Sunderland host Fulham at Stadium of Light on Sunday, August 30 (9:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM CT / 6:00 AM PT).
Sunderland will be without the injured Simon Adingra for Sunday’s visit of Fulham, though last weekend’s regulars remain in the picture — Nilson Angulo, Trai Hume, Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki are all still expected to feature at the Stadium of Light. Fulham arrive missing two key figures of their own: the suspended Joachim Andersen and the injured Tom Cairney (knee) are both unavailable, which puts extra weight on Joshua King, Timothy Castagne, Sander Berge and Jorge Cuenca in the visitors’ side.
Both teams come into this off defeats in the opening round, and neither performance suggested control of games is close at hand yet. Sunderland conceded 2 goals in defeat at Ipswich Town, while Fulham let in 3 of their own during a 2-3 loss at home to Chelsea. Expect an open, cagey watch at the Stadium of Light, where game management matters as much as attacking intent this early into the season.
Sunderland vs Fulham: Best Bets & Predictions
Team news, lineups and our prediction for Sunderland's home meeting with Fulham.
Our approach: we've weighed the identical league records, recent form and the individuals already delivering end product before settling on this weekend's selections at the Stadium of Light.
Odds correct at time of writing and shown in American format for illustration; your local odds may vary. 19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC). Please play responsibly. ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON).
Season Form & Standings
Sunderland and Fulham are level on 0 points from 1 game apiece, both carrying a goal difference of -1 after the season’s opening weekend. It’s as even a starting point as the table allows this early on.
Premier League
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulham | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | |||
| Sunderland | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
Sunderland vs Fulham Confirmed Starting Lineups
Sunderland
4-2-3-1Fulham
4-2-3-1Potential Match-Winners
- Nilson Angulo (Sunderland): Angulo scored 1 goal last season, managing 2 shots — 1 on target — in just 59 minutes, proof of an instant impact off the bench.
- Trai Hume (Sunderland): Hume created 3 chances from right-back last season, adding 2 shots of his own across 80 minutes on the pitch.
- Joshua King (Fulham): King scored 1 goal from 3 shots — 2 on target — in 90 minutes last season, the kind of instinctive finishing Fulham could use again this weekend.
Recent Form
Sunderland: L D D W L
- 2026-08-22: Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland (L, away)
- 2026-05-17: Everton 1-3 Sunderland (W, away)
- 2026-05-09: Sunderland 0-0 Manchester United (D, home)
- 2026-05-02: Wolves 1-1 Sunderland (D, away)
- 2026-04-24: Sunderland 0-5 Nottingham Forest (L, home)
Sunderland’s run reads L D D W L across their last 5 matches in all competitions. That stretch included a 0-5 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, a 1-1 draw at Wolves, a 0-0 draw with Manchester United, a 3-1 win at Everton, and last weekend’s 2-1 loss at Ipswich Town.
Fulham: W L L D L
- 2026-08-24: Fulham 2-3 Chelsea (L, home)
- 2026-05-17: Wolves 1-1 Fulham (D, away)
- 2026-05-09: Fulham 0-1 Bournemouth (L, home)
- 2026-05-02: Arsenal 3-0 Fulham (L, away)
- 2026-04-25: Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa (W, home)
Fulham’s run reads W L L D L across their last 5 matches in all competitions. That stretch included a 1-0 win over Aston Villa, a 3-0 loss at Arsenal, a 0-1 defeat to Bournemouth, a 1-1 draw at Wolves, and last weekend’s 2-3 loss at home to Chelsea.
Sunderland vs Fulham Prediction
Sunderland and Fulham both have 0 points on the board, and this one looks tight enough to finish level. We’re backing a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light, with Joshua King among those capable of finding the net for the visitors.