year on from the day when they confirmed their promotion from the Championship. Catch up with the action as it happened below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, with expert insight and analysis from Arthur Ferridge.
Sunderland vs Chelsea latest news
- GOAL! Palmer pulls one back
- RED CARD! Fofana gets marching orders
- OWN GOAL! Gusto puts ball in Chelsea net
- GOAL! Hume opens scoring on the volley
- How to watch: Sky Sports
FULL-TIME: Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
18:02 , Arthur Ferridge
It’s all over! Sunderland qualify for the Europa League, Chelsea go home empty-handed.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
18:01 , Arthur Ferridge
90+12mins: Cole Palmer has also had his name taken, now. Unclear why.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:59 , Arthur Ferridge
90+10mins: We’ve played the full ten added minutes now, but you’d think a few more minutes will still be played given the stoppages we’ve had.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:57 , Arthur Ferridge
90+8mins: Enzo Le Fee earns a standing ovation as he is replaced by Chris Rigg.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:57 , Arthur Ferridge
90+7mins: Joao Pedro catches Robin Roefs late with his trailing leg as he presses, and is duly booked. Frustration brimming over for Chelsea.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:54 , Arthur Ferridge
90+4mins: The Chlesea corner comes to nothing but they retain possession. James lofts the ball back into the box in search of Colwill, but he can only head back into the hands of Roefs.
The Chelsea centre-back seemed to knock heads with Mukiele in doing so, and both will receive treatment.
Colwill has been in the wars today.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:53 , Arthur Ferridge
90+3mins: Acheampong takes a shot on the volley but sees it blocked behind, and Chelsea win a late corner.
Le Fee seems to have caught a boot in a sensitive area there and takes a moment to get back to his feet.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:50 , Arthur Ferridge
There will be TEN added minutes here!
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:49 , Arthur Ferridge
89mins: Reece James has a chance to whip a ball in from a Chelsea free-kick, but somebody in the box was in an offside position and they squander the chance.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:48 , Arthur Ferridge
88mins: It is end-to-end stuff now as both sides start to grow a bit leggy. Delap misses one shooting chance before Sunderland hare back down the other end and miss one of their own through Isidor.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:45 , Arthur Ferridge
86mins: Reece James shoots from range, but it is an easy save for Roefs.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:44 , Arthur Ferridge
84mins: Reece James is doing everything in his power to hype up his team-mates, but seems to be struggling to do so.
The changes are eventually made, with Caicedo and Gusto hooked in favour of Acheampong and Delap.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:42 , Arthur Ferridge
83mins: A lengthy break here as Colwill receives treatment and Chelsea ready substitutions, with Acheampong and Delap looking to come on.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:40 , Arthur Ferridge
81mins: A late tackle from Diarra on Colwill has the Chelsea man down in agony, but he escapes a booking.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:39 , Arthur Ferridge
79mins: Chelsea look completely out of ideas here. They can hardly even hold onto the ball! Sunderland are looking far more likely now and Sadiki curls one over the bar.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:37 , Arthur Ferridge
77mins: Caicedo tees Palmer up for a long-range shot but he fires well over and well wide. Poor from the Chelsea forward.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:33 , Arthur Ferridge
73mins: Xhaka catches James late, now, and is the latest to have his name taken down.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:32 , Arthur Ferridge
72mins: A Chelsea counter-attack is blown dead as Cucurella appears to pull Geertruida back off the ball.
This is turning into a really grim last match of the season for Chelsea.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:30 , Arthur Ferridge
71mins: That shot definitely hit Colwill’s arm... but VAR clear the incident.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:30 , Arthur Ferridge
70mins: VAR checking on yet another penalty for Sunderland! Colwill blocked a shot and may have done so with his arm...
