Sunderland vs Fulham Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland could do with a major response here as they welcome Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham to the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Kick-off date/time: 30 August 2026 at 2:00 pm

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

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

Sunderland preview: Defeat on opening day

Sunderland started the 2026-27 Premier League season with an underwhelming performance as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road with a late goal scored by former Black Cats winger Jack Clarke.

Sunderland spent heavily last summer, following their promotion back to the top-flight, and they managed to achieve UEFA Europa League qualification. The Wearsiders have been much quieter this summer and will seek to avoid so-called ‘second season syndrome’.

Fulham preview: Entertaining start

Marco Silva departed Fulham for Benfica with Jose Mourinho leaving Benfica for Real Madrid – knocking Alvaro Arbeloa out of Madrid and into Fulham. Still an unknown with no real record bar a few months at Madrid and previously being at Real Madrid Castilla before that, some Cottagers supporters will be concerned.

The West Londoners were quite fun to watch, though, as they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea at Craven Cottage last week before then easing to a comfortable 2-0 victory over League One side AFC Wimbledon in the second round of the EFL Cup.

Sunderland team news: Methalie has to wait

Frustratingly for Regis Le Bris, new signing Dayann Methalie still cannot feature for Sunderland this week as he carries over a suspension he was serving in Ligue 1.

Ivory Coast international winger Simon Adingra is expected to again depart the club before the close of the window and he is their only confirmed injury absentee.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Meunier, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Sadiki, Xhaka; Hume, Le Fee, Angulo; Brobbey

Unavailable: Methalie (Suspended), Adingra (Injured)

Questionable: 

Fulham team news: Andersen returns

Joachim Andersen missed the start of the season due to suspension but the Denmark international has now returned and is expected to partner Calvin Bassey at the back.

Canada international defender Luc De Fougerolles is a doubt while club captain Tom Cairney is set to be sidelined until at least mid-October.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Iwobi; Bobb, King, Palacios; Garcia

Unavailable: Cairney (Injured)

Questionable: De Fougerolles (Injured)

Sunderland vs Fulham prediction

There were some impressive and positive signs of the way in which Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham played last week, which will be encouraging given the pre-season concerns about key departures such as Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez contributing to a malaise that may well have set in at the back end of last season. However, they are unlikely to be given as much space as Chelsea gave them last week, nor will Robin Roefs provide Fulham with two goals like Robert Sanchez. As a result, a low-scoring contest, with Sunderland seemingly lacking fluency, would appear a decent bet for this one.

Sunderland vs Fulham tip: Under 2.5 goals