Xabi Alonso could raise eyebrows when he names the Chelsea starting lineup to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

Xabi Alonso only needs to make one change to the starting lineup when Chelsea face Sunderland. The Blues will hope to spend the international break in the comfort of the Premier League top four, but they're set to be without some big names when they face Regis Le Bris' side at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

Speaking to reporters at Cobham Training Ground on Friday, the Chelsea manager previewed the clash and what it means – or doesn't – in the race for qualification to the UEFA Champions League.

"The table means not too much because that can change so much in one week," said Alonso. "In two games, you can be fourth, so we are taking a step forward, I think. With the ball, against the ball, be more solid, and we have a tough opponent to visit, Sunderland.

"We know what it takes to win there. We know how demanding it will be. It doesn't matter, the table. I think that they deserve more points than they got, and it's going to be a tough game away."

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Alonso added: "It's early, early days to talk too much about the table; we need to keep winning, winning, winning, and to build this mentality to go game by game..."

So, with that being said, football.london has predicted the Chelsea starting lineup to face Sunderland.

Penders earns Chelsea chance

Although Emiliano Martinez returned to action at Cobham Training Ground earlier this week, Mike Penders should remain between the sticks at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon. The 21-year-old goalkeeper has done well in his colleague's absence, so he should be rewarded with one more start.

Alonso could actually put Chelsea in a vulnerable position by starting the 34-year-old shot-stopper instead. Martinez, who's still recovering from surgery on a fractured jaw, could be targeted by the Sunderland players, maliciously or not, gambling on a split second of hesitancy from either the goalkeeper or his teammates when there's a 50-50 to contend.

Speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon, the Blues manager insisted that the mask will not be an 'obstruction'. Alonso said: "He's getting used [to it]; for sure, it's not the most comfortable thing, but he's getting used to it.

"He's been training almost the whole week with it. For a certain period of time, I'm sure that he will have to deal with it and to cope with it. He's been doing everything with it, so it's not [an] obstruction, and we have the green light from the doctors after the concussion. It's been already three weeks, so we have everything."

Alonso tweaks Chelsea backline

At the back, Pep Chavarria should start on the left, with Levi Colwill, Josh Acheampong, and Wesley Fofana keeping their places in the starting lineup. Marco Palestra has only recently returned to action, so it's understandable why he was a little like a deer in the headlights last weekend.

Caicedo passes late fitness test

In an ideal world, Moises Caicedo passes a late fitness test and rejoins Romeo Lavia in the middle of the park. They were superb against Manchester United, highlighting the great dynamic they have in a double pivot.

Alonso ends Neto experiment

Up top, Cole Palmer should lead the frontline, ideally in a false-nine role, dragging the centre-halves out of position and linking play. There's a risk that the Blues talisman could become isolated and Alonso's side suffer in the absence of an outlet who can stretch the backline, but I think it's a risk worth taking.

By moving Pedro Neto back into his personalised wide role, whether it's defined as a winger or a wing-back, Chelsea will become much stronger out of possession. He and Morgan Rogers can double up with Acheampong and Chavarria on the flanks, providing greater security against overlaps and crosses into the box.

Estevao Willian will then be granted a central role off Palmer. Between them, they could interchange and create overloads in the half-spaces, though at the expense of a conventional number nine.

Alonso makes just one Chelsea change

Ultimately, Alonso only really needs to make one change to the starting lineup. So long as Chavarria returns to the backline, Neto shifts back out wide, Fofana holds his nerve, and Caicedo passes a late fitness test, Chelsea should be well-equipped to defeat Sunderland.

Regis Le Bris would have noticed the problems Manchester United caused the Blues with wide overlaps and third-man runs in the first half of last weekend's clash, as well as the fragility of Fofana on the ball, so there are certainly weak spots to exploit...

Predicted Chelsea starting lineup to face Sunderland: Mike Penders; Pep Chavarria, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Josh Acheampong; Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo; Morgan Rogers, Estevao Willian, Pedro Neto; Cole Palmer.