Updates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.
Latest updates
Why Sunderland are succeeding and how they convinced Xhaka to signpublished at 11:57 GMT 28 October
11:57 GMT 28 October
Media caption,
On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discusses Sunderland's fantastic start to the Premier League season.
Former Premier League winger Andros Townsend says Regis Le Bris' side are getting the balance right tactically, adding that they are "looking to press high but are also happy to sit back and be compact".
Sunderland fan Frankie Francis spoke about the excitement among supporters, and told the story of how the club's owner managed to persuade Granit Xhaka to move to the Stadium of Light following their promotion from the Championship.
'Everyone believes in Xhaka, he's a talisman'published at 10:45 GMT 28 October
10:45 GMT 28 October
Image source, Getty Images
Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle about Granit Xhaka's development as the club's captain: "He exemplifies a top professional.
"When he was an Arsenal player at times you felt like he was a bit of a villain. Over the years we have seen him mature and develop.
"We've seen a slightly more restrained version of Xhaka, but it's actually better than the fully committed, blowing steam out of his ears sort of player that we saw at Arsenal.
"He's a little bit more measured, calmer and a better professional. To have that in your squad especially when you've got a young squad, and everyone believes in him, he's a talisman.
"We need to wrap him in cotton wool and keep him going for 38 games."
Introducing Sunderland's dynamic duopublished at 08:14 GMT 28 October
08:14 GMT 28 October
Tyrese King BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Sunderland have been the Premier League's surprise package this season, with not many fans expecting them to be in a Champions League spot, let alone second place, behind league leaders Arsenal and above last season's winners Liverpool by the end of October.
The Black Cats spent £161m on 15 new players - a record level of spending for a promoted side.
But ex-Gunners captain Granit Xhaka and his midfield partner Noah Sadiki, a pair bought this summer for a combined £28m, have been pivotal to the early-season form.
"I'm just fascinated by his drive", said journalist Nick Barnes on BBC Radio Newcastle in September, speaking about Granit Xhaka.
"Even from the very start, his messages have always been 'we're here to create history and make a name for ourselves' and there's a lot of psychology that goes into his approach.
"I think with the age he is and still playing at this level, he's is very driven."
Sunderland manager Regis le Bris told Hayters TV after their 2-1 victory over Chelsea: "Granit is the captain who sets the standards everyday.
"On the pitch he is a very good footballer, he enjoys driving the squad. He's like a second coach on the pitch."
Xhaka put in a dominant display against two of the most expensive players central midfielders in the league - Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
The Swiss stitched together passing patterns against the Blues, and provided steel in the middle of the park with well-timed tackles.
Xhaka ranks first for assists (three), chances created (11), successful passes (397), passes into the box (49), touches (629), duels won (56) and possession won (43).
Sadiki, 20, has not missed a single one of Sunderland's Premier League games this season, starting them all. He also has a 86% passing accuracy of 304 attempts.
However it is the pairs' running power where they impress the most.
In the Premier League there is no one who has covered more distance than them - as the table above shows - underlining how essential the north-east's dynamic duo are in the engine room.
As a team, Sunderland have averaged 42.5% possession in their nine matches this season - only Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham have a lower average.
But, despite spending so much time without the ball, only Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded fewer goals than Sunderland. Their 53.3% duel success is the second best in the division behind Manchester City.
At this stage, it seems some midfield legs, a touch of Xhaka class and a willingness to battle is proving the perfect recipe for success in the top tier.
Joint-best start - but where will Sunderland finish?published at 15:46 GMT 27 October
15:46 GMT 27 October
Joe Rindl BBC Sport journalist
Undoubtedly, Sunderland - who won 2-1 at Chelsea on Saturday - have been the biggest surprise of the Premier League so far this season.
Minutes away from a Championship play-off final defeat in May, they will end October fourth in the top flight.
With 17 points from nine matches, the Black Cats have equalled their best Premier League start, matching their tally from 1999-2000.
Only five newly promoted sides have earned more points than Sunderland in the same number of matches. All five, including Sunderland themselves in 2000, managed to survive relegation.
"It's an unbelievable start and one that's been well earned," former Watford captain Troy Deeney told Final Score.
"If you said that a couple of months ago, Sunderland fans would tell you, you're crazy."
Ex-Manchester United and England midfielder Michael Carrick added on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Anyone who is honest enough will say that they never expected Sunderland to start this well, so full credit to them.
"The amount of points they have accumulated already has given them an unbelievable start and that's something they will want to build on."
Where do you think the Black Cats can finish this campaign? A dream run to European places or could relegation still be on the cards?
Who could challenge Arsenal for Premier League trophy?published at 11:44 GMT 27 October
11:44 GMT 27 October
Image source, Opta
It may only be October, but is it already a one-horse Premier League title race?
Arsenal's impressive start to the season - along with their regular Premier League title rivals stumbling - has left Mikel Arteta's side with a 67.34% chance of winning the trophy this season, according to the latest predictions from Opta's Supercomputer.
The Gunners, who have scored the second-most goals and conceded the fewest, have looked in imperious form as they bid to win a first Premier League title since 2004.
