Sunderland vs West Ham: Football Preview & Free Football Betting Tips
The Stadium of Light welcomes Premier League football for the first time in seven years as Sunderland host West Ham in a fascinating season opener. The Black Cats are riding the wave of a playoff final victory, while the Hammers arrive with a strong finish to last season and some notable summer reinforcements. Expect a sell-out, noise in every corner, and a mix of nerves and excitement.
Tactical context
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray is likely to stick with a progressive 4-2-3-1, leaning on new midfield general Granit Xhaka and creator Enzo Le Fée to control tempo. West Ham’s Graham Potter will counter with a disciplined 4-2-3-1, built on James Ward-Prowse’s set-piece threat. It’s possession control versus counter-punch power.
- Injuries: Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Luke O’Nien (shoulder), Aji Alese (shoulder), Leo Hjelde (Achilles), and Romaine Mundle (hamstring) are out until after the September international break.
- New faces: Xhaka and Le Fée expected to anchor midfield; Adingra offers pace wide left; Guiu likely to lead the line.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Hume, Ballard, Seelt, Reinildo; Xhaka, Le Fée; Roberts, Diarra, Adingra; Guiu.
- Injuries: Crysencio Summerville (hamstring) is out until September.
- Key additions: Mohamadou Kanté adds versatility in attack; Maximilian Kilman bolsters the defensive line.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Mavropanos, Emerson; Ward-Prowse, Alvarez; Bowen, Paquetá, Kanté; Füllkrug.
Sunderland (last 10): 4W-3D-3L, GF 12, GA 11. Tight games are a theme, with just over one goal scored per game and a clean sheet rate of 20%. They tend to start brightly — over half their goals have come in the first half.
West Ham (last 10): 5W-3D-2L, GF 17, GA 14. They’ve balanced attacking threat (1.7 p/g) with occasional defensive slips, but three clean sheets suggest a more solid spine late last season.
Trends: Sunderland rely on controlling midfield tempo, West Ham’s strengths lie in transitions and set-piece quality.
| Metric (last 10) | Sunderland | West Ham |
|---|---|---|
| W-D-L | 4-3-3 | 5-3-2 |
| Goals per game (scored / conceded) | 1.2 / 1.1 | 1.7 / 1.4 |
| Clean sheet % | 20% | 30% |
| Average possession | 50.2% | 46.5% |
| Shots (total / on target) p/g | 11.8 / 4.1 | 12.0 / 4.0 |
| xG per game | 1.26 | 1.51 |
| Pass completion | 84% | 81% |
| Corners per game | 5.44 | 4.8 |
| Yellow cards p/g | 2.42 | 2.1 |
Sunderland at home
Strong playoff finish capped with a Wembley win; tight home matches with a focus on patience and control.
West Ham away
Closed last season with wins at Fulham and Bournemouth; efficient on the break but can concede in flurries.
Granit Xhaka — Brings leadership and composure; key to controlling the middle and launching attacks.
James Ward-Prowse — Quality set piece delivery could be the difference in tight matches.
Prediction: 1–1 Draw
Sunderland’s home lift and midfield quality will trouble West Ham, but the Hammers’ attacking weapons should ensure they leave with something.
Main pick: Both Teams to Score — styles suggest each side will find openings.
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