Sunderland Host Fulham Seeking Bounce-Back Win

Sunderland faces Fulham at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, with both sides looking to rebound from opening-day defeats. Sunderland's head coach, Regis le Bris, noted a lack of clinical finishing in their 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town. Despite controlling 62% of possession, the Black Cats have a concerning record of losing half their games when dominating the ball since their return to the top flight. Historically, Sunderland has struggled against Fulham at home in the Premier League, with no wins in their last six encounters.

Fulham, meanwhile, fell to a defeat against Chelsea on the opening Monday night fixture, conceding early goals due to lapses in concentration. Head Coach Alvaro Arbeloa emphasized the need for immediate improvement in player readiness. The Cottagers have the worst away record of any ever-present Premier League team in 2026, having won only two of their last nine opening away matches. Despite these statistics, Arbeloa praised his players' energy and ambition, noting they covered the most distance on matchday one.