Two teams in frustrating runs in the Premier League will lock horns on Saturday when Sunderland and Crystal Palace clash at the Stadium of Light.
The 2025/26 Premier League season resumes on Saturday with Gameweek 22. The latest round of fixtures kicks off on Saturday with the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford before the action continues with five simultaneous matches, including Sunderland vs Crystal Palace at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland’s unbeaten run in the Premier League ended ten days ago when they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brentford. Since then, the Black Cats have bounced back with a penalty shootout win over Everton in the FA Cup third round. However, Regis Le Bris’s charges have won only two of their last 12 Premier League matches, although they have lost only twice in that run.
On the other hand, Crystal Palace’s campaign continued to spiral last weekend, as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to non-league Macclesfield FC in the FA Cup third round, with the defence of their crown ending at the first hurdle. The Eagles have also been on a downward spiral in the Premier League, as they are on a six-game winless run, which has dropped them to 13th on the table.
The reverse fixture ended in a goalless draw, with Sunderland and Crystal Palace only managing seven shots on target between them. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Sunderland
Regis Le Bris has received a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Sunderland manager will be bereft of the services of five first-team players vs Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Arthur Masuaku is recovering from an ankle injury he sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Bertrand Traore is dealing with a knee issue. Aji Alese remains in the treatment room with a shoulder complaint, while Chemsdine Talbi and Habib Diarra are still at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, Reinildo Mandava (knock) and Brian Brobbey (thigh) are fit and available to take on Crystal Palace.
Robin Roefs is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Sunderland lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Crystal Palace on Saturday. The backline will feature Nordi Mukiele, Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete, and Reinildo Mandava.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki in the double pivot. Enzo Le Fee will reprise the no. 10 role, with Eliezer Mayenda and Simon Adingra being the two wide attackers. Finally, Brian Brobbey will lead the line for Sunderland against Crystal Palace this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Mayenda, Le Fee, Adingra; Brobbey
Crystal Palace
Unlike his counterpart in the Sunderland dugout, Oliver Glasner has no new issues hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to the Stadium of Light. The Crystal Palace manager will be without as many as ten first-team players on Saturday.
Ismaila Sarr is the most notable absentee, as he is still at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. Meanwhile, Daniel Munoz (knee), Nathaniel Clyne (groin), Rio Cardines (muscular), Chadi Riad (knee), Caleb Kporha (lower back), Jefferson Lerma (head), Daichi Kamada (thigh), Cheick Doucoure (knee), and Eddie Nketiah (hamstring) remain in the treatment room.
Dean Henderson is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Crystal Palace lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Sunderland on Saturday. The central defensive unit will feature Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, and Marc Guehi. Meanwhile, Justin Devenny and Tyrick Mitchell will start as the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will protect the centre-backs and provide width in the final third. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Adam Wharton and Will Hughes in the middle of the park. Finally, Jean-Philippe Mateta will spearhead the Crystal Palace attack against Sunderland, with Yeremy Pino and Brennan Johnson completing the numbers in the offensive third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Devenny, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Johnson, Pino; Mateta
Key Stats
- Sunderland are without a win in their last five home league games vs Crystal Palace (D3 L2). They have lost two of their three most recent matches against the Eagles, more than they had in their first 15 (W7 D7 L1). Meanwhile, the away side has not lost the last eight Premier League meetings between Sunderland and Crystal Palace (W5 D3) since the Eagles’ 3-1 win at Selhurst Park in August 2013.
- Sunderland are unbeaten in ten Premier League home games this season (W5 D5); in English top-flight history, only seven promoted sides had a longer unbeaten home start to a campaign, most recently Ipswich Town in 1992/93 (11).
- Over the last six Premier League matchdays, only West Ham United (1) have earned fewer points than Crystal Palace (2 – D2 L4); on the road, the Eagles have lost their two most recent games. They last lost three successive away Premier League matches in February 2024 under Roy Hodgson.
- Crystal Palace have failed to score a goal in their last two Premier League games; not since Patrick Vieira’s final four league games in charge in February/March 2023 have the Eagles gone on a longer run in the competition without scoring. Meanwhile, after failing to score in only four of their first 14 Premier League games this season, Sunderland have not found the back of the net in four of their last seven matches. Since the start of December, the Black Cats have scored the fewest goals (4) and have the lowest xG total (6.6).
- Crystal Palace have conceded 12 Premier League goals from set pieces this term (excluding penalties)/ Pnly Bournemouth (14), Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham United (all 13) have let in more. Meanwhile, 38% (8/21) of Sunderland’s goals this season have come from set pieces (excluding penalties), with only Leeds United having a higher proportion (41% – 12/29).
Player to Watch
Jean-Philippe Mateta
While Brennan Johnson, Granit Xhaka, and Brian Brobbey were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Jean-Philippe Mateta as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Sunderland and Crystal Palace at the Stadium of Light.
The French international has scored eight Premier League goals this season. However, only one of those strikes has come in his last eight outings. Only David Brooks (-3.41) has underperformed his xG by a greater margin in the competition this term than Mateta’s -3.21 (G8, 11.21 xG). He must rediscover his best touch to help Crystal Palace return to winning ways this weekend.
Prediction
Sunderland 1-1 Crystal Palace
Saturday’s match features two teams that have become draw specialists in the Premier League in recent weeks. However, Sunderland will feel Crystal Palace’s torrid run comes at the right time as they look to return to winning ways in the Premier League after a five-game winless streak.
However, the home side’s defensive frailties will come to the fore again, with Brennan Johnson and Jean-Philippe Mateta exploiting the soft underbelly. That may prove decisive in earning the visitors a point, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw between Sunderland and Crystal Palace this weekend.