Sunderland vs Fulham Preview: Team News & Prediction
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With home advantage, Sunderland will fancy themselves to get back on track this weekend as they welcome European chasing Fulham to the Stadium of Light.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – USA Network & Telemundo
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Hulu+
Sunderland preview: Back on track
Sunderland succumbed to their first defeat at the Stadium of Light in their most recent outing in the Premier League about ten days or so ago as they succumbed to a slender 1-0 loss at home to Liverpool.
Since then, though, Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats have bounced back with a slender 1-0 defeat of Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium in the fourth round of the FA Cup last week.
Fulham preview: Frustrated Fulham
Marco Silva and his Fulham side are pushing for a top seven or eight finish and potential European qualification but the Cottagers are underwhelming at the moment, despite a come from behind defeat of Stoke City in the cup last week.
The west Londoners, prior to that victory in Staffordshire, had suffered four defeats in their previous five matches, leading to them slipping below Sunderland in the table ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.
Sunderland team news: Xhaka back
There is big news for Regis Le Bris as Switzerland international midfielder Granit Xhaka has made an early return for the Black Cats and will be available this weekend.
They have been dealt a blow, though, with Reinildo now sidelined for a few weeks. Winter window signing Jocelin Ta Bi has found full fitness and made his debut in the cup last week.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete; Hume, Sadiki, Diarra, Reinildo; Le Fee, Talbi; Brobbey
Unavailable: Xhaka (Injured), Ta Bi (Fitness)
Questionable: Traore (Injured)
Fulham team news: Chukwueze out
In his pre-match press conference ahead of the long trip north to Wearside, Marco Silva has confirmed that both Sasa Lukic and Tom Cairney could be involved after returning to training this midweek.
They have been dealt a fresh blow, though, as versatile Nigeria international attacker Samu Chukwueze is now sidelined for the Cottagers this week.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Sesegnon; Berge, Iwobi; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez
Unavailable: Chukwueze (Injured)
Questionable: Cairney (Fitness), Lukic (Fitness)
Sunderland vs Fulham prediction
With these two sides sitting firmly in mid-table ahead of the 27th match day of the campaign, Sunderland and Fulham will fancy themselves to be quite content there. However, the two teams could do with ensuring they aren’t at all dragged into the very competitive and high points tally relegation battle so both sides may well attack this game and it may be surprisingly fun for the neutral.
Sunderland vs Fulham tip: Both teams to score
