Ipswich begin life back in the Premier League with a tricky test against last season’s surprise club, Sunderland.
Ipswich are back in the top flight after an one-season absence in which they were promoted as Championship runners-up, whilst Sunderland finished a shock seventh in their first season back in the Premier League following a near-decade absence.
Team News
Florentino Luis and Abdul Fatawu are doubts for Ipswich due to knocks.
Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor aren’t expected to be involved due to respective muscle and knee injuries.
Sunderland will be without Simon Adingra due to an ankle injury.
Omar Alderete (knee), Nordi Mukiele (knock) and new signing, Thomas Meunier (back) are available for selection.
When is Kick-Off?
Ipswich host Sunderland at Portman Road on Saturday 22 August at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Ipswich have won two of four previous Premier League meetings against Sunderland (W2, L2).
- Sunderland have lost both of their two previous Premier League trips to Ipswich by an aggregate score of 6-0 (L2), having lost 1-0 in August 2000 then 5-0 in December 2001.
- Ipswich have kept just one clean sheet in their last five competitive home matches (W2, D3), during which they conceded five goals.
- Sunderland are yet to concede on the opening weekend of a new season under Regis Le Bris (W2), having won 2-0 at Cardiff in 2024-25 season then 3-0 at home against West Ham last season.
Prediction
With Gary O’Neil in charge following Kieran McKenna’s shock resignation in June, Ipswich are actually in a solid pair of hands given his previous Premier League experience at Bournemouth, but they will need a bit of time to gel as a group given the number of new signings.
O’Neil though needs to sort out their recent defensive dip because that area was their costly Achilles heel in the top flight two seasons ago, otherwise this could well be another nearly campaign of having the firepower to stay up but let down by the defence.
Sunderland meanwhile are venturing into bit of an unknown this season in terms of balancing modern domestic and European commitments, so a good start is required but they’ve done well to add players whilst not losing key assets like Granit Xhaka and Wilson Isidor.
Although Ipswich will be right up for this opener at home, I just think that Sunderland will have too much quality in them.
Prediction: Ipswich 1-2 Sunderland
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