Sunderland vs Chelsea: Preview, Form and Head-to-Head

Sunderland host Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on Sunday 8 November 2026. Kick-off time in South Africa, form, head-to-head and table context.

Home » Sunderland vs Chelsea: Preview, Form and Head-to-Head

Football News Premier League

by South African Matchday Editorial

3 days ago 37

Sunderland vs Chelsea kicks off at 16:00 SAST on Sunday 8 November 2026 at the Stadium of Light, with Jarred Gillett as referee. Chelsea arrive in fourth place on 16 points. Sunderland are 20th on five points, so the hosts badly need a result against a side that has won two of its last three league games.

Sunderland beat Chelsea twice last season, which gives the hosts some belief. In addition, this preview covers the kick-off details, the table, recent results, the head-to-head record and what is at stake for each club.

What time does Sunderland vs Chelsea kick off in South Africa?

The match starts at 16:00 SAST on Sunday 8 November, which is 14:00 GMT, at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. Jarred Gillett is the referee. It is a mid-afternoon slot in South Africa, so it will be over before the evening games begin.

While the game is on, follow it on our live scores page. Our Premier League predictions hub also lists every fixture in the round, so it is a useful place to see how this match fits in.

Where do Sunderland and Chelsea stand in the Premier League table?

Chelsea are fourth on 16 points, with five wins, one draw and three defeats from nine games. Sunderland are 20th and bottom on five points, with one win, two draws and six defeats. The BBC Sport Premier League table shows the same picture, and the gap between the two sides is 11 points.

For example, Chelsea have scored 19 goals and conceded 15, a goal difference of plus four. Sunderland have scored seven and conceded 17, which is a goal difference of minus 10. Because of that record, the hosts sit at the foot of the table, two points behind Manchester United and Crystal Palace on seven.

Venue splits tell a similar story. For example, Sunderland have won one, drawn one and lost two of their four home league games, scoring just once at the Stadium of Light. Chelsea, meanwhile, have won two and lost two of their four away games, scoring six and conceding seven. As a result, neither side has been convincing in this type of fixture.

How has Sunderland’s form looked lately?

Sunderland have lost four of their last five league games and have won just one of their last six matches in all competitions. Coventry beat them 3-1 on 31 October, and Bournemouth won 2-0 on 18 October. In between, Sunderland drew 0-0 at home to Leeds on 25 October.

The cup and European results were mixed. Sunderland beat Brentford 3-2 at home in the League Cup on 28 October, and they drew 1-1 at Lech Poznan in the Europa League on 22 October. However, Dinamo Zagreb won 2-0 at the Stadium of Light on 5 November, so the week ended on a low note.

Across those six matches Sunderland scored five goals and conceded ten. In other words, the attack has shown some life in the cups, but the league record is the concern. Therefore, their next league game, at Aston Villa on 21 November, is a big one.

How has Chelsea’s form looked lately?

Chelsea have won two of their last three league games. They beat Everton 2-0 on 17 October and beat Manchester United 2-0 on 31 October, which we covered in our Chelsea vs Manchester United report.

The setback came in between. Tottenham won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on 24 October, a game we previewed in our Chelsea vs Tottenham preview. In addition, Chelsea drew 1-1 with Liverpool in the League Cup on 28 October, and they had thrashed Bournemouth 5-1 on 10 October.

Away from home, Chelsea were also beaten 3-0 at Brentford on 18 September. Therefore, the trip north is a useful test of whether Chelsea can win on the road against a side near the bottom.

What does the head-to-head record say?

Overall, Sunderland won the last two meetings in the Premier League, both by 2-1. Chelsea lost 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on 25 October 2025, and then lost 2-1 at the Stadium of Light on 24 May 2026. Across the last six meetings, each side has won three.

However, the earlier results swing the other way. Chelsea won 5-1 at Stamford Bridge in May 2017, won 1-0 at the Stadium of Light in December 2016, and won 3-1 at home in December 2015. Sunderland won 3-2 at home in May 2016. Across those six games, Chelsea scored 13 goals and Sunderland scored nine.

At the Stadium of Light, the last three meetings were a 2-1 Sunderland win in May 2026, a 1-0 Chelsea win in December 2016 and a 3-2 Sunderland win in May 2016. Because the results have gone both ways, the fixture is less one-sided than the table suggests.

What is at stake for both teams?

For Sunderland, the stakes are about survival, because they are bottom. A win would lift them to eight points, ahead of Manchester United and Crystal Palace on seven, while a defeat would leave them on five. Meanwhile, they also have a Europa League game against Jagiellonia on 26 November.

For Chelsea, a win would take them to 19 points and keep them in the top four mix. Brighton are third on 19 points, so Chelsea would pull level with Brighton’s current total. However, a defeat would leave Chelsea on 16, level with Everton in fifth. Chelsea then host Leeds on 21 November.

No injury or suspension was listed for either side at the time of writing. Even so, team news can change close to kick-off, so check the official club channels for the starting line-ups.