Sunderland v Burnley

Sunderland are outsiders for a European place while Burnley fight for their lives in the relegation zone. Who gets the points in this Monday night clash?

Sunderland v Burnley – Stadium of Light 21.00 CET

Team News:

Sunderland will miss captain and player of the season so far Granit Xhaka, a huge miss. Attacking midfielder Bertrand Traore is out also. New signing Jocelin Ta Bi is not ready, and defender Arthur Masuaku has left the club.

Burnley miss key midfielder Josh Cullen but have good news with striker Zian Flemming and defender Joe Worrell both fit after injury layoffs. New signing James Ward-Prowse should offset the loss of Cullen.

---

Formations:

Sunderland typically lines up in a 4‑2‑3‑1, but in 2026 they have already experimented with six different systems, managing just one win. Even so, they remain a well‑drilled side that is tough to break down, particularly on home turf.

Burnley have recently adopted a 3‑4‑2‑1 setup after experimenting with various systems throughout the season. With the wide full‑backs dropping deep without the ball, the shape effectively becomes a back five. Their form has picked up as well, with the team currently unbeaten in four matches.

Statistics:

Referee: Paul Tierney (Average cards 3.25 Yellow 0.07 Red per game)

---

Match Preview:

Sunderland was flying high for most of the season but have dropped down the table in recent months. They are 18 points above the visitors and although European qualification is only a few points away, they have stiff competition. Burnley look in deep trouble as they are 10 points off safety. They do look improved of late, but they need to turn draws into wins.

Betting Preview:

Both teams have struggled across their last six matches and now appear to be settling into positions that reflect their current form. Sunderland remains the Premier League’s only unbeaten home side, which deserves real credit. Burnley should have enough to find a goal, but taking all three points seems unlikely. A draw is certainly possible, and both teams scoring looks like a strong option.