Sunderland host Leeds at Stadium of Light in a blockbuster Championship clash.
Victory will see Sunderland stay top of the table going into this month’s international break.
Leeds however can go top ahead of Saturday’s action if they win by two goals or more, as an one-goal winning margin would see them sit behind the Black Cats on virtue of the goals scored rule.
Team News
Ian Poveda is ruled out for Sunderland after he suffered an injury during their midweek win over Derby.
Salis Abdul Samed (muscle), Ahmed Abdullahi (groin), Jenson Seelt, Niall Huggins (both knee) and Aji Alese (ankle) remain absent.
Leeds could be without Illia Gruev after he suffered an injury during their 1-1 draw at Norwich on Tuesday evening.
Ethan Ampadu, Max Wober (both knee), Isaac Schmidt (glute), Manor Solomon (back), Diogo Monteiro (shoulder) and Dan James (hamstring) are ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Sunderland host Leeds at Stadium of Light on Friday 4 October at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Sunderland have lost one of their last six league meetings against Leeds (W3, D2, L1).
- Leeds have won three of their last five visits to Sunderland (W3, L2).
- Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland are looking to keep three consecutive clean sheets over Leeds in the league for the first time since October 1930 – October 1932.
- Sunderland have scored eight goals at home this season without conceding (W4).
- Largie Ramazani has scored in each of Leeds’ last two away matches (W1, D1).
Prediction
Unbeaten at home without conceding and top of the table, Sunderland shouldn’t hold much fear coming into this game with their flexible press on and off the ball, which is capable of hurting an injury-hit Leeds midfield.
Leeds’ midfield crisis from a defensive side though will make them dangerous now with attack their only real option, unless they play some midfielders out of their usual roles but this not a game where they can take high risks like that.
Either way, Sunderland will surely view this as a winnable game unless Leeds opt to just go defensive and let the hosts dominate, whilst hoping to hit them on the counter-attack but I am going for a narrow home win.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-0 Leeds
Result: Sunderland 2-2 Leeds