Sunderland vs Leeds Predictions

• Sunderland are unbeaten at home, winning five and drawing three of their eight league games
• Leeds have won only one of their eight away league trips
• Sunderland have lost only one of their last five meetings at home to Leeds

Black Cats to shine again at Stadium of Light

Sunderland finished some 24 points behind champions Leeds in the Championship last season before pouncing in the playoffs, but the Black Cats have settled better to life back in the Premier League.

Few would have envisaged Sunderland to be sitting sixth after 17 games, having picked up 27 points and suffered only four defeats.

However, Regis Le Bris’s side have been a breath of fresh air with their summer overhaul paying dividends and it still remains to be seen what this side is capable of achieving.

The Africa Cup of Nations has hit Sunderland harder than most, with six of their players called up for international duty, but that didn’t stop them battling to a 0-0 draw at Brighton last time out.

The Black Cats more than held their own at the Amex and the Stadium of Light has been a fortress, suggesting that they may be able to sign off 2025 with a home victory over Leeds.

Sunderland are the only Premier League side other than Arsenal not yet to taste a home defeat, having won five and drawn three of their eight matches on Wearside.

That includes a derby-day success over Newcastle most recently while they have also held Arsenal and Aston Villa to draws, which highlights their stubbornness at home.

Road woes proving costly for Leeds

A four-game unbeaten run shows that Leeds are slowly getting their act together and Saturday’s emphatic 4-1 win over Crystal Palace will have confidence at a maximum.

However, Daniel Farke’s side remain only two places and six points above the relegation zone and they have collected 15 of their 19 points at fortress Elland Road.

Leeds have lost six of their eight away league games, with their only victory coming at rock-bottom Wolves, and they have also been beaten to nil at Burnley and Fulham.

That suggests that the visitors are a far more reliable punting proposition at home and an atmospheric Christmas crowd at the Stadium of Light will truly test their resolve.

Sunderland have lost only one of their last five meetings at home to Leeds and they can maintain that superiority with a 2-1 victory, which is the preferred correct-score selection of choice. Both teams have scored in five of the Black Cats’ last seven at home.