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17 points in 9 games
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Sunderland continued their storming start to the Premier League with a stunning 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday and reached uncharted territory. Regis Le Bris' men had already picked up 14 points from their first seven games, an impressive tally considering they were promoted in the summer. But the Black Cats pulled off a victory that didn't require any good fortune at all; it was team spirit and tenacity that secured all three points in west London. Alejandro Garnacho scored his first goal for Chelsea after just four minutes, but Enzo Maresca's side struggled to control the game and conceded an equaliser on 22 minutes, as Wilson Isidor capitalised on some poor defending from a long throw.
After the break, the visitors were stubborn at the back and fielded a succession of crosses into the box, with Stuart Ballard and Lutsharel Geertruida indomitable in the air. And after threatening several times on the counter, only to be stifled by Josh Acheampong, Sunderland clinched a famous win in the 93rd minute through substitute Chemsdine Talbi to send the away support into raptures. It is the first time this season Chelsea have lost a game when they have finished with 11 men, having had players sent off in defeats to Manchester United and Brighton earlier in the campaign.
As for Sunderland, it represents their first win at Stamford Bridge in 12 years when they also won by a 2-1 scoreline. But more importantly, it confirms their best-ever league position after nine games as they rise to second in the Premier League with 17 points from their first nine games - taking them above Chelsea on 14. They had previously never been higher than fifth place after matchday 9, when Peter Reid was in charge back in 1999/20 and also collected 17 points. Le Bris has been widely praised for the transformation he has overseen at the Stadium of Light since his appointment in June 2024. Securing promotion through the Championship play-offs, the Frenchman has brought his attractive style of football to the top flight, while showing some tactical flexibility on the road. His team have been clinical in grabbing points where some wouldn't necessarily expect them to win - and none more so than the world champions Chelsea.
Sunderland's €187.9 million spend was the highest of all three promoted clubs and ninth overall, though they did also make €50m in sales - including offloading Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund. Attracting renowned players such as Granit Xhaka, Nordi Mukiele and Simon Adingra in the summer was an impressive feat. But some would argue their obscure finds - 20-year-old Talbi cost €20m from Club Brugge while goalkeeper Robin Roefs has proved to be a bargain at €10m - have been even more so.
Their raucous, passionate supporters were twice as loud as the Stamford Bridge support and it reflected in how the players fought for every ball, every tackle and surged forward in the dying moments, knowing they could steal an unlikely win. Their status as early-season title challengers probably will fade in the coming weeks. But for now, after plumbing the depths of the third tier of English football - they were sixth in the EFL League One as recently as 2021/22 - Sunderland's loud and proud supporters will bathe in the glory of their success. Seeing their side second only to Arsenal in the Premier League, less than five months after their promotion to the Premier League and several years struggling to survive, makes it even sweeter.