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:29 , Arthur Ferridge
70mins: Fernandez is booked for getting overzealous in tackling Diarra. Follows James getting a no-call after appearing to have been tripped and getting no decision.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:27 , Arthur Ferridge
67mins: The penalty is checked and cleared.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:26 , Arthur Ferridge
67minsd: And we have another penalty check ongoing! The VAR is checking on some grappling in the box.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:26 , Arthur Ferridge
66mins: No penalty! We will restart with another Sunderland corner.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:25 , Arthur Ferridge
66mins: Play is blown dead seconds after a Sunderland corner as VAR check for a penalty.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:24 , Arthur Ferridge
65mins: Chelsea replace Neto with Chalobah as they look to salvage something from this match.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:24 , Arthur Ferridge
64mins: Sunderland sizing up a free-kick here, about 25 yards from goal.
Xhaka crosses to the back post and it is nodded back to Diarra, who shoots over from inside the six-yard box!
RED CARD! Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:21 , Arthur Ferridge
62mins: Fofana is shown a second yellow card!
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:20 , Arthur Ferridge
60mins: Fernandez lets his frustration get the better of him and clatters Le Fee off the ball.
A pair of changes for Sunderland, now, as Brobbey and Angulo come off for Isidor and Diarra.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
17:18 , Arthur Ferridge
59mins: He has to score! Le Fee plays Angulo in behind and Colwill does well to force him wide before the Sunderland man hits the post from a tight angle.
GOAL! Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea | Palmer '56
17:16 , Arthur Ferridge
Palmer pulls one back from nowhere! The forward has a crack from about 25 yards and it just sneaks past Roefs.
Sunderland 2-0 Chelsea
17:13 , Arthur Ferridge
53mins: Half chance for the Blues as Cucurella lofts the ball into the box, but he just sends it over the head of any blue shirt in the box and Sunderland deal with it far too easily.
Sunderland break away subsequently and Fofana is booked for a heavy-handed tackle on Brobbey.
Sunderland 2-0 Chelsea
17:12 , Arthur Ferridge
And it could have been three! Angulo does wonderfully to beat Gusto, plainly lacking confidence, but shoots over from a tight angle.
Meanwhile, James comes on in place of Hato.
GOAL! Sunderland 2-0 Chelsea | Gusto OG '50
17:09 , Arthur Ferridge
Sunderland double their lead! It isn’t quite clear who got the last touch, but the ball was turned in from Le Fee’s cross - perhaps by Gusto! Chelsea’s afternoon goes from bad to worse.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
17:08 , Arthur Ferridge
48mins: Chelsea make a foray forward and Cucurella misjudges a cross from Neto, allowing it to bounce behind for a goal kick.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
17:07 , Arthur Ferridge
48mins: Really lively start to the half from Sunderland, who pour forward in numbers again but Angulo loses the ball before they can get a shot away.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
17:06 , Arthur Ferridge
46mins: Brobbey goes through on goal early in the half and draws a smart save from Sanchez.
2ND HALF: Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
17:05 , Arthur Ferridge
Back underway at the Stadium of Light!
More Chelsea ignominy
17:03 , Arthur Ferridge
#CFC kept just nine clean sheets in their 38 PL games this season…none in their last 16 matches.
— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) May 24, 2026
As it stands...
17:01 , Arthur Ferridge
If this result holds, Chelsea will not be playing European football next season.
That would be a rather damning indictment of the BlueCo ‘project’.
They have 45 minutes to rescue this...
HALF-TIME: Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:49 , Arthur Ferridge
Fernandez’s free-kick is poor and easily cleared away, prompting the referee to call time on the first-half.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:48 , Arthur Ferridge
45+2mins: Neto is clipped on the right flank to give Chelsea a free-kick, which should be the final action of this opening stanza.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:46 , Arthur Ferridge
45mins: There will be two added minutes here.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:45 , Arthur Ferridge
44mins: Sunderland look to counter after a Chelsea free-kick but Brobbey doesn’t quite have the pace to drive the offensive. He waits for Trai Hume to catch him up, and he fires wide.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:44 , Arthur Ferridge
44mins: Drama in north London - Tottenham lead Everton 1-0! They are safe from relegation, as things stand.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:44 , Arthur Ferridge
43mins: Angulo goes into the book for a cynical foul on Pedro Neto.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:42 , Arthur Ferridge
41mins: Fernandez whips a speedy cross into the back post for Pedro Neto, but it is just out of the Portuguese’s reach.
