Sunderland vs Newcastle United: Prediction, Lineups & Kickoff Time | Premier League 2025/26

On: December 12, 2025 2:11 AM

---Advertisement---

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Match Preview

The Tyne-Wear Derby returns to the Premier League for the first time in nearly a decade, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Sunderland host their bitter rivals at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, 14 December 2025.¹ The Black Cats sit 9th with 23 points, enjoying a fantastic return to the top flight, while Newcastle United are just behind in 12th with 22 points. Eddie Howe’s side travels south just days after a grueling Champions League draw in Leverkusen, while Sunderland have had a full week to prepare for the game of the season.

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Match Info

Competition: Premier League (Matchday 16)
Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland (Capacity: 48,707)
Date: Sunday, 14 December 2025
Kickoff: 14:00 GMT | 15:00 CET | 19:30 IST
Referee: Peter Bankes (ENG)

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Match Stakes

Sunderland (9th — 23 pts):

Win → Moves to 26 pts; gaps Newcastle by 4 points and cements top-half status
Draw → Maintains the unbeaten run against rivals at home in the league
Loss → Overtaken by Newcastle; bragging rights lost on home turf

Newcastle United (12th — 22 pts):

Win → Leapfrogs Sunderland to 25 pts; huge morale boost after mixed league form
Draw → A decent result given the injury crisis and midweek fatigue
Loss → Drops to 13th/14th; pressure mounts on Eddie Howe amid defensive crisis

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Team News

Sunderland:

O’Nien L. — Out (Red Card Suspension)
Alese A. — Out (Shoulder Injury)
Diarra H. — Out (Groin Injury)
Clarke J. — Available (Key Winger)

Newcastle United:

Pope N. — Out (Muscle Injury – Huge Loss)
Botman S. — Out (Lower Back Injury)
Trippier K. — Out (Hamstring Injury)
Krafth E. — Out (Knee Injury)
Osula W. — Out (Ankle Injury)
Joelinton — Questionable (Late fitness test)

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)

Sunderland

06/12 — 0–3 vs Manchester City (PL)
04/12 — 1–1 vs Liverpool (PL)
29/11 — 3–2 vs Bournemouth (PL)
22/11 — 0–1 vs Fulham (PL)
08/11 — 2–2 vs Arsenal (PL)

Newcastle United

11/12 — 2–2 vs Bayer Leverkusen (UCL)
06/12 — 2–1 vs Burnley (PL)
03/12 — 2–2 vs Tottenham (PL)
29/11 — 4–1 vs Everton (PL)
26/11 — 1–2 vs Marseille (UCL)

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)

06/01/2024 — Sunderland 0–3 Newcastle (FA Cup)
20/03/2016 — Newcastle 1–1 Sunderland (PL)
25/10/2015 — Sunderland 3–0 Newcastle (PL)
05/04/2015 — Sunderland 1–0 Newcastle (PL)
21/12/2014 — Newcastle 0–1 Sunderland (PL)

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)

Sunderland (4-2-3-1)

Patterson; Hume, Ballard, Mepham, Cirkin; Neil, Rigg; Roberts, Bellingham, Clarke; Isidor

Newcastle United (4-3-3)

Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock (if Joelinton out); Gordon, Isak, Barnes

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Impact Bench

Sunderland: Mayenda (Pace), Ba (Creativity)

Newcastle United: Almiron (Energy), Longstaff (Local lad passion)

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Tactical Analysis

Sunderland

Regis Le Bris will look to exploit Newcastle’s depleted backline. Without O’Nien, Ballard must step up as the defensive leader. Sunderland’s strategy will be high energy—pressing Newcastle’s tired midfield (who played Thursday) and feeding Jack Clarke quickly to isolate Tino Livramento. The atmosphere will demand aggressive football from the first whistle.

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe has a headache. With Pope, Botman, and Trippier out, the defense is makeshift. Martin Dubravka steps in goal, and Dan Burn likely moves to center-back. Newcastle will rely on the counter-attack speed of Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak. They know Sunderland will attack, potentially leaving gaps for Bruno Guimaraes to thread through balls.

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Key Battles

Clarke vs Livramento — the decisive duel on the wing
Bellingham vs Guimaraes — young star vs midfield general
Ballard vs Isak — can Sunderland handle the elite striker?
Hume vs Gordon — pace vs pace on the flank

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Spotlight Players

Sunderland — Jobe Bellingham

The youngster has flourished this season. In a derby of this magnitude, his composure and ability to drive through midfield will be crucial to Sunderland controlling the tempo against a Champions League side.

Newcastle United — Alexander Isak

With the defense struggling, Newcastle need to outscore opponents. Isak is world-class; if he gets half a yard of space in the box, he will punish Sunderland.

Sunderland vs Newcastle United — Prediction

Sunderland 2–2 Newcastle United

Derbies rarely follow form, but the context here is clear: Newcastle are tired and defensively broken, while Sunderland are energetic but missing their captain O’Nien. Expect a chaotic, high-scoring draw fueled by the atmosphere.