Brentford vs Sunderland Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Seventh takes on eighth as Brentford host a Sunderland side coming off the back of four consecutive draws.

Kick-off date/time: 7 January 2026 at 7:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – Peacock Premium

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Peacock Premium

Brentford team news

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Ajer, Hickey; Damsgaard, Yarmolyuk, Janelt; Jensen, Thiago, Schade

Unavailable: Milambo (Injured), Dasilva (Injured), Onyeka (International duty), Carvalho (Injured), Ouattara (International duty)

Questionable: 

Sunderland team news

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Cirkin; Geertruida, Xhaka; Mayenda, Le Fee, Adingra; Brobbey

Unavailable: Alese (Injured), Masuaku (International duty), Reinildo (International duty), Diarra (International duty), Sadiki (International duty), Talbi (International duty), Traore (International duty)

Questionable: Isidor (Injured)

Brentford vs Sunderland prediction

Confidence within the Brentford camp will be soaring after their resounding 2-4 win away at Everton this past weekend, a match which saw Igor Thiago score his first English top flight hat-trick and the Bees extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five games. In Sunderland though, they face a team notoriously difficult to beat, Regis Le Bris’ side having lost just four league games so far this season, only table toppers Arsenal have lost less times.

Expect Sunderland to prove as difficult to break down as ever with Dan Ballard likely to be marshalling the backline admirably with Grant Xhaka as influential as ever in midfield. Brentford’s creative players could easily find themselves snuffed out even if they were to dominate possession, which would be no surprise here at home.

In the end, goals are likely to be at a premium and the shrewd play would be to back under 2.5 of them being scored between these two clubs, which would be the sixth consecutive Premier League fixture involving Sunderland where that outcome has occurred.

Brentford vs Sunderland tip: Under 2.5 goals