Xabi Alonso has named his Chelsea side to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on November 8.

Chelsea head to Wearside for their final game before the November international break. A win would send them into the break in the top four, and they could finish the block of fixtures with back-to-back league victories after the 2-0 win over Manchester United last weekend.

They have won three of their last four league games, as many victories as they managed in their previous 14 (W3 D2 L9).

Meanwhile, Sunderland are struggling. They have failed to score in their last three league games at the Stadium of Light and have conceded 17 goals in nine games this season. This is an opportunity for Chelsea to inflict more misery on Regis Le Bris' side, who also suffered defeat on Thursday night in the Europa League to Dinamo Zagreb.

Now the team news has been confirmed, with Alonso making two changes from the win over Man United last weekend.

The big decision was in goal for Chelsea. Despite returning to training, Emiliano Martinez is not in the squad, so Mike Penders continues in goal for the Blues and will be keen to keep back-to-back clean sheets.

Marco Palestra comes into the side, with Alonso opting to select the Italian in Josh Acheampong's absence, with the youngster not involved in the matchday squad. Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill are the preferred pair at centre-back, with Pep Chavarria on the left.

Romeo Lavia and Jordan Henderson start in midfield, while Moises Caicedo has been deemed fit enough to start for Chelsea.

Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto lead the attack. Estevao Willian has dropped to the bench, joined by Danny Welbeck, Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha.

Aaron Anselmino, Malo Gusto and Valentin Barco are also named on the substitutes' bench, along with youngster Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli.

As expected, Maxence Lacroix, Jorrel Hato and Joao Pedro are absent for the visitors on Wearside.

Here are the confirmed teams in full for Sunderland against Chelsea in the Premier League.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Meunier, Mukiele, O'Nien, Reinildo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fee, Talbi, Brobbey

Bench: Ellborg, Danso, Methalie, Angulo, Rigg, Isidor, Fofana, Tutierov, Ahoka

Chelsea XI: Penders; Palestra, Fofana, Colwill, Chavarria; Lavia, Caicedo (c), Henderson; Palmer, Neto, Rogers

Bench: Sharman-Lowe, Anselmino, Gusto, Barco, Nicoll-Jazuli, Quenda, Estevao, Emegha, Welbeck