Ipswich vs Sunderland Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Ipswich Town head into the Premier League for the second time in three seasons but under new management as they now take on Sunderland at Portman Road.

Kick-off date/time: 22 August 2026 at 3:00 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – NBC

How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – Peacock

Ipswich preview: The end of an era at the start of a new one

Ipswich Town gained promotion back to the Premier League as runners-up to Coventry City in the Championship last season. A third promotion during his reign, Kieran McKenna has now taken the decision to step away from football for the time being this summer.

He has been replaced in the dugout by former AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil. O’Neil most recently oversaw Strasbourg missing out on European qualification in Ligue 1, having been knocked out in the semi-finals of both the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Sunderland preview: Backing last season up

Sunderland produced a remarkable campaign last year. Following their promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs, The Black Cats went on a wild ride to finish seventh and gain qualification for the UEFA Europa League.

After a summer of big spending last year, Sunderland will want to now progress and keep things a little less busy, with captain Granit Xhaka remaining at the club amid early summer interest from Chelsea, alongside manager Regis Le Bris.

Ipswich team news: A few changes

As well as a change in management, Ipswich's squad looks very different to last season and it wouldn't be a shock to see them also shift from a back four to a back three for this season under O'Neil.

In terms of injury issues, the hosts are dealing with a couple of doubts in the middle of the park with Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor potentially unavailable. New signings Florentino Luis and Abdul Fatawu were also doubtful but have been said to be fit by O'Neil.

Predicted XI (3-4-3): Scherpen; O'Shea, Diop, Greaves; Johnson, Nunez, Lukic, Davis; Philogene, Emersonn, Maeda

Unavailable: 

Questionable: Matusiwa (Injured), Taylor (Injured)

Ipswich’s top FPL assets

Issa Diop (£4.0m) – Defender

Leif Davis (£4.0m) – Defender

Daizen Maeda (£5.5m) – Midfielder

Gameweek 1 captain pick: Daizen Maeda

Sunderland team news: Defensive doubts

Sunderland have been quiet in the summer transfer window and so Regis Le Bris, as he has already discussed, is expected to keep things similar to what they were at the back end of last season.

The visitors have a couple of defensive injury issues with Paraguay international centre-back Omar Alderete was a doubt alongside Nordi Mukiele but Le Bris has confirmed they are fit and available.

Predicted XI (3-5-1-1): Roefs; Mukiele, Alderete, Reinildo; Meunier, Sadiki, Xhaka, Diarra, Hume; Le Fee; Brobbey

Unavailable: Adingra (Injured)

Questionable: 

Sunderland’s top FPL assets

Enzo Le Fee (£6.0m) – Midfielder

Granit Xhaka (£5.5m) – Midfielder

Brian Brobbey (£6.0m) – Forward

Gameweek 1 captain pick: Daizen Maeda

Ipswich vs Sunderland prediction

Ipswich will seek to emulate what Sunderland achieved last season by being competitive in the Premier League. The appointment of Gary O’Neil is perhaps a statement, though, with regards to them seeing themselves as set for a long and hard relegation battle throughout the campaign. Sunderland will be keen to get points on the board early on in the season before their eight-game UEFA Europa League league phase gets underway and so backing Sunderland to overcome an Ipswich side that, at least in the dugout, do already appear than what they were just a few months ago.

Ipswich vs Sunderland tip: Sunderland to win