Manchester City are their nearest predicted challenger at 12.43%, despite sitting fifth in the table and six points off Arsenal at the top.
Following their 3-2 defeat by Brentford on Saturday - their fourth successive loss in the league - reigning champions Liverpool, who currently sit seventh, have been given the third-best chance of keeping hold of their crown at 11.04%.
They may be second in the table, but the Gunners' nearest challengers Bournemouth have still only been given a 1.47% chance of lifting the Premier League trophy.
A top-four finish and guaranteed Champions League football, however, is rated as a 22.67% chance for the Cherries.
They may be their closest rivals geographically and be third in the league, but Opta does not have Tottenham running Arteta's side all that close for the top-flight crown, with just an eighth-best 1.43% chance.
They are fourth in the table following their 93rd-minute winner against Chelsea on Saturday, but thoughts of a dream run to the title for fans should be tempered according to the supercomputer.
The promoted side have been given a 0% chance of lifting the trophy and also just a 0.91% chance of staying in the top four. However, the Black Cats' chance of relegation now stand at less than 10% (9.52%).
Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:31 GMT 27 October
09:31 GMT 27 October
This content isn't available anymore.
There was an error
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Sunderland.
Here are some of your comments:
Chelsea fans
Ari: One step forward and two steps back. We just simply don't have the talent to break down teams who put everyone behind the ball. We are so inconsistent as well. This takes me back to the late 90s when we would show up against the big boys but struggle against the lesser teams. We also lack leaders. Where are the Terrys, the Lampards and the Drogbas?
Michael: A poor performance. There's no point having all that possession if you cannot create chances. Sunderland packed their defence but we had no creative spark. It was all too slow and predictable and we got rightly punished for it at the end but it was a game we should have won comfortably.
Alan: We have a good squad of talented players. Our problem is that this manager doesn't know how to get the best out of them. His style of football is not working and he has no plan B.
Rod: Great display against Liverpool, now back to the old ways of playing along with the manager making as usual his boring excuses. So many talented players yet still not putting it together, could this be managerial issues? Maresca look at yourself for a change.
Sunderland fans
David: A statement win which has finally earned us some proper recognition. Am so proud of the team, club, fans and city. Astute management is making the most of clever recruitment and, whisper it, we may finally have got a top half Premier league team.
Craig: The fans are delighted that we are being taken seriously, and most importantly that the players and the manager are taking being in the Premier League seriously. This wasn't a fluke win; they were genuinely better than Chelsea, on their own ground. Absolute dreamland.
Ray: Before today's game, all the pundits were saying that we were in a false position as we hadn't played anyone yet. I agree. We've only played teams below us in the league! Well done Sunderland AFC, WOW!
Dan: I thought our bubble might burst today with having such a good start so was hoping for a point but expecting a defeat. Great win, the players look like they're enjoying themselves and playing for the club and the fans. Great team spirit in the camp. Surprising everyone including us. Loving it!
'Black Cats challenging perceptions on making too many squad changes'published at 12:31 GMT 26 October
12:31 GMT 26 October
This content isn't available anymore.
There was an error
Perhaps the most surprising element of Sunderland's start - beyond their points tally - is that they have managed to embed so many new signings after promotion.
The club spent £161m on 15 new players - a record level of spending for a promoted side.
It makes Sunderland's start even more of an outlier, with the Black Cats challenging perceptions about making too many changes to a squad that have earned promotion.
"It's an unbelievable start and one that's been well earned," former Watford captain Troy Deeney told Final Score.
"Most teams when they come up stick with the players that got them up but Sunderland were ruthless.
"They changed the goalkeeper and more or less every single player and said 'we will try and stay up', and to be second in this moment in time, not only will they have belief they can stay up but they'll think, 'do you reckon we can get in the top 10?'.
"If you said that a couple of months ago Sunderland fans would tell you you're crazy."
Signing so many players could have disrupted the harmony of the dressing room, leaving the players that helped the club back into the top flight resenting those that have come in and taken their place.
But, on this evidence so far, it's been the opposite.
'Sunderland are offensively brave and defensively brittle'published at 12:26 GMT 26 October
12:26 GMT 26 October
Chris Wise BBC Sport
Image source, Getty Images
I learned a couple of new things this weekend. I found out that Sunderland now have more Premier League points than Leicester City did at this same stage of their title-winning season of 2015-16.
Having interviewed Wilson Isidor after the game, I also discovered the French word for fox is "renard". I'd called his goal a "poacher's finish", a term which clearly didn't translate, but he said (with a big smile) "I believe you call it the fox in the box".
What I did know about Sunderland - having seen them with my own eyes once already this season - is they are a very intuitive, well-coached, balanced team.
Their last-gasp win at Chelsea was yet further proof of how a newly promoted team can be both offensively brave and defensively brittle in the same breath.
They've been in some dark places at Sunderland in recent years. I can't imagine too many days have felt as gloriously bright as Saturday did.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 10:45 GMT 26 October
10:45 GMT 26 October
Pundits Michael Carrick and Ashley Williams join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.
