Former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch has backed Chelsea to record a convincing victory over Sunderland when the two sides meet in the Premier League on Sunday.

According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday, November 5, 2026, Crouch expects the Blues to win 4-0 against Régis Le Bris’ team at the Stadium of Light, citing Chelsea’s attacking quality and Sunderland’s recent defensive errors.

The former England international shared his prediction on the That Peter Crouch Podcast, where ex-Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell also tipped the visitors to secure victory.

Sidwell initially went for a 3-0 Chelsea win, suggesting that Sunderland’s involvement in European football could work against them. The Black Cats are due to play Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League on Thursday, leaving them with only three days to prepare for the Premier League fixture.

Explaining his prediction, Sidwell said the demands of playing in Europe on Thursday could leave Sunderland struggling physically against Chelsea on Sunday.

“I’ll go first on this one, boys. This will be on a Sunday, because Sunderland are in Europe on Thursday, always after a European game on a Thursday, they can get done. I’m going Chelsea 3-0,” he said.

Crouch went further by predicting a four-goal victory for the London club.

“I’ll go 4-0 then,” he declared.

When encouraged to raise his forecast to 5-0, the former Liverpool striker stood by his original prediction, joking that he was willing to take responsibility for his opinion.

“I am my own person; it’s my head on the chopping block, and if I get fired, it’s my philosophy,” he added.

Crouch also explained his confidence in Chelsea by praising their style of play while expressing concerns about Sunderland’s defensive mistakes. Although he acknowledged the Black Cats’ impressive performances last season, he believes careless errors have affected their recent results.

“Poor result on the weekend. They were brilliant last season. Could they carry it on? Too many sloppy errors; Chelsea, for me, still like watching them play. They’re very exciting to watch,” he said.

Sunderland go into the match after a 3-1 defeat to Coventry City last weekend, a result that added to their difficulties in the Premier League. According to the report, Le Bris’ side have collected just five points from their first nine league matches, winning only once.

Their European campaign, however, has been more encouraging, with seven points from their opening three Europa League league-phase fixtures. They will first attempt to maintain that form against Dinamo Zagreb before turning their attention to Chelsea.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will travel to the Stadium of Light hoping to take advantage of Sunderland’s domestic struggles and return home with all three points.