Sunderland
Sunderland return to the top flight with confident 3-0 win over West Ham
Sunderland returned to the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over West Ham at the Stadium of Light..
Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League with a composed 3-0 victory over West Ham at the Stadium of Light. After an eight-year absence from the top flight, the Black Cats absorbed early pressure led by Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen before their play-off heroes settled the contest in the second half.
The breakthrough arrived in the 61st minute when Eliezer Mayenda met Omar Alderete’s looping cross and nodded into the bottom corner. The centre-half who supplied the cross had only just come on to make his debut after replacing the injured Jenson Seelt, who was taken off following a challenge for the ball.
Sunderland extended their lead in the 73rd minute. Simon Adingra picked out Dan Ballard on the left side of the box and the centre-half powered a header into the bottom corner, nodding into the same spot as his late winner in the play-off semi-finals against Coventry.
Substitute Wilson Isidor completed the scoring two minutes into added time after cutting in from the left and rolling a composed finish into the corner to seal three points in Sunderland’s first Premier League appearance since May 2017.
Eleven signings have been made so far this window and seven of those new arrivals were handed their first starts. Trai Hume, Ballard and Mayenda were the only survivors from the starting XI that beat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.
West Ham handed debuts to two new signings with El Hadji Malick Diouf and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen both starting, while new signing Callum Wilson was named on the bench. Bowen threatened early, forcing a low stop from Robin Roefs, and Hermansen denied Habib Diarra at the other end.
Diouf blasted a first-time effort in a move started by Bowen but Ballard made a superb block. Hermansen later collected a header from Ballard following a series of corners. In the closing stages Roefs tipped a deflected header from a free-kick over the bar before Isidor’s finish wrapped up an impressive afternoon for the hosts.
Chelsea
Talbi’s 93rd-Minute Strike Ends Chelsea’s Winning Run
Talbi’s 93rd-minute finish condemned Chelsea to a 2-1 loss, halting a four-game winning streak. Final
Chelsea’s four-match winning run ended in painful fashion at Stamford Bridge as Sunderland snatched a 2-1 victory with a stoppage-time winner. Chemsdine Talbi stroked home in the 93rd minute after Brian Brobbey held the ball up and teed up the Moroccan on the edge of the area, leaving Robert Sánchez beaten.
Alejandro Garnacho had put Chelsea ahead inside four minutes, squeezing a finish past Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs after a swift counter. The lead lasted only until the first half when Wilson Isidor converted amid chaos from a long throw and a deflected effort by Bertrand Traoré. That equaliser altered the tone of the match and set up a frantic finale.
The result leaves Chelsea down in seventh, while Sunderland leapfrogged to second in the table. Chelsea dominated possession and passing statistics but could not convert control into a decisive second goal. The match statistics show Chelsea with 71% possession to Sunderland’s 29%, expected goals of 0.55 to 0.92, and four shots on target to Sunderland’s three.
Individual performances were mixed. Robert Sánchez was judged 6.1, described as uncertain with the ball at his feet but relatively assured with his hands. Reece James produced the most creativity on the right and earned 7.5. Trevoh Chalobah struggled at times and was rated 6.6, while Josh Acheampong received 7.1 for several vital interventions. Marc Cucurella (6.7) pushed high from left-back. In midfield Enzo Fernández was 7.1 and Moisés Caicedo 6.6. Pedro Neto (7.4) and Alejandro Garnacho (7.2) provided the primary attacking impetus, João Pedro was 6.2 and Marc Guiu was 5.9.
Estêvão (58’) was 6.2, Jamie Gittens (76’) 6.2 and Tosin Adarabioyo (76’) 6.4. Andrey Santos and Tyrique George were introduced later, with no rating given. Subs not used included Filip Jörgensen, Jorrel Hato, Wesley Fofana and Roméo Lavia.
Chelsea created big chances and controlled the ball, but Sunderland’s resilience and a late counter finished the day for the Blues.
Chelsea
Preview: Chelsea v Sunderland — injuries, form and predicted XIs
Chelsea aim to extend their winning run as in-form Sunderland visit with injuries shaping teams play
Chelsea host Sunderland on Saturday with momentum behind the home side and questions around availability across both squads. Chelsea arrive on a winning run that has lifted them to fifth in the table; they could finish the weekend as high as second only if a series of unlikely results fall their way. The Blues are still searching for a first league victory over Sunderland since their last meeting in 2017.
