Sunderland vs Manchester United

Manchester United vs Sunderland Preview

Match details

Kick-off: October 4 2025, 15:00 BST

Stadium: Old Trafford

Confirmed lineups

Manchester United (3-4-2-1)

• Goalkeeper: S. Lammens
• Defenders: L. Yoro, M. de Ligt, L. Shaw
• Midfielders: A. Diallo, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot
• Forwards: B. Mbeumo, M. Mount, B. Šeško

Sunderland (4-2-3-1)

• Goalkeeper: R. Roefs
• Defenders: T. Hume, N. Mukiele, O. Alderete, A. Masuaku
• Midfielders: G. Xhaka, N. Sadiki
• Forwards: B. Traoré, E. Le Fée, S. Adingra, W. Isidor

Missing players

Manchester United will be without Lisandro Martínez due to a knee injury and N. Mazraoui, who is also suffering from an injury. Their absences could impact United's defensive organization in this crucial fixture.

Sunderland faces multiple injuries with D. Cirkin (wrist injury), H. Diarra (groin injury), L. Hjelde (Achilles tendon injury), and Reinildo, who is out due to a red card suspension. Additionally, R. Mundle (hamstring injury) and A. Alese (shoulder injury) will also miss this match, affecting their squad depth.

Match background

This match is crucial for both teams as Manchester United currently sits in 14th place with 7 points, while Sunderland holds a stronger position at 6th with 11 points. United seeks to improve their standing after inconsistent performances, while Sunderland aims to maintain their positive run.

Recent form

Manchester United's recent form has been a mixed bag, with a record of loss-win-loss-win since last playing. They have struggled defensively, conceding 11 goals in their first six matches, indicating potential vulnerabilities against a goal-scoring Sunderland side.

Sunderland, on the other hand, has shown resilience, with a recent form of win-draw-draw-win. They boast a solid defensive record, with only 4 goals conceded, providing them confidence as they head into this fixture.

Head-to-head record

• April 9 2017: Sunderland 0 - 3 Manchester United
• December 26 2016: Manchester United 3 - 1 Sunderland
• February 13 2016: Sunderland 2 - 1 Manchester United
• September 26 2015: Manchester United 3 - 0 Sunderland
• February 28 2015: Manchester United 2 - 0 Sunderland

Prediction

Given Sunderland's strong form and defensive stability, they could take advantage of Manchester United’s ongoing struggles. The match may see a close contest, but Sunderland is likely to secure at least a draw.

Betting tip: Double Chance: Sunderland or Draw