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CHELSEA 1-2: SUNDERLAND: Blues player ratings from Stamford Bridge with Enzo Maresca's side slipping up against the newly-promoted Black Cats on Saturday afternoon
16:57, 25 Oct 2025Updated 16:59, 25 Oct 2025
Bobby has been with football.london for over two years and has been covering Chelsea since the summer of 2022. During that time, he has been front and centre in perhaps the club's most turbulent time with Roman Abramovich selling to Todd Boehly. He is a regular at press conferences and matches, where he has managed to speak to Enzo Maresca and numerous Chelsea players.
Chelsea let a one-goal lead slip as they suffered just their third Premier League defeat of the season at home to Sunderland.
Enzo Maresca made eight changes to the side that thrashed Ajax in midweek but it did not take long for his players to get going at Stamford Bridge. Just four minutes in, Pedro Neto fed Alejandro Garnacho with a fine through ball before the Argentine smashed it past Robin Roefs on his weaker left foot.
However, Sunderland levelled the match later in the first-half when Wilson Isidor scored from close range after a long throw-in caused havoc for the hosts. Chelsea pushed for a winner in the second-half but could not create much in the form of clear-cut chances.
Instead, it was the visitors who got themselves the three points with a winner on 93 minutes. Chemsdine Talbi struck into the bottom corner to send the away end into ecstasy at Stamford Bridge.
Below, Bobby Vincent rates the Chelsea players out of 10 based on their performance this afternoon:
Robert Sanchez - 6
Back in the side after being rested in midweek. Can't really do much about either goal.
Reece James - 5
One of the eight changes Maresca made. Dealt with the physical battles very well. He would have liked to have had more of an impact in attack.
Josh Acheampong - 6
His third successive start in the Premier League. He produced a great block with a slide tackle early on to deny Isidor. Wins the initial header from the long throw that led to the goal and it sort of rocks him back meaning he didn't step up and played everyone onside.
Aside from that, he passed it well and powered on into midfield with the ball plenty of times. A couple of really crucial sliding tackles as well.
Trevoh Chalobah - 5
A poor moment at the start of the second-half where he took far too long up against Enzo Le Fee and ended up giving Sunderland a very dangerous free-kick. Other than that, the defender won a few headers.
Marc Cucurella - 5
Returned to the team after being given a rest on Wednesday. Got stuck in inside the first minute with a challenge on Bertrand Traore and in a similar fashion, he produced a fine sliding tackle to get the fans off their seats at Stamford Bridge. Got into some dangerous positions in the final third but was unable to impact too much.
Moises Caicedo - 7
A stint in midfield against Ajax but Caicedo returned to the midfield this afternoon. He was everywhere. A couple of times, Sunderland took too long on the ball and Caicedo was there, as he always is, to win possession back for the Blues.
Enzo Fernandez - 6
Fernandez's passing was superb. Finds Marc Cucurella with a fine pass on 20 minutes which could have easily led to a goal but the left-back failed to trap the ball properly. Not able to get in those goal scoring positions he usually does, or at least he was not found when he did.
Pedro Neto - 6
Replaced Estevao Willian in the side. A fine pass to get Garnacho going for the first goal of the game. Started off having the beating of Reinildo but the Sunderland wing-back recovered well and got to grips with Neto. A good counter-attacking chance towards the start of the second-half but he wasted it with a poor pass to Garnacho. Struggled in the second-half.
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Joao Pedro - 4
Back in the No.10 role and you thought that might have meant we would see a return to form for Joao Pedro. The Brazilian, though, seemed off it this afternoon. His decision-making, at times, was strange and he struggled to make too much of an impact in Chelsea's attack.
Alejandro Garnacho - 7
Third Premier League start in a row. He showed why with a fine finish in front of the Shed End. Chelsea sensed he was playing well and tried to get him on the ball against Nordi Mukiele. Got into some really dangerous positions and might be disappointed he could not have impacted the attack more.
Marc Guiu - 4
First Premier League start for the Blues against the club he spent 26 days on loan at earlier in the season. Dan Ballard, who will know him from the month they spent as teammates, physically imposed himself on Guiu and dominated him at times. The Spaniard got very little change.
Estevao Willian (on for Garnacho 58') - 6
Immediately has a chance to score but his strike was well blocked. It felt like Chelsea weren't able to get the ball to Estevao enough for him to have a decisive impact.
Jamie Gittens (on for Guiu 76') - N/A
Not enough time to make the desired impact.
Tosin Adarabioyo (on for Acheampong 76') - N/A
A tad surprised to see him come on. Maybe it was to protect Acheampong, who had been in the wars in the second-half.
Tyrique George (on for Neto 85') - N/A
Too late to make an impact.
Andrey Santos (on for Joao Pedro 85') - N/A
See above.
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