Sunderland vs Leeds Prediction
Sunderland and Leeds United renew their rivalry at the Stadium of Light in a crucial Premier League mid-table clash, with kick off scheduled for 14:00 GMT (9:00 ET). Both sides earned promotion last season Leeds United as Championship champions and Sunderland via the playoffs and are now fighting to establish themselves in the top flight.
Sunderland’s strong home form and tactical discipline give them a slight advantage, even with several players unavailable. Leeds arrive with confidence after their big win but continue to struggle away from home.
Sunderland Form, Standout Players & Team News
Sunderland currently sit 6th–7th with around 27 points, firmly in the race for European places. Régis Le Bris’ side boast an unbeaten home record this season (5 wins, 3 draws) and showed defensive resilience in a recent 0–0 draw away at Brighton.
Sunderland standout players
- Top scorer: W. Isidor (4 goals)
- Most assists: Granit Xhaka (4)
- Most suspended: Reinildo (5 matches)
- Most minutes played: Robin Roefs (1,530 minutes)
However, the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations has hit Sunderland hard:
- Away on international duty: Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Arthur Masuaku, Bertrand Traoré, Chemsdine Talbi
- Suspended: Luke O’Nien (red card – final game of ban)
- Injured: Aji Alese (shoulder injury, expected back early January 2026)
Despite the absences, Sunderland’s structure and home consistency remain key strengths.
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Leeds United Form, Standout Players & Team News
Leeds United head into this match 16th on the table with 19 points, six clear of the relegation zone. Daniel Farke’s men are buoyed by a dominant 4–1 victory over Crystal Palace, though their away form remains a concern after several recent road defeats.
Leeds United standout players
- Top scorer: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (7 goals)
- Most assists: Anton Stach (2)
- Most suspended: Jayden Bogle (4 matches)
- Most minutes played: Joe Rodon (1,530 minutes)
Leeds United absentees
- Lukas Nmecha: Hamstring injury
- Sean Longstaff: Calf injury (expected back early January 2026)
- Daniel James: Injury
With fewer selection issues than Sunderland, Leeds may field a largely unchanged side.
Head-to-Head Record
Recent meetings between Sunderland and Leeds have been closely contested. Leeds claimed a 2–1 Championship win in February 2025, while Sunderland have historically struggled in this fixture, losing 8 of their last 10 Premier League meetings against Leeds. This will be their first top-flight encounter since 2002.
Predicted Lineups
Sunderland (4-2-3-1):
Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Xhaka, Geertruida; Rigg, Le Fée, Adingra; Brobbey
Leeds United (3-5-2 / 5-3-2):
Perri; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Aaronson, Ampadu, Stach, Gudmundsson; Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
Our Prediction:
- Sunderland 2–1 Leeds United
- Alternative: Draw or low-scoring match
A tight contest is expected, with many tipping a narrow home win or a cagey affair.