Sunderland – Crystal Palace: time to kick-start the season 
On paper this is a tasty fixture. In practice, both Sunderland and Crystal Palace turn up with more questions than answers. Saturday afternoon at the Stadium of Light, both sides will be trying to calm nerves after a tricky run.
Sunderland: the pleasant surprise hits a snag 
Their return to the Premier League was meant to be awkward. Instead it’s been exciting. For months Sunderland stunned everyone, settling into mid-table and even eyeing European spots. Lately though, the engine has juddered.
That 0-3 hiding in London against Brentford, followed by a hard-fought draw at Tottenham, was a reminder: survival is still the priority. The Black Cats have won just one of their last six league games and sometimes lack the cutting edge in the final third.
The FA Cup win over Everton on penalties gave everyone a breather, but didn’t wipe out the doubts. At home Sunderland still show fight, but they struggle to make the difference when the tempo drops. With goals scored and conceded almost level, the club drifts — unsure whether to look up or over its shoulder.
Crystal Palace: a season that won’t take off 
At Palace the contrast with last season is stark. After lifting the FA Cup the Eagles hoped to sit comfortably in the top half. Reality is duller. Thirteenth after 21 games, they’re mainly stuck in a rut.
Six league matches without a win. A defence that can wobble. An attack that lacks bite. Hard to find anything solid to hang your hat on. The shock FA Cup exit at Macclesfield made things worse, even if the draw with Aston Villa hinted at a slight stopgap.
On the road Palace struggle to impose themselves. The block often drops too quick and Mateta ends up isolated up front. So this trip to Sunderland looks less like a relaunch and more like a match you can’t afford to lose.
Probable line‑ups
Sunderland :
Roefs ; Hume, Mukiele, O’Nien, Cirkin ; Xhaka, Sadiki ; Adingra, Le Fée, Mundle ; Mayenda
Crystal Palace :
Henderson ; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi ; Devenny, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell ; Pino, Johnson ; Mateta
Key things to note
- Sunderland have won just one of their last six Premier League matches.
- The Black Cats show an almost even balance between goals scored and conceded.
- Crystal Palace are without a league win in six matches.
- The Eagles have already lost more games than Sunderland this season.
- Both teams lack offensive consistency.
Football Tip Sunderland vs Crystal Palace
Under 2.5 goals
Both teams are in a phase where caution beats adventure. Sunderland can’t kill games. Palace lack bite away from home. In a tense setting, a tight, scrappy match feels the most likely.
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