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SUNDERLAND KEEP DREAM ALIVE WITH SHOCKING VICTORY OVER CHELSEA

Sunderland stunned Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge with a stoppage-time winner from Chemsdine Talbi. Wilson Isidor had earlier cancelled out Alejandro Garnacho's opener, handing Enzo Maresca's Blues a costly defeat.

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Talbi´s dramatic winner in the third minute of added time at Stamford Bridge - John Walton/PA Wire

Sunderland shocked Chelsea with a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge, thanks to a spectacular goal from Chemsdine Talbi in stoppage time.

After Brian Brobbey held the ball up alone against two defenders, the 20-year-old Morocco international went unchallenged into the area to sweep home, causing frenzied celebrations among away fans in the Shed End.

Although the game was intense, Chelsea will need to learn how to win this kind of close match if they hope to improve on their fourth-place result from the previous campaign.

For extended stretches, Sunderland was on par with them, and since Enzo Maresca took over, few clubs have visited and appeared so at ease with the ball, so prepared and able to attack Chelsea.

Before the game had a chance to settle, Alejandro Garnacho put them behind. The £40 million summer acquisition completed a swift breakaway down the left to score his first goal for the Blues.

Maresca had stated that he was not prepared to follow the long throw-in fad, but Sunderland demonstrated that they understood the latest attacking fad in the top flight by equalising through top scorer Wilson Isidor, who finished after Nordi Mukiele's launch had caused havoc inside the box.

Although their opponents were smart enough to avoid openings, Chelsea's first-half strategy was straightforward, if not always successful: push the ball wide to pull Sunderland over, then reverse the play to the far post.

Chelsea's goal came from the lone departure from that blueprint. After stealing the ball in midfield, Pedro Neto delivered it to Garnacho high on the left, who may have run too easily around Mukiele before finishing through Robin Roefs' legs.

On the other side, Neto was fighting to avoid the attentions of the unstoppable Reinildo Mandava, who essentially neutralised Chelsea's right side, while Garnacho was enjoying his best forty-five minutes in blue yet.

Marc Cucurella, who three times rushed forward from left-back and tricked Sunderland just by being inside their box, looked to be their strongest threat.

Regis Le Bris had his own weapon in the form of Mukiele, but Maresca stated this week that he would send for former Stoke midfielder Rory Delap if he ever learned to use the long throw-in. Bertrand Traore's shot struck Joao Pedro and bounced back to Isidor, who scored the equaliser. It was his powerful launch that got him there.

Garnacho's athletic effort as he slipped in at the far post resulted in a save from Roefs, who also turned Trevoh Chalobah's long-range rocket over. Granit Xhaka then set Isidor away down the left for a blast that pounded into Robert Sanchez's side netting.

Chelsea's next opportunity was created by a more experienced player, as Reece James beat Enzo Le Fee and crossed for Cucurella, who had it taken off his head by a fantastic intervention from Roefs. Estevao Willian was thrown in to try and give Chelsea some bite on the right side.

A fair outcome would have been a draw. It was a memorable one because of Talbi's late finish.

GUARDIOLA TIPS HAT TO DYCHE: ‘HE’S AMONG THE VERY BEST’

Pep Guardiola hails new Forest boss Sean Dyche as "the best" at set-pieces, noting the trend isn't new. He also revealed that Man City has struggled with dead-ball situations this season compared to rivals like Arsenal.

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Pep Guardiola shaking hands with Sean Dyche - COURTESY/PHOTO

According to Pep Guardiola, Nottingham Forest has one of the best representatives of the new fascination in football at their disposal.

Although Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, and their ability to score goals from set pieces are admired by the football community, Guardiola has reminded everyone that the idea is not particularly new.

As demonstrated during his tenure as Burnley's manager from 2012 to 2012, he did, in fact, hail incoming Forest manager Sean Dyche as "one of the greatest."

The 54-year-old guided the Clarets into the Premier League and kept them there for six seasons before exiting Turf Moor.

Forest, who have only won one league game so far and are now in third place, can now access that knowledge.

Man City boss Guardiola said, “It’s true that people utilise every throw-in like a corner and put 10 players there in the box.

"Every move (Michael) Kayode made in the box caused us to suffer when we played at Brentford or watched Brentford play Liverpool in our hotel. Additionally, Kayode was the match's man.

