Bournemouth vs Sunderland Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 English Premier League

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Two of English football's UEFA Europa League participants meet on the south coast on Sunday as Bournemouth host Sunderland at the Vitality Stadium.

Kick-off date/time: 18 October 2026 at 2:00 pm

How to watch on TV & online: UK – Sky Sports & Sky Go / USA – NBCSN, Fubo & Peacock Premium

Bournemouth preview: Seeking that first league win

Bournemouth suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Chelsea last weekend and they are one of three winless Premier League teams heading into the weekend's fixtures.

The Cherries are faring better in Europe though, having won both their UEFA Europa League matches so far, the latest of which was a comfortable 3-0 success against Sturm Graz on Thursday.

Sunderland preview: League troubles

Sunderland have likewise triumphed in both of their Europa League fixtures to date, most recently coming from behind to defeat Torreense 2-1 with Noah Sadiki firing in an injury-time winner in Portugal.

The Black Cats have lost their last three Premier League games though, most recently falling to a 0-2 defeat at home to high-flying Brighton last Saturday.

Bournemouth team news: Scott closing in on return

Marco Rose is boosted by the return of both Justin Kluivert and Amine Adli in Thursday's European fixture and the pair will come under consideration for a start on Sunday.

Key player Alex Scott is further along in his recovery than initially expected and he could return to the side in the next couple of weeks.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Adams, Cook; Brooks, Rayan, Tavernier; Evanilson

Unavailable: Araujo (Fitness), Scott (Injured), Kroupi (Fitness)

Questionable: Milosavljevic (Fitness)

Sunderland team news: Meunier out but Brobbey returns

Wilson Isidor did not travel to Portugal due to a minor knock and is a doubt for this one, but Brian Brobbey made a timely return to the bench in that fixture and could well be drafted straight into the starting line-up.

Thomas Meunier picked up an injury against Brighton and Regis Le Bris has confirmed that he will definitely miss this fixture.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Danso, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; N. Angulo, Le Fee, Fofana; Brobbey

Unavailable: Ballard (Injured), Meunier (Injured), Mundle (Injured)

Questionable: Isidor (Injured)

Key stats

• The Premier League head-to-head could not be more even: six meetings, two wins each, two draws, and 8-7 on goals to Bournemouth.
• The last two meetings, both last season, ended 3-2 to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and 1-1 at the Vitality.
• Draw specialists: eight of Bournemouth's last 10 home Premier League games have been drawn (W1 L1). Their 10 home draws in 2025/26 were the most in the division.
• Coming into Matchweek 7, Bournemouth are one of three teams yet to win this season (D3 L3). They are winless in eight Premier League games; their club record is 13 (May to October 2023).
• Bournemouth have not kept a clean sheet in eight Premier League games, and coming into Matchweek 7 their 13 goals conceded are the joint-most in the division (with Chelsea and Newcastle).
• Sunderland have lost their last three Premier League games (0-2 v Arsenal, 3-5 at Manchester City, 0-2 v Brighton) and have failed to score in their last two home matches.
• Sunderland have scored in nine consecutive away Premier League games.
• Bournemouth's matches have averaged 3.33 goals this season, Sunderland's 3.00.
• Kick-off quirk: Bournemouth have won only 14 of their 57 Premier League games on a Sunday (24.6%). Sunderland's record is similar: 29 wins from 115 (25.2%).
• On this day (18 October), Sunderland suffered their heaviest Premier League defeat, 8-0 at Southampton in 2014. A year ago on this date they beat Wolves 2-0.
• Sunderland finished seventh last season but won only five of 19 away games (D6 L8).

Bournemouth vs Sunderland prediction

The return to availability of Brian Brobbey, who scored a hat-trick against Man City on his last Sunderland appearance, is a huge boost to Sunderland's goal threat.

Rose will be desperate to see his Bournemouth side pick up their first Premier League win of the season, and will be targeting three points in this home fixture.

With both sides having been in European action on Thursday, fatigue could come into play as the match progresses, and that is likely to see gaps open up. With that in mind, we can see a few goals being scored at the Vitality Stadium, with over 2.5 goals the tip.

Bournemouth vs Sunderland tip: Over 2.5 goals