Alonso gives Cole Palmer full backing: "We are very happy with him at Chelsea"

Xabi Alonso says Chelsea are "very happy" with Cole Palmer, who was left out of Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad.

Chelsea travel to Sunderland in their final match before the international break. The Blues are looking to maintain their momentum, and Cole Palmer is expected to play a key role in the game.

The young star has 3 goals and 3 assists in 9 Premier League appearances this season, most recently scoring from the penalty spot in the 2-0 win over Manchester United.

With his form back on the rise, Palmer had been expected to earn an England call-up, but Thomas Tuchel opted for other players, saying the forward had "missed a lot of opportunities to play for his country".

Nevertheless, Xabi Alonso said he has been highly impressed by the 24-year-old attacker's performances this season and described him as one of the most important parts of the team:

"We are extremely happy with Cole. I think he is enjoying his football on the pitch, and he has built a very good understanding with the other attacking players. He is helping the team and laying the foundations for the game and the development we are aiming for. Of course, everything takes time, but I am very happy with his quality, his attitude and the influence he has on his teammates. He just needs to focus on his own job, and his job is to play good football and enjoy his football with us at Chelsea."

Chelsea's opponents Sunderland, meanwhile, have failed to win any of their last seven Premier League games and are rooted to the bottom of the table. The Black Cats suffered their first defeat in the Europa League in midweek, losing 2-0 to Dinamo Zagreb, and the pressure on head coach Régis Le Bris is mounting.

Sunderland last met Chelsea on the final matchday of the 2025-26 season, when a 2-1 win took them above the London side and secured them a European place. Despite the difficult spell, Le Bris believes his team can bounce back:

"We have done it before with almost the same squad, so we can do it again. We have had a lot of conversations with the leaders in the team. These players are very important because they will show the way. The club and I will also show the way, but it is our leaders who set the mood in the dressing room, solve problems and lay the foundations for getting better. They are doing their job; now it is about raising the level. They are doing their very best."

Players to watch

Sunderland: Enzo Le Fée

Among players to have scored at least five Premier League goals for Sunderland, Enzo Le Fée has scored the highest percentage of his goals from the penalty spot (71%, 5/7). In the club's history, only Kevin Phillips (10), Darren Bent (8) and Jermain Defoe (6) have scored more penalties than Le Fée.

Chelsea: Morgan Rogers

Palmer and Morgan Rogers have created 14 goal-scoring chances for each other in the Premier League this season, making them the most productive duo in the league in this respect. The 10 chances Rogers alone has created for Palmer exceed the combined output of every other pairing in the league.

Pre-match notes

Although Sunderland have won three of their last five Premier League matches against Chelsea, the London side head into this game as favourites on the strength of their form.