Sunderland will face Fulham at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, aiming to halt a two-game losing streak. The Black Cats currently sit in 11th place after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, which marked the end of their unbeaten home record this season. Manager Régis Le Bris is keen to avoid the team’s first three-game losing streak of the campaign.
Sunderland Team News
Sunderland’s squad sees the return of a key midfielder, while the team faces challenges in the flanks. Granit Xhaka is available for selection after an ankle injury, bringing his league-leading assists from line-breaking passes and goals created through those plays to the forefront. However, the Black Cats will be without Reinildo, sidelined for a month due to a knee injury, and Bertrand Traoré, who will miss at least another week.
Key Players
- Granit Xhaka: Back from injury, pivotal in playmaking.
- Enzo Le Fée: Offers creativity with four assists this season.
- Brian Brobbey: Aims for his sixth goal, having scored two match-winners.
The defensive line will feature Rufs in goal, supported by Nordi Mukiele and Dan Ballard. Diarra will join Le Fée in midfield, tasked with igniting the attacking front. Sunderland has been consistent in scoring, having failed to find the net only twice in their 13 home league matches this season.
Sunderland Predicted Lineup
The potential starting XI for Sunderland includes:
- Goalkeeper: Rufs
- Defenders: Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Cirkin
- Midfielders: Diarra, Sadiki
- Forwards: Hume, Le Fée, Angulo, Brobbey
Match Details
The match against Fulham is set for Sunday, 22 February 2026, with a kick-off time of 14:00 GMT. Fans in the UK can watch the game live on Sky Sports Premier League, and updates will also be available on Sunderland’s official website.