Meanwhile in Brighton, the Argentine’s namesake Bruno Fernandes has assisted Patrick Dorgu’s opener to tally his 21st assist of the Premier League season - a new record.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:40 , Arthur Ferridge
39mins: Another penalty shout for Sunderland as Colwill seems to push Brobbey to the ground in the box, but the contact seems to have been within the regulations.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:39 , Arthur Ferridge
38mins: What a chance for Chelsea! A superb left-footed cross from Gusto lands sweetly at the back post but Joao Pedro heads wide. Poor from the Brazilian.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:39 , Arthur Ferridge
38mins: This is working out very nicely for Sunderland. United are leading Brighton, which means the Black Cats are up into the Europa League places!
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:38 , Arthur Ferridge
37mins: The ball definitely hits his hand, but VAR have denied the penalty!
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:37 , Arthur Ferridge
36mins: Penalty check ongoing! Fofana looks to have handled the ball in the box...
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:36 , Arthur Ferridge
35mins: Another threatening Sunderland attack ends as Angulo dances into the box but Gusto makes a smart tackle to stop him in his tracks. The hosts still look the far more threatening side, of course.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:34 , Arthur Ferridge
33mins: A clever free-kick routine from Sunderland confounds the Blues. Sanchez comes to claim but Fofana opts to boot it into the stands anyway. Corner for Sunderland.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:32 , Arthur Ferridge
31mins: Hume turns playmaker and puts Brobbey into a great position, but the Sunderland striker fires into the side netting.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:31 , Arthur Ferridge
30mins: Should go without saying that Hume’s opener rules Chelsea out of Europe... as it stands. An hour left for the visitors to get back on track.
Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea
16:28 , Arthur Ferridge
28mins: Chelsea really need to buck their ideas up if they want to qualify for Europe here. They’ve started terribly.
GOAL! Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea | Hume '25
16:27 , Arthur Ferridge
Hume breaks the deadlock! And you can’t say it isn’t a deserved lead for Sunderland. He fires home at Sanchez’s near post with a first-time volley after Hato’s miss-hit clearance falls nicely for him.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:24 , Arthur Ferridge
23mins: Mukiele does well to cut out Fernandez’s through ball for Joao Pedro.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:23 , Arthur Ferridge
22mins: It has been all Sunderland in these opening 20 minutes but they just can’t find a way through!
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:22 , Arthur Ferridge
20mins: Sunderland were denied a penalty there as Gusto bundled Mukiele down, but the referee was not interested.
Angulo then hits a loose ball after a deflected Chelsea clearance and demands a save from Sanchez.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:20 , Arthur Ferridge
19mins: That should have been the opener! The Sunderland corner is poor but they come again immediately. Hume is played in behind and O’Nien sees a shot blocked from his cross, before the rebound bobbles away uncollected.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:19 , Arthur Ferridge
18mins: Brobbey collects a pass in the box and does well to turn, but Colwill intervenes before he can get a shot away.
Another Sunderland corner...
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:16 , Arthur Ferridge
15mins: Neto’s free-kick lands plum in the middle of the Sunderland box and Chelsea get a few shots off in the ensuing melee, but all are blocked and the hosts eventually clear their lines.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:15 , Arthur Ferridge
14mins: Another Sunderland long throw is caught by Sanchez.
Luke O’Nien, as he so often does, is making a proper nuisance of himself in the penalty area. Fernandez and Colwill have been tasked with marking him.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:12 , Arthur Ferridge
11mins: Xhaka gets in behind and pulls a cross back into the box. Nobody can collect and the ball rolls out to Mukiele, who runs onto it and hits an absolute piledriver goalwards, but it runs into traffic before reaching Sanchez’s goal.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:10 , Arthur Ferridge
9mins: Mukiele heaves a long throw into the Chelsea box, but Fofana stretches to get there first. Geertruida gets a shot off the rebound, but Cucurella blocks and Fernandez clears.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:08 , Arthur Ferridge
8mins: Xhaka whips a corner into the back post and Hume hits the woodwork on the volley! There was a foul in the box, though, and Chelsea have a free kick.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:07 , Arthur Ferridge
6mins: Fernandez produces some acrobatics to pluck a ball out of the air and play Joao Pedro in behind, but his pass doesn’t quite reach the Brazilian.
