Sunderland vs West Ham Preview – Premier League 2025-26 | Form, Injuries, Lineups & Prediction | OneFootball

Sunderland vs West Ham Preview – The Premier League returns to the Stadium of Light as newly promoted Sunderland face Graham Potter’s West Ham United on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 campaign. It has been a summer of change for both clubs.

Sunderland, back in the top flight after a long absence, have been one of the most active sides in the transfer market, bringing in experienced internationals like Granit Xhaka alongside exciting young talent such as Brighton’s Simon Adingra, who they spent over £21m on. West Ham, meanwhile, have strengthened in key areas, but lost Mohamed Kudus to Spurs, they face questions over injuries to senior players ahead of the trip to Wearside.

Current Form

Sunderland come into the season after a mixed pre-season campaign. They registered a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Augsburg but were undone by La Liga side Real Betis and suffered another defeat to Rayo Vallecano. Régis Le Bris has used the summer to bed in new arrivals and work on a system that blends Xhaka’s leadership in midfield with the pace of Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi out wide.

West Ham enjoyed a more settled pre-season, playing five matches with three wins, one draw, and one loss. Notable victories came against Grasshopper Club Zürich (3-1), Everton (2-1), and Bournemouth (2-0). Their pre-season work suggests a focus on tightening defensive structure and integrating new faces like Kyle Walker-Peters and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

Head-to-Head Record

This is the first Premier League meeting between Sunderland and West Ham since the 2016-17 season, when West Ham won once, and drew the other. The Hammers have lost just once in their last nine competitive matches against Sunderland, though the Black Cats will be buoyed by a raucous home crowd in their first top-flight match in years.

Last five meetings in all competitions:

Injury News & Suspensions

Sunderland

West Ham

Potential DebutantsSunderland: Granit Xhaka, Simon Adingra, Reinildo Mandava, Enzo Le Fée, Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi, Arthur Masuaku, Robin Roefs, Omar Alderete.West Ham: El Hadji Malick Diouf, Kyle Walker-Peters, Mads Hermansen.

Injury Summary Table

Manager Quotes

While Régis Le Bris has not given an in-depth pre-match press conference yet, the Sunderland boss has spoken about building “a side that can match the intensity of the Premier League” and hinted that some new signings will be given starts straight away. Graham Potter has emphasised the need for West Ham to “start stronger than last season” and praised his squad’s “tactical adaptability” in pre-season.

Here’s what Régis Le Bris had to say about the decision to make Granit Xhaka their captain for the season:

Predicted Lineups

Sunderland (4-3-3)Roefs; Hume, Ballard, Seelt, Reinildo; Diarra, Xhaka, Mayenda; Sadiki, Adingra, Talbi

West Ham (3-4-2-1)Areola; Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd; Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Álvarez, Diouf; Bowen, Paquetá; Füllkrug

Tactical Preview & Key Battles

Sunderland’s return to the Premier League comes with a heavily rebuilt squad. While the influx of talent, including Granit Xhaka, Simon Adingra, and Chemsdine Talbi, raises the team’s ceiling, it also presents a short-term challenge in cohesion. Régis Le Bris has had limited time to integrate his new arrivals, which could affect fluidity and defensive organisation in the season opener. Xhaka will be tasked with anchoring the midfield, dictating play and shielding the back line, while Adingra and Talbi will aim to stretch West Ham’s defence with pace and direct runs.

West Ham, under David Moyes, are expected to set up in a 3-4-2-1. El Hadji Malick Diouf’s forward runs from left wing-back will be a key attacking outlet, providing width and delivery into the box. The Hammers’ double pivot, likely made up of Edson Álvarez and Tomáš Souček, will aim to disrupt Sunderland’s midfield rhythm, while Lucas Paquetá operates between the lines to link with Jarrod Bowen and new striker Niclas Füllkrug.

Key Battles

Predicted Scoreline

Sunderland 1-2 West HamA tightly contested opener where both sides will have spells of control. Expect Sunderland’s energy to trouble West Ham, but the Hammers’ experience should earn them a win against a side that have largely not played much together.

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