Morgan Rogers scored a brilliant solo goal to finally break the deadlock early in the second half following another below-par first 45 minutes from Chelsea, with Cole Palmer then marking his return from a one-match suspension by narrowly dispatching a penalty after Lisandro Martinez was sent off for a foul on Wesley Fofana.
asserted
Martinez → score → Fofana
Estevao saw two goals disallowed for offside after being handed a rare start by Xabi Alonso, whose team bounced back after a Carabao Cup last-16 exit on penalties at Liverpool that quickly followed only a second home league defeat by rivals Tottenham in 36 years.
asserted
that → see → years
Alonso’s side will fancy their chances of making it back-to-back victories against a Sunderland outfit who sit rock bottom of the table after being brushed aside by newly-promoted Coventry last time out.
asserted
who → fancy → Coventry
No definitive timeframe has yet been set for the return of the star striker, top scorer and reigning Player of the Season, who also saw a specialist last month to speed up his recovery from a knee problem.
asserted
who → set → problem
Chelsea will be understandably cautious with such an important player, who seems unlikely to play again before the November international break.
asserted
who → seem → break
“He has an injury on his thigh and he's going be out for a few weeks," Alonso said on Joao Pedro before the defeat by Liverpool.
asserted
Alonso → have → Liverpool
"Let's see how many.
asserted
's → let → ?
We don't want to predict on that.
asserted
We → want → that
We will miss him, but we have to be ready to deal with the injury, and be competitive and try and win with the players we have available.
asserted
we → miss → players
Talking of surprise absentees, Jordan Henderson was unexpectedly absent from the Chelsea squad to face Manchester United, despite having played 90 minutes against former club Liverpool in midweek and become a mainstay of Alonso’s midfield engine room of late alongside Moises Caicedo.
asserted
Henderson → talk → Caicedo
However, the manager allayed any concerns over an injury to his veteran summer signing, whom he said was ill and suffering with a fever on Saturday.
asserted
he → allay → Saturday
Read More
“He's ill," Alonso said of Henderson to TNT Sports.
asserted
Alonso → read → Sports
“There's no injury, but he was not feeling well yesterday and today had a fever in the morning, so he was not feeling good enough to come with the team.”
asserted
he → be → team
Potential return date: Sunday November 8, vs Sunderland (A)
Emi Martinez
Emi Martinez needed lengthy treatment on the pitch and was stretchered off following a sickening accidental clash of heads with England defender Jarrad Branthwaite during Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Everton last month.
asserted
Martinez → need → Everton
The Argentine goalkeeper was quickly taken to hospital and underwent successful surgery to repair what was confirmed to be a broken jaw, leaving him staring at a potential lengthy layoff.
However, Martinez’s progress since then has been swift and he’s pushing to return ahead of schedule, with Alonso admitting that there’s a chance he could be back before the international break - likely wearing a face mask.
No2 Mike Penders has deputised for Chelsea in Martinez’s absence, scoring an unfortunate own goal on his first Premier League start against Tottenham but making an incredible stoppage-time save to deny Bryan Mbeumo in the win over Manchester United.
“Yes, there is a chance,” Alonso said of Martinez possibly playing before the next international window.
uncertain
Martinez → take → window
“We need to still wait for next week, but let’s see how things go.
asserted
things → need → week
Potential return date: Sunday November 8, vs Sunderland (A)
Reece James
Chelsea’s influential captain Reece James suffered a knee injury in training at Cobham on his return from another hamstring issue.
asserted
captain → suffer → issue
After consulting with a specialist, he underwent successful surgery last month that was described as “minor” and Alonso has been reluctant to put a date on his potential return.
asserted
Alonso → consult → return
However, Standard Sport understands that it is likely to be around three months before James is back in action.
asserted
James → understand → action
Potential return date: Mid-January
Maxence Lacroix
Maxence Lacroix limped off late in the first half at Liverpool with a worrying-looking hamstring injury.
asserted
Lacroix → limp → injury
Alonso said that Chelsea would need to assess the problem before estimating a recovery time, later admitting that he would be out until after the November international break.
asserted
he → say → break
“Max picked up an injury and we expect that he will not be ready before the international break.
asserted
he → pick → break
So he will be a few weeks out,” Alonso said before the win over Manchester United.
asserted
Alonso → say → United
Potential return date: January
Jorrel Hato
Jorrel Hato had been filling in at left wing-back during the absence of Pep Chavarria, who returned off the bench against Manchester United.
asserted
who → fill → United
However, he was a surprise absentee from the squad that travelled to Liverpool and was not available against United either after Alonso revealed that the Dutchman was battling a back injury.
asserted
Dutchman → travel → injury
“How long, we don't know, but he’s not available for tomorrow,” Alonso said.
asserted
Alonso → know → tomorrow
“He has a back problem and he's not feeling okay for tomorrow.”
asserted
he → have → tomorrow
Potential return date: Sunday November 8, vs Sunderland (A)
Jamie Gittens
Jamie Gittens has yet to make a single Premier League appearance for Chelsea so far this season, with his only two outings to date coming against Luton and Leeds in the Carabao Cup.
asserted
outings → have → Cup
The winger has been so unlucky with injuries since arriving in west London from Borussia Dortmund last summer, a trend which continued as he suffered an ankle problem while on international duty with England’s Under-21s last month and needed crutches.
asserted
he → arrive → crutches
Alonso’s last update confirmed that Gittens was still facing “weeks” on the sidelines, putting him on track to return at some point in November or perhaps even early December.
Potential return date: November or December
Aaron Anselmino
Young defender Aaron Anselmino has become something of a forgotten man among Chelsea fans after a bit-part role during pre-season that followed an injury-ruined loan spell at BlueCo sister club Strasbourg during the second half of last term.
asserted
that → confirm → term
He had been enjoying a productive stint in Germany with Borussia Dortmund before that.
asserted
He → enjoy → that
“He is not available yet,” Alonso said of Anselmino last week.
asserted
Alonso → say → Anselmino
“He has had a few things, a few injuries, and it will take a few weeks until he is fully fit.
asserted
he → have → weeks
We need to be cautious with him as he's had a few of them, so he is still not there.”
asserted
he → need → them
The Aporia
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