Sunderland race down the opposite end and Le Fee stings the palms of Sanchez.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:05 , Arthur Ferridge
5mins: Palmer goes through on goal in the early stages but his finish is not becoming of a player who deserves to go to the World Cup.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:04 , Arthur Ferridge
4mins: Sanchez claims Xhaka’s corner and sends Chelsea away on the counter with a long throw, but the Portuguese has no support and has to pass back.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:04 , Arthur Ferridge
3mins: Sunderland have definitely had the better of the play early on, and the home fans are loving it. A roar rips around the ground as they win an early corner.
Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:02 , Arthur Ferridge
1mins: Looks like the Blues have lined up in a back three, with Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto as twin strikers and Cole Palmer as a lone No10. Interesting setup.
KICK-OFF! Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
16:01 , Arthur Ferridge
For the final time in the 2025-26 Premier League season, we are underway at the Stadium of Light!
The players are out...
15:57 , Arthur Ferridge
The music swells, and out walk the squads to a brimming Stadium of Light.
Here we go!
Kick-off approaching
15:53 , Arthur Ferridge
The Stadium of Light is packed out and absolutely bouncing for this match. There is a lot on the line for both sides.
We’ll be underway very shortly.
Team news reminder
15:50 , Arthur Ferridge
With ten minutes left until kick-off, a reminder of today’s starting lineups.
Sunderland XI: Roefs, Geertruida, Mukiele, O’Nien, Reinildo, Hume, Xhaka, Sadiki, Angulo, Le Fee, Brobbey
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo, Cucurella; Palmer, Joao Pedro, Neto
Relegation battle
15:44 , Arthur Ferridge
As Chelsea and Sunderland do battle for a European place, we mustn’t forget that West Ham and Tottenham are in a bitter relegation scrap.
Spurs lead that race by two points at the moment, and can confirm their safety with a win over Everton today. A draw should be good enough to keep them up, too, given their superior goal difference.
Should Tottenham lose to Everton and West Ham defeat Leeds, though, it will be the Irons staying up and Spurs heading down to the second tier.
Do Chelsea need to qualify for Europe?
15:36 , Arthur Ferridge
After a season of chaos, Chelsea will hope to move into a new era next season.
Xabi Alonso has been appointed manager, a role he will officially take up on July 1, and a shift in the transfer strategy has been mooted.
Whether they qualify for European football remains to be seen, but might they benefit from falling short?
As Alonso takes the helm, he might appreciate the opportunity to build his squad without the distraction of Europa or Conference League football.
Dom Smith pondered that question last week. Click here to read his column!
How can Chelsea qualify for Europe today?
15:28 , Arthur Ferridge
To cut a long, copmplicated story short, Chelsea just need a win to qualify them for Europe.
But what competition they would enter comes down to the results of Liverpool vs Brentford and Brighton vs Manchester United.
Should the Bees and the Seagulls slip up, the Blues could return to the Europa League for the first time since they won it in 2019.
Otherwise, it will be the Conference League, which they won last season after besting Real Betis in the final.
Back in the fold: Joao Pedro
15:20 , Arthur Ferridge
Chelsea’s player of the year, Joao Pedro, is back in the side today after missing the midweek defeat of Tottenham with a knock.
After being left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad, he would love to cap off the season with a 16th league goal here.
What a welcome!
15:12 , Arthur Ferridge
Most of Sunderland appears to have turned out to meet the teams ahead of this match.
McFarlane previews the tie: One last push
15:04 , Arthur Ferridge
“It's going be a great game. Both teams need to win as well,’ said McFarlane in his pre-match press conference at Cobham.
“Sunderland have had a brilliant season. They're a really good side, a really challenging side, they cause you real problems.
“So we need one more push, one more big game, another three points and hopefully get ourselves up that table.
“We need to face what's in front of us. We're more than capable of going there and winning the game, but we know we have to be at our best to get three points because they're a very good side.”
