Xabi Alonso is expected to make very few changes in his Chelsea starting XI for Sunday's Premier League clash with Sunderland.
Chelsea , who sit fourth in the Premier League table heading into the weekend's fixtures, are in a relatively good position in the race for Champions League spots. However, to maintain their top-four position during the international break, they must win their match at Sunderland on Sunday .
On paper, Sunderland , last in the table and without a win since August 30, should be the perfect opponent to beat. But an away Premier League fixture is always tricky, and Alonso will likely field his best available XI to try to secure the three points.
The Blues will still be without key players such as Joao Pedro (thigh), Reece James (knee), and Maxence Lacroix (hamstring), as well as Jorrel Hato (back) and Jamie Gittens (ankle). However, Alonso will have plenty of firepower in his squad to win even with these expected absences.
Emiliano Martinez returned to Chelsea training this week after missing the last three games following jaw surgery. Unfortunately, Alonso could not be certain whether the veteran goalkeeper would be ready to start this weekend and would only make a late goalkeeping decision before the match.
Martinez would likely start if fit. Otherwise, the younger Mike Penders should be fully capable of filling the spot between the sticks.
Aaron Anselmino's return gives Chelsea some defensive relief amid Lacroix and Hato's injuries, but a Premier League start would likely be too soon for the young defender, who has not played a minute for Chelsea this season.
Instead, Alonso is expected to stick with Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana as the starting centre-back pair.
Josh Acheampong is also an option at centre-back, but he will most likely start at right-back, with Pep Chavarria getting the nod on the opposite side to replace Marco Palestra.
Similar to Martinez, Moises Caicedo is a doubt for the Sunderland trip after suffering from discomfort following the win over Manchester United last weekend.
He is obviously one of the first names on the team sheet when he is fit. However, if he somehow is not ready to start, Romeo Lavia will likely play alongside Jordan Henderson in the midfield double pivot.
Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are expected to keep their spots as number 10 and left winger, respectively. The right winger spot, meanwhile, likely depends on Alonso's striker decision.
Pedro Neto started as a false nine against Man United amid Joao Pedro's absence, ahead of alternative natural strikers Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha.
If Neto continues to play up front, then Estevao Willian could get his second Premier League start of the season on the right flank. However, if Welbeck or Emegha starts, Neto is likely to start as a right winger at Estevao's expense.
Martinez, Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill, Chavarria, Caicedo, Lavia, Estevao, Palmer, Rogers, Neto
