Chelsea vs Sunderland LIVE: Isidor equalises after Garnacho scores first Blues goal | Football

And another fine save from Roefs!

Chelsea can’t break down Sunderland’s defence, so Chalobah decides to have a pop from range. It’s a good one and a slight deflection forces Roefs to tip it over the bar.

The subsequent corner is cleared and we’ll have three minutes of injury time.

Deary me. Brilliant from Caicedo who wins the ball on the edge of the box from a sleeping Sunderland player.

He passes to Pedro who only has the keeper to beat… and for some bizarre reason decides to square it to no one.

Thankfully for the forward, the offside flag is up to spare his blushes.

Well, well, well…

A long throw causes havoc in the Chelsea box and the defenders don’t clear the danger, allowing Isidor to poke home from close range.

Sunderland have started well and deserve that goal. Game on!

Just as I say that, Chelsea nearly score from a corner. The delivery finds Cucurella but his shot is blocked.

The ball drops to Caicedo at the edge of the box and the crowd urges him to shoot. He obliges but it’s deflected over the bar.

Proper basketball game this.

Close to an equaliser!

Chalobah gives away a free-kick in a dangerous position and Le Fee tries his luck. His shot is over the wall but doesn’t dip enough and just goes over the bar!

The Black Cats are well up for this and Chelsea need to be a little cautious.

That didn’t take long!

It’s been all Sunderland in the opening minutes but with their first attack of the game, Chelsea have taken an early lead and Garnacho has his first goal for the Blues.

He bursts down the left-flank, has the beating of his defender and shoots from a tight angle through the legs of Roefs. 1-0 Chelsea!

It’s been a while since these two sides met – over eight years to be exact.

It was the final day of the 2016/17 season when already champions Chelsea smashed already relegated Sunderland 5-1 in John Terry’s final game for the Blues.

A LOT has changed since then. The teams are about to walk onto the pitch…

No long till kick-off now. Here’s Premier League legend Alan Shearer’s prediction via Betfair:

‘Sunderland have been amazing, three wins and a draw at home – I do think that’s going to be the key to them this season. It doesn’t take a genius to work that out.

‘They’ve had an unbelievable start to the season and are in seventh place. I don’t see that continuing, but they’ll have to enjoy it while it’s there, but I think Chelsea might be too much on Saturday.

‘Prediction – Chelsea win‘

Robert Sanchez divides opinion. At times, he looks like one of the best goalkeepers in the world. At others, he’s a liability to his team.

Many pundits have claimed the Blues will never win the Premier League until he is replaced. Yet, David James believes Sanchez is ‘the foundation for Chelsea’s challenge for the title.’

Speaking exclusively to Metro ahead of the game, the former England No.1 said: ‘I know there are a lot of people who look at Sanchez and question his capabilities but I think he is outstanding.’

Read more here.

Before the season started, if you were told that after eight games Chelsea and Sunderland would be level on points, you’d assume something had gone terribly wrong for Enzo Maresca.

But in fact, things are going very, very well for the Black Cats, winning four and losing just two of their eight games since returning to Premier League.

Still, Chelsea are the favourites today. Here are the latest match odds courtesy of Betfair:

• Chelsea – 4/11
• Draw – 3/1
• Sunderland – 6/1

Joining Guiu in attack is Alejandro Garnacho, who is yet to register a goal or assist since leaving Manchester United in a £40million transfer.

The Argentina winger was left on the bench for midweek’s huge Champions League win over Ajax, where teenage sensation Estevao yet again shone.

Should the Brazilian have started today? Paul Merson certainly thinks so. Read the full story here.

You could not have written it, Marc Guiu makes his first Premier League start… against the club he was meant to be playing for this season.

The Chelsea striker was loaned to Sunderland but was recalled after less than a month following an injury to Liam Delap.

Impressive performances against Nottingham Forest and Ajax have earned the teenager a place in the XI today, with Joao Pedro dropping into the No.10 role.

The question is, if Guiu scores against his former club, will he celebrate?

Sunderland XI: Rofs, Hume, Mukiel, Ballard, Reinildo, Greed, Xhaka (C), Sadiki, Le Fee, Traors, Isidor

Subs: Patterson, Masuaku, Jones, Neil, Rigg, O'Nien, Talbi, Brobbey, Mayenda