Sunderland stun Chelsea to move into secondpublished at 21:09 BST 25 October
21:09 BST 25 October
Sean Kearns BBC Sport
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Sunderland moved into second in the Premier League
Sunderland moved into second place in the Premier League as winger Chemsdine Talbi scored a 94th-minute winner to stun Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Regis le Bris' side were on the brink of earning a valuable point in west London, but snatched all three when Talbi converted from the edge of the box after a quick counter-attack.
The victory - Sunderland's second on the road this season - was all the more remarkable given Chelsea had taken an early lead when Alejandro Garnacho scored his first goal for the club with a fine solo effort.
Sunderland levelled through Wilson Isidor, who netted from close range for his fourth goal of the season following Chelsea's failure to clear their lines from a long throw.
The Black Cats were less adventurous in the second half, seemingly content to settle for a point against the Club World Cup champions.
But the home side struggled to create clear-cut chances and over-committed numbers in the search of a winner.
Sunderland expertly exploited the space left in Chelsea's half as substitute Brian Brobbey latched on to a long ball, held up possession and laid off for Talbi to score a famous winner.
The win means the Black Cats move into second place, two points behind leaders Arsenal having played a game more than the Gunners.
Chelsea, who would have gone second with a victory of their own, slip to seventh behind London rivals Tottenham.
Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland: What Le Bris and Isidor saidpublished at 17:33 BST 25 October
17:33 BST 25 October
Media caption,
Sunderland boss Regis le Bris spoke to BBC Match of The Day after his side's late victory against Chelsea: "We try our best to design a game plan for this game. I think it worked well even if we conceded an early goal. High press, they have this ability to exploit space with their players going one-v-one. Their players have many offensive threats so they scored early.
"With the ball we were alright I think. Without the ball it was tough but it got a bit better, second half was really good. It didn't feel like it was possible for them to score. We felt the momentum shift a bit and it was possible to score.
"The emotions in the club so far are excellent. It's impressive. We've found this togetherness not only across the squad but also across the club with the fans as well. When the energy is like that you can create many positives, like this win today.
"I think we struggled a bit out of position because it was absolutely obvious. With the ball I'm really happy because we showed good qualities. For the defensive block we struggled a bit to find the right position and it was critical so after 15 minutes were done and we have this connection to build something a little bit different.
"Today against this squad, Chelsea have so many threats, it was really important to be clinical. It's a positive lesson because we won in the end."
On Sunderland being second in the table: "It's good for them, [the fans] positive vibes. I think they deserve this. For us the target always remains the same. We want to reach this target of 40 points more or less as soon as possible."
Sunderland goalscorer Wilson Isidor to BBC MOTD: "We know that coming to play at Stamford Bridge is not easy, even more when you're one goal down. But this team has a lot of character. I'm not surprised. I'm really happy about the win and I hope we will continue like this.
"My job was to close down [Moises] Caicedo, we know how he starts the attack every time. They put me in trouble when they had two sixes, I didn't know who to follow. But they did not continue with this. I'm really happy about it. The model of the game was to stay together, even if we had to suffer. We suffered and we won so the rewards were there.
"I think this win we dedicate to our fans. They still believed until the end. Last season our slogan was 'until the end' and today we showed that.
"We know with Nordi Mukiele he is a machine, he can throw the ball so far. I have to expect every time that the ball will jump to my feet. I was like a fox. That's how we say. We say renarde in French.
"We don't want to speak too much. We are just playing our games. We will see where we finish."
Did you know you're now second in the table?: "We're second?! That's nice, no? We are not second, it is not the end of the season. We have to keep focusing.
Did you know?
Sunderland's 17 points from their opening nine Premier League games is the best return by a promoted club at this stage since Hull City in 2008-09 (20).
Subs: Jorgensen, Tosin, Fofana, Hato, Lavia, Santos, Estevao, Gittens, George
Regis Le Bris makes two changes to the team that beat Wolves last weekend with Omar Alderete missing out due to a concussion and Chris Rigg dropping to the bench.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Sunderland" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Fulham", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Chelsea v Sunderlandpublished at 12:10 BST 25 October
12:10 BST 25 October
This fixture does not hold too many good memories for me, because my Chelsea debut was against the Black Cats in 1999.
They are terrible memories, actually, because I missed a couple of one-on-ones but at least it was a good team performance and I still got a win bonus... although thinking about it, they should have taken that off me.
I am going for another Chelsea win this time too, even though Joao Pedro is in my Fantasy team and he is not scoring.
They made lots of changes against Ajax on Wednesday but still won so emphatically.
Enzo Maresca's side were not as convincing when they beat Nottingham Forest last weekend and the 3-0 scoreline flattered them a bit, but after a bit of a wobble in September, they have now won four in a row in all competitions.
Sunderland are extremely well organised but I'd still fancy Chelsea to find a way through - which is probably bad news for Blues supporters.
I don't want to sound too negative about how my predictions are going, but I got Sunderland wrong every week even when I was doing well, and at the moment I am doing badly.
I am going to write the Black Cats off again now though because I think we are already at the stage where their fans want me to. They know it means there is a good chance of them winning.