What to make of the Chelsea team
14:56 , Arthur Ferridge
Calum McFarlane appears to have opted for another back three here, with Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Jorrel Hato the centre-backs and Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella the wing-backs.
Joao Pedro is recalled after missing the midweek victory over Spurs with a knock.
Cole Palmer starts as he looks to bounce back after being left out of England’s World Cup squad.
SUNDERLAND CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
14:48 , Arthur Ferridge
And here are the hosts.
Sunderland XI: Roefs, Geertruida, Mukiele, O’Nien, Reinildo, Hume, Xhaka, Sadiki, Angulo, Le Fee, Brobbey
Subs: Ellborg, Cirkin, Alderete, Diarra, Rigg, Traore, Mayenda, Isidor, Jocelin
CHELSEA CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
14:46 , Arthur Ferridge
Calum McFarlane names the final Chelsea side of the Premier League season.
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo, Cucurella; Palmer, Joao Pedro, Neto
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Chalobah, James, Derry, Essugo, Garnacho, Andrey Santos, Delap
Team news up next
14:40 , Arthur Ferridge
Today’s starting lineups will be released in just five minutes!
Predicted Chelsea XI
14:32 , Arthur Ferridge
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Fernandez, Palmer, Neto; Joao Pedro
Doubts: Gittens (hamstring)
Injured: Estevao (hamstring)
Stage is set
14:24 , Arthur Ferridge
The Stadium of Light is looking absolutely resplendent in the Wearside sun.
It is warm and sunny by the coast as a heatwave grips the UK.
Sunderland vs Chelsea head to head
14:15 , Arthur Ferridge
Sunderland wins: 43
Chelsea wins: 61
Draws: 22
Final day fixtures in full
14:07 , Arthur Ferridge
There’s plenty to play for today at both ends of the table. Here’s the full Premier League final day fixtures:
Tottenham vs Everton (Click here to follow LIVE!)
West Ham vs Leeds (Click here to follow LIVE!)
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal (Click here to follow LIVE!)
Brighton vs Man Utd
Burnley vs Wolves
Fulham vs Newcastle
Liverpool vs Brentford
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Nottm Forest vs Bournemouth
And last but not least, Sunderland vs Chelsea.
Standard Sport prediction
13:59 , Arthur Ferridge
This is a big game for Chelsea, and it could set the tone for the Alonso era before the Spaniard even steps through the door.
Europa League would give them a second potential pathway into the Champions League for the season after next, but Conference League is not what the former Real Madrid boss would have signed up for.
Sunderland could end a superb first term back in the top flight with a ticket to Europe, which would underline how good a job Le Bris has done in only his second season in England.
Draw, 1-1.
Chelsea early team news
13:51 , Arthur Ferridge
Joao Pedro is expected to return after a knock kept him out of the game against Tottenham last weekend.
Jamie Gittens, Estevao and Jesse Derry are all out for the remainder of the campaign, while there is hope that Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill make a comeback after they were given time to recover after the FA Cup final.
Sunderland early team news
13:43 , Arthur Ferridge
The Black Cats are hopeful to have three players back for this final game, with Romaine Mundle, Bertrand Traore and Omar Alderete all hoping to make a return on Wearside.
Regis Le Bris will also be missing Dan Ballard, who is suspended after his red card against Wolves.
Simon Moore is out long-term with a wrist injury.
How to watch Sunderland vs Chelsea
13:35 , Arthur Ferridge
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports+, with coverage starting at 3.45pm.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Good afternoon
13:27 , Arthur Ferridge
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Sunderland vs Chelsea!
The day we all dreaded is finally here - the final day of the Premier League season. We do, of course, have the World Cup to look forward to in just a few weeks, but we must now also reckon with the prospect of three months without club football.
Sunderland have made this campaign one to remember and Chelsea could still do the same with a win, which would qualify them for Europe. Can Calum McFarlane get the job done in this final match of this, his second stint as the club’s interim manager?
All will be revealed! Stick with us right here for all the latest from the Stadium of Light, where today’s match will get underway at 4pm BST.