“Today, set pieces are a menace. I recall being in Burnley a long time ago with Sean Dyche. Burnley posed a serious threat in the second and long balls.

"Dyche is by far the finest at these kinds of things. He has already done it; therefore, it is not fresh.

Or Sam Allardyce. Or I recall Stoke City when I was not here. Do you recall the throws made by Stoke City?

Maybe Stoke was the anomaly back then, but more and more teams are doing that now.

"I recall that Arsene Wenger mentioned playing at Stoke City while I was at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but these days it happens frequently.

It may have happened (only) at Burnley or not at all when I got there, but it is a fact now. You must also pay attention. I still want to play, though.

This season, Arsenal has already scored nine league goals from set pieces, five from open play, and two from penalties.

With eight (plus eight from open play and one penalty), Chelsea is not far behind.

On the other end of the scale, though, are Forest and Man City. While City has scored 12 goals from open play, three more on the counterattack, and two own goals, they have yet to score from a set piece. The Reds have scored two of their five goals from restarts.

"Every manager does what they think," Guardiola stated. I am not ignorant of the fact that I want to score from corners and free kicks. I desire it. However, I dedicate my time to what we need to do to improve our play, attack, and generate opportunities. to score goals.

I pay attention, of course, but I am aware that I am not the manager to try to; I have done that my entire career. When things became rough at Burnley, I recall that we gave up maybe one corner, if any, as the second balls were under our control. That is the most effective method of defending these games.

However, you need to be strong in many areas for that, and we are working on it. I will keep working mostly on our game till the very end. And occasionally, as necessary, adjust.

At Brentford, we performed quite well. James, the French set-piece coach, did a fantastic job of enticing our guys into defending these kinds of acts. The same was true at Arsenal: it was amazing. We did not control the game against Arsenal; therefore, we gave up a lot of corners.

NAPOLI TAKE THREE-POINT LEAD AFTER CLOSE WIN AGAINST LECCE

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's header secured a 1-0 win for Napoli over Lecce, moving them top of Serie A. The victory was sealed after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved a Francesco Camarda penalty.

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Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa celebrates scoring - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa scored another goal to give Napoli a narrow victory over Lecce, although Vanja Milinkovic-Savic also saved a penalty kick from Francesco Camarda.

The thrilling 3-1 victory against Inter put the Partenopei back atop the league, but it came at a price: Kevin De Bruyne will miss several months of action due to a significant thigh strain. Rasmus Hojlund and Amir Rrahmani returned to the bench, but Stanislav Lobotka, Alex Meret, and Romelu Lukaku remained on the treatment table. Leonardo Spinazzola and Scott McTominay were rested, and the 4-3-3 formation was reinstated. Following the 3-2 loss to Udinese, Lecce was without Gaby Jean, Filip Marchwinski, Matias Perez, and Riccardo Sottil.

Billy Gilmour's attempt was deflected wide as Napoli wore their special edition Halloween uniform, but Lorenzo Lucca unintentionally charged down a Matteo Politano strike that was on target.

On the Matias Olivera pull-back, Politano turned over from six yards out, while Medon Berisha also threatened by drilling wide from the area's edge.

Olivera had been put clear by a clever Gilmour first-touch lay-off, but Wladimiro Falcone made a fantastic stop with his legs at the near post.

On the cusp of halftime, Francesco Camarda's chest and half-volley was inches wide, yet it would not have been considered handball.

Moments after the restart, Noa Lang added to the growing list of Napoli players out after hobbling off with a hit to the thigh just above the left knee.

Lucca sprinted onto a long ball that Falcone hurried out to nod clear, and Politano's follow-up was charged down with the goalie off his line, creating a double chance to open the score.

After a VAR review, the Lecce penalty was given because Kialonda Gaspar's header on a corner seemed to hit Juan Jesus' hand, which bent back on impact. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who has saved five of the past nine Serie A penalties faced, demonstrated his expertise by parrying the spot-kick when Camarda stepped up.

Hojlund made his comeback from injury, with McTominay and Leonardo Spinazzola reinforcing the team off the bench for the final half-hour.

It paid off, as a free kick from David Neres was glanced into the far top corner off the head of Anguissa from six yards out, giving Napoli the lead.

Nikola Stulic was too slow to capitalise on a Danilo Veiga pull-back, Elmas shot wide, and Hojlund missed the Neres assist in stoppages.

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