Xabi Alonso expressed that Chelsea is “very pleased” with Cole Palmer, despite the midfielder’s exclusion from Thomas Tuchel’s recent England squad.
Chelsea is gearing up to face Sunderland in their last match before the international break, where Palmer is anticipated to play a significant role as the team strives for continued momentum.
This season, he has scored three goals and provided three assists in nine Premier League matches, including successfully converting a penalty in their 2-0 victory over Manchester United recently.
Given his impressive performances, many thought Palmer would be included in the England squad, but Tuchel remarked that he “misses too many opportunities to represent his country.”
Nonetheless, Alonso has been impressed by the 24-year-old’s contributions this season and views him as an essential player.
“We are very pleased with Cole,” Alonso stated. “He seems to be enjoying his game and connecting well with the other forwards.
“He’s making valuable contributions to the team’s development and pursuing our goals, acknowledging that progress takes time. I’m really happy with his skill, commitment, and the positive influence he’s having on his teammates.
“He should concentrate on his game—his focus is on playing good football and enjoying his time with us at Chelsea.”
50 #PL goals. https://t.co/dNlltKwhiy
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 4, 2026
Chelsea will meet Sunderland, who sit at the bottom of the league and have not won any of their last seven Premier League matches.
The Black Cats also faced their first Europa League loss on Thursday, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, which has increased pressure on coach Regis Le Bris.
In their last encounter, Sunderland managed a 2-1 victory over Chelsea on the final day of the 2025-26 season, securing a European spot at Chelsea’s expense.
Le Bris believes his team can regain their form from last season after a challenging period.
“We’ve accomplished it before with a similar squad, so it’s achievable,” he mentioned.
“We’ve had numerous discussions with our leadership group, which is crucial as they guide the team.
“I’ll lead, and the club will too, but our leaders in the dressing room set the tone, addressing issues, maintaining unity, and laying the groundwork for improvement.
“They’re doing their part, but now it’s about consistency. They’re putting in their best effort.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sunderland – Enzo Le Fee
Among players who have scored at least five goals for Sunderland in the Premier League, Enzo Le Fee has converted the highest percentage of those from penalties (71% – 5/7).
Only Kevin Phillips (10), Darren Bent (eight), and Jermain Defoe (six) have scored more penalties for Sunderland.
Chelsea – Morgan Rogers
Palmer and Morgan Rogers have created 14 chances for each other in the Premier League, five more than any other pairing.
Rogers’ 10 chances set up for Palmer are the most any duo has combined for.
We travel north to Sunderland on Sunday. https://t.co/vLywBSZzFf
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 4, 2026
MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA WIN
Sunderland has won three of their last five matches against Chelsea, gaining more points during this stretch than in their previous 23 encounters (eight – W2 D2 L19).
Notably, Chelsea has lost their last two league matches against Sunderland, the last time they lost three consecutive matches to them was between December 1999 and March 2001.
However, Chelsea has rebounded well recently, winning three of their last four Premier League games (L1), matching their total from the previous 14 matches (W3 D2 L9).
All three wins this season have come by two goals or more, which is just one less than what they managed between January and September (four).
Sunderland has experienced five losses in their last six league outings (D1), a stark contrast to their prior 14 matches (W6 D4 L4). No other team has underperformed at home in the Premier League during 2026 more than Sunderland (eight games without scoring), failing to find the net in their last three matches.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Sunderland – 31.2%
Draw – 25.1%
Chelsea – 43.7%
Fan Take: This news is pivotal for soccer fans as it highlights the evolving dynamics within Chelsea and the potential impact of players like Cole Palmer on the team’s success. With Chelsea’s recent form and Sunderland’s struggles, this matchup could set the stage for exciting developments in the league.
Source: www.soccernews.com
