Sunderland, who were promoted to the Premier League last season after eight years of exile, enjoy a home game against West Ham United on Saturday afternoon. The stadium of light is also going to be crackling up as the Black Cats aim to have their dream start of life back in the top flight, and the Hammers want to get the Graham Potter era off to a good start.
Match Details
- Fixture: Sunderland vs West Ham United
- Date: Saturday, 16 August 2025
- Kick-off: 15:00 BST
- Venue: Stadium of Light
Match Preview
Sunderland
After finishing in the play-offs fourthplace with 81 points, Sunderland got promoted to the first division after winning the promotion to the premier league strikingly against its opponent in the final game of the playoff. Manager Rgis Le Bris has managed a big summer transfer window with Swiss International Granit Xhaka and French winger Simon Adingra bringing experience and speed and with the purchase of Kalifa Cisse, and Cameroon striker Habib Diarra the club has paid more than 100 million pounds to strengthen the team.
Their pre-season returns though has been inconsistent (1-0-2) with a thin victory over Augsburg punctuated by losses to Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano illustrating frailties which are being tackled in the name of defending and the necessity to work together as a team. Leadership of the 4-4-2 system will be on Xhaka and the wings will press the backline of West Ham due to the creativity they have.
West Ham
West Ham fell short in the previous season and found a replacement to steady the ship by hiring Graham Potter after placing 14th in the 2024/25 season. The Hammers present in the pre-season had grounds of hope, as they defeated the Everton, Bournemouth, and Grasshopper, as well as drew with Lille.
Jean-Clair Todibo, Kyle Walker-Peters, and Mads Hermansen are some key summer signings who have prompted quality amongst a team already having stars like Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquet. Potter 4-2-3-1 will seek to control the ball, and play on the inexperience of Sunderland in the Premier League.
Head-to-Head Record
It comes as the first Premier League encounter between the two teams in April 2017. Traditionally the matches between the clubs are in favor of West Ham as it won three out of the last five meetings and even the other two were drawn.
Last 5 Premier League Meetings:
- Sunderland 2-2 West Ham United – 15 Apr 2017
- West Ham United 1-0 Sunderland – 22 Oct 2016
- West Ham United 1-0 Sunderland – 27 Feb 2016
- Sunderland 2-2 West Ham United – 03 Oct 2015
- West Ham United 1-0 Sunderland – 21 Mar 2015
Team News
Sunderland
- Injured: Aji Alese (Shoulder), Dennis Cirkin (Wrist), Leo Fuhr Hjelde (Achilles), Romaine Mundle (Hamstring)
- Doubtful: Luke O’Nien (Shoulder)
West Ham United
- Injured: Crysencio Summerville (Hamstring)
Predicted Lineups
Sunderland (4-4-2): Roefs; Hume, Ballard, Seelt, Mandava; Diarra, Sadiki, Xhaka, Adingra; Guiu, Isidor
West Ham United (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, Palmieri; Álvarez, Souček; Bowen, Paquetá, Ward-Prowse; Füllkrug
Prediction
Prediction: Sunderland 1-2 West Ham United
Betting Tip: Under 2.5 goals