Sunderland have made an encouraging start to life back in the top flight. The newly promoted side sit level on points with Chelsea and have been beaten only twice in the Premier League, both defeats coming away from home. Their away numbers are notable: just one goal in four league trips so far.
Injuries and suspensions will shape selection. Cole Palmer is absent with a return pencilled in for after the November international break. Levi Colwill and Liam Delap are long-term absentees. Benoît Badiashile will be missing until December after suffering another injury setback before the October international period, joining Dário Essugo in the treatment room. Mykhailo Mudryk is serving a provisional suspension after failing a drugs test. Malo Gusto is suspended following a late red card at the City Ground. João Pedro served a one-match European ban midweek but is available for the weekend.
Enzo Maresca rotated his squad for the midweek Ajax tie, resting Robert Sánchez, Marc Cucurella, Reece James and Pedro Neto.
Régis Le Bris is expected to make few changes after the win over Wolves but will be without Omar Alderete due to concussion. Habib Diarra, Dennis Cirkin, Romaine Mundle, Leo Hjelde and Aji Alese remain in the treatment room. Reinildo returns from a three-match suspension.
Goalkeeper Robin Roefs has been a key signing for Sunderland since last summer, while Wilson Isidor will lead the line. Bertrand Traoré might be omitted after a subdued display against Wolves.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs. Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Neto, Fernández, Garnacho; Pedro.
Sunderland predicted lineup vs. Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Hume, Ballard, Mukiele, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Adingra, Rigg, Le Fée; Isidor.
Broadcast: United Kingdom not televised (audio on BBC Radio 5 Live & talkSPORT); United States Peacock and Amazon Prime Video; Canada DAZN, fuboTV and Amazon Prime Video; Mexico Max Mexico, Amazon Prime Video, TNT Sports and TNT Go.
Arsenal
The Ten Summer Signings Who Have Mattered Most Early in 2025/26
After a record £3.19 billion summer, these ten signings have reshaped Premier League starts. so far.
Premier League clubs combined to spend a record £3.19 billion during the 2025 summer window, and a number of arrivals have already influenced the opening months of the 2025/26 season.
Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony arrived from Bournemouth for £8 million and has become a central outlet in Scott Parker’s attack. The former Arsenal academy player has started both as part of a front two and out wide, and his four league goals currently lead Burnley’s scoring chart.
On Tyneside, the German forward has settled quickly. With Yoane Wissa nursing a knee injury, Woltemade has started up front and brought an immediate return of three league goals in four games, one of which included an extraordinary penalty. His unusual frame and aerial improvement have been noted by supporters.
West Ham’s recruitment has offered hope under Nuno Espírito Santo. El Hadji Malick Diouf, signed from Slavia Prague, has impressed as a one-on-one defender who delivers a dangerous cross from the left. He remains an up-and-down full back with clear potential.
Tijjani Reijnders produced an outstanding Premier League debut at Molineux and has since provided moments of quality, including the assist for Erling Haaland against Arsenal in September.
Martín Zubimendi was an early target for Mikel Arteta and has gradually displayed his class in the holding role. After a slow debut, he has shown his passing range and even contributed a memorable goal against Nottingham Forest.
Hugo Ekitiké has been arguably the most convincing of Liverpool’s summer recruits. The former Eintracht Frankfurt forward scored on his opening games against Bournemouth and Newcastle and has shown a willingness to drop in and combine, even if his league scoring has slowed in recent fixtures.
João Palhinha’s loan at Tottenham has been a robust addition. Thomas Frank leans on him heavily and the Portuguese midfielder leads Spurs with just over five combined tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes.
Sunderland’s Robin Roefs arrived from NEC Nijmegen, took the No.1 spot in preseason and has been a reliable shot-stopper. Only Dean Henderson has prevented more goals, and Roefs ranks fourth for success when attempting to claim the high ball.
Finally, Jack Grealish’s loan to Everton has begun well. He is joint-top of the assist charts and produced a last-gasp finish to end Crystal Palace’s 18-game unbeaten run before the international break.
