Penders stays, Henderson in for Caicedo? Chelsea predicted lineup vs Sunderland

Mike Penders has earned another afternoon in goal, and if Moises Caicedo’s “discomfort” keeps him out, Jordan Henderson is the man Xabi Alonso turns to at the Stadium of Light.

Chelsea head to Wearside on Sunday 8 November (2pm UK time) sitting fourth, and a win would make it four victories from their last five league games. It is also their last fixture before the international break, with Leeds United the next opponents once the players are back.

The ground carries a bad memory. Just 168 days ago, Chelsea left the Stadium of Light having missed out on European football on the final day of 2025/26. Sunderland are chasing three straight wins over the Blues for the first time in 25 years, though they arrive on the back of a 2-0 Europa League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, a night that ended with boos around the ground on Thursday.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Sunderland

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill, Chavarria; Lavia, Henderson; Estevao, Palmer, Rogers; Neto

Mike Penders: the form says stay put

Emiliano Martinez is back training after surgery on his fractured jaw, and Alonso admitted the call is a tough one. “Tomorrow we will check, and Sunday we will take the final decision,” he said on Friday. “It’s very good that Emi has made a great effort to be back.”

We would still stick with the 21-year-old. Penders called his run in the side a “rollercoaster of emotions”, from the own goal that set Tottenham on their way at Stamford Bridge to two top-drawer displays against Liverpool and Manchester United. His fingertip stop from Bryan Mbeumo’s volley is up for the Premier League’s Save of the Month, and there’s nothing to be gained from throwing a 34-year-old with a healing jaw into a scrappy away game on the eve of a break.

Josh Acheampong: keeps the right side

Reece James (knee) is still out, so there’s no real debate here. Acheampong was part of the back four that kept United out last weekend and should keep his place on the right.

Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill: the only fit pairing

Maxence Lacroix (hamstring) isn’t expected back before the international break, and Jorrel Hato is “not fit”, in Alonso’s words, and needs “some more weeks”. That leaves Fofana and Colwill as the obvious centre-back pair, and nobody close to pushing them.

Pep Chavarria: in for Palestra

This is the one change we’d make at the back. Marco Palestra did a job at left-back against United, but United found joy down the flanks, and Sunderland will have seen it. Chavarria is the more natural option there, and Palestra is a useful weapon to have on the bench for the second half.

Who replaces Caicedo?

Romeo Lavia: undroppable right now

Lavia has finished the full 90 in each of his last two games, against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and then United, and Alonso couldn’t have been warmer about him. “In the middle you need to have a brain for yourself, but a brain for the team,” he said. “He’s good with the ball, he’s giving balance, and he’s connecting really well with the players around him.” A Belgian commentator has been comparing his passing to the best midfielders in Europe, and he starts.

Jordan Henderson: back from illness

Caicedo had “little problems” after the United game and missed training early in the week. Alonso called it “a discomfort more than the calf”, and the club planned to check him again in Saturday’s final session. We covered why a doubt for Sunderland probably means a rest: one game, then two weeks to get right. Henderson missed the United win with a fever but is fine again, and he scored twice in the 5-1 win over Bournemouth last month. If Caicedo is passed fit, he slots straight back in next to Lavia.

Palmer, Estevao and the makeshift No.9

Estevao: earned another go

He was brilliant against United, and it would be harsh to take him out now. Sunderland’s left side will have a busy afternoon if he plays the way he did last weekend.

Cole Palmer: a point to prove

Left out of the England squad on Friday, Palmer has plenty to play for, and Alonso is firmly in his corner. “I’m very happy with his quality, with his attitude, and the impact that he’s having on the rest of the team,” he said. “He’s connecting very well with the other attackers.” He plays in the No.10 role.

Morgan Rogers: the England man

Rogers is the only Chelsea player in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this break, and he keeps the left side of the attacking three. His work without the ball matters as much as anything he does in the final third.

Pedro Neto: up front again

Joao Pedro (quad) is out until after the break, so Neto leads the line as a makeshift striker once more. It isn’t his natural position, but his pace in behind should give Sunderland’s makeshift back line something to think about and leave more room for Palmer and Estevao.

Doubts and who else is missing

Jamie Gittens (ankle) joins James, Lacroix, Hato and Joao Pedro on the sidelines. Martinez and Caicedo are the two to watch when the teamsheet lands, and Palestra should be the first defender off the bench.

Sunderland have problems of their own. Omar Alderete is suspended, Daniel Ballard (hamstring), Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle (knee) are out, and Nordi Mukiele is a doubt after a head knock. There’s also a reunion in midfield: Granit Xhaka was a key part of Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side that won the Bundesliga in 2024. Alonso said Xhaka “glued many pieces together in the middle”.

Verdict: Chelsea can’t afford to look past Sunderland

Chelsea’s last trip here ended their European hopes, so nobody at Cobham will take this lightly. Sunderland are hurting and short of bodies at the back, but Alonso’s line that “they deserve more points than they got” didn’t sound like politeness. Keep Penders, trust Henderson if Caicedo isn’t right, and let Estevao and Palmer do the damage. Here’s how we see them lining up:

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill, Chavarria; Lavia, Henderson; Estevao, Palmer, Rogers; Neto