Ipswich Town host Sunderland on Saturday, August 22 (10:00 AM ET \/ 9:00 AM CT \/ 7:00 AM PT).<\/p>\n
Ipswich Town carry a couple of fitness question marks into this one, with the doubtful Azor Matusiwa and the knee-affected Jack Taylor both touch-and-go, though the attacking options look well stocked regardless \u2014 Jack Clarke banked 16 goals last season, Jaden Philogene added 12 with 33 shots on target, and George Hirst chipped in with 11 of his own. Sunderland have their own doubts to manage in the doubtful Omar Alderete Fernandez and the doubtful Nordi Mukiele, but Brian Brobbey’s 7 goals and Wilson Isidor’s 6 give the visitors a threat up top, while Enzo Le F\u00e9e’s 53 chances created last season points to plenty of service still to come from midfield.<\/p>\n
Neither side has kicked a ball this season yet, and with both entries in the table still blank, last season’s individual output is the best guide going. Sunderland’s last five matches from that campaign broke down as two losses, two draws and a win, a shaky finish this group will want to leave behind, while Ipswich Town’s forward line arrives with goals already banked between them. A tight, cagey opener feels like the shape of things here, with both defences fancied to have the edge on the day.<\/p>\n\n\n