Bottom of the league Wolverhampton Wanderers travel to the Stadium of Light to face The Black Cats for the first time in the top flight since 2012.
Newly-promoted Sunderland have taken the Premier League by storm, amassing 11 points in their opening seven games. However, Régis Le Bris’ side were tossed aside by an out-of-sorts Manchester United team last time out, bringing an end to their four-game unbeaten run. The Sunderland manager criticised his side’s first half performance and changed the formation after only 35 minutes, and will be aiming to bounce back after a sobering reality check at Old Trafford.
The Black Cats will welcome the return to the Stadium of Light where they have collected 7 of their eleven points so far this season.
Wolves can take positives from their last two games, as draws with Spurs and Brighton produced some encouraging performances. Nonetheless, late equalisers in both games mean The Old Gold remain winless with just two points to their name this season.
A win this weekend could see Wolves climb outside of the top three should other results go their way. Vítor Pereira is preparing the club’s first visit to the Stadium of Light since they lost 3-0 in May of 2018.
Team news
Sunderland will continue to be without Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin, Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle, whilst full-back Reinildo Mandava will serve the last of his three-game suspension.
Crucial first team players Omar Alderete and Noah Sadiki both picked up separate muscle injuries whilst on international duty, but manager Le Bris has confirmed both are possibilities to play on the weekend. If the Frenchman decides to go against starting both Alderete and Sadiki, Northern Irishman Dan Ballard could easily be deployed in defence.
There could also be a chance at another start for 18-year-old star boy Chris Rigg in the heart of the midfield alongside captain Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fée.
Wolves will continue to be without Matt Doherty after he recently underwent surgery on his wrist, as well as Leon Chiwome, but defender Toti Gomes could return to the starting fold following a battle with the flu.
Elsewhere, Jørgen Strand Larsen has yet to score in the five Premier League matches he’s featured in so far. Now fully fit, the Norwegian will be expected to lead the line yet again, with Hwang Hee-Chan playing off his left-hand side to provide an extra physical presence up front.
Since Pereira