Sunderland host Leeds United at the Stadium of Light on Sunday 25 October 2026 (kick-off 16:30) in Premier League gameweek 8, with the two sides at opposite ends of the early table.
Leeds are seventh with 10 points from seven games, a goal difference of +3 and two wins. Sunderland are 20th with four points, one win and a goal difference of -8. Manchester City lead the way on 21 points, with seven wins from seven.
Form and season numbers
Sunderland's last five league games read D L L L L. They drew 1-1 at Brentford last time out after losing 2-0 to Arsenal, 5-3 at Manchester City, 2-0 at home to Brighton and 2-0 at Bournemouth. That is one point from a possible 15.
Leeds have taken six from their last five: D W D L D. They drew 1-1 at Brighton in their latest game and beat Newcastle 4-1 before that. They also held Crystal Palace 0-0 and Manchester United 1-1, and lost 2-1 at Arsenal.
The season averages show the gap. Sunderland score 0.86 goals a game and concede two, which gives them 0.57 points per game and one clean sheet. Leeds score 1.29 and concede 0.86, taking 1.43 points per game with two clean sheets. Both sides have 13 yellow cards.
Expected goals data via Fantasy Premier League, which measures the quality of chances created and conceded, is kinder to Sunderland. They average 1.52 xG for and 2.05 against per game, so they have created more than they have scored. Leeds sit at 1.43 for and 1.42 against.
Team news and key players
Sunderland will be without Kevin Danso, who is banned for this match after a straight red card, under the standard punishment. FPL lists Ballard and Mundle as injured, and Meunier as doubtful with a groin problem (75% chance of playing).
FPL also lists Brobbey as doubtful with a hamstring problem (75%) and Isidor as doubtful with a knock (50%). Brobbey has three goals from 2.94 xG in 399 minutes. Diarra is Sunderland's first-choice penalty taker, per FPL.
Leeds have their own concerns. FPL lists Rodon as out with a hamstring injury, expected back on 21 November, and Mateo Joseph as out with a knee injury. It has Calvert-Lewin, Stach, Okafor and James all at 50% to play.
Calvert-Lewin is the one to watch. He has three goals from 3.6 xG in 599 minutes, and is Leeds' first-choice penalty taker. Bogle has two goals and Stach one.
Head-to-head
The last six meetings are tight: two wins for Sunderland, three draws and one for Leeds. Sunderland won the most recent, 1-0 at Leeds on 3 March 2026, after a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light on 28 December 2025. Leeds' only win in the run came 2-1 on 17 February 2025.
MFF's match model prediction is a 1-0 away win. It gives Leeds a 44% chance, Sunderland 29% and a draw 27%.
Add MFF as a preferred source on GoogleSee our stats first in Google's Top Stories and AI answers