By Alex Roberts
Enzo Maresca’s younger aspect are stuffed with confidence after a cushty 5-1 midweek win over Ajax, a crew that regarded extra like a pub aspect than four-time Champions League winners, with three youngsters scoring for a similar aspect in the identical recreation for the primary time within the event’s historical past.
As for Sunderland, their 2-0 win over Wolves final day out reveals they’re doing precisely what newly promoted sides should do, beating the groups more likely to be battling alongside them to keep away from the drop.
A bizarre reunion for Marc Guiu
In one other universe, the younger Spaniard can be watching on together with his Sunderland teammates slightly than doubtlessly beginning together with his Chelsea ones. He would have been ineligible to characteristic in opposition to his dad or mum membership ought to he have remained on mortgage on Wearside.
Alas, his mortgage was reduce quick after Chelsea determined to ship Nicolas Jackson off to Bayern Munich and right here we’re. Guiu began and scored the opener within the win over Ajax, with Chelsea wanting an altogether extra cohesive aspect with him on the pitch.
He got here on in opposition to Liverpool, distracted Virgil van Dijk sufficient to permit Marc Cucurella to ship within the cross for Estêvão’s winner, and after changing Alejandro Garnacho at half time vs Forest, they have been 2-0 up inside seven minutes. It’s nearly as if when Chelsea play a correct striker, they rating targets.
The signing of the summer season?
Sunderland spent some huge cash in the summertime switch window to get their squad prepared for the step up from the Championship to the Premier League, and it seems to have labored wonders.
Few new boys throughout the league have had as immediate an influence as Nordi Mukiele, nevertheless. The French defender is a continuing, main the charts for tackles made per 90 minutes at Sunderland with 3.3, whereas additionally making a mean of eight clearances per recreation.
Able to taking part in as a centre-back or a proper again, he bagged the opening objective within the 2-0 win over Wolves having in some way discovered himself at left wing, taking part in a stunning one-two with Trai Hume, and beating José Sá. Including targets to his recreation can be a welcome bonus.
Group Information
Chelsea welcome Wesley Fofana again within the win over Ajax after lacking the earlier 4 video games as a result of a concussion he picked up within the 2-1 League Cup win over Lincoln Metropolis, with Enzo Fernández additionally returned from a knock he picked up whereas on worldwide obligation.
Tosin Adarabioyo began his first recreation because the defeat to Man United, so Chelsea’s centre-back harm disaster seems to be over. Nonetheless, they’re lacking Cole Palmer (groin), Levi Colwill (ACL), Dário Essugo (thigh), Benoît Badiashile (muscle), Liam Delap (hamstring), nevertheless.
Sunderland have a great few accidents too, with Ajibola Alese (shoulder), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Leo Hjelde (Achilles tendon), Habib Diarra, (groin), and Romaine Mundle (hamstring) all out.
Prediction
Chelsea don’t have a tendency to start out video games significantly properly, so if Sunderland get an early objective, this might be attention-grabbing. We’re going to go along with an edgy 2-1 house win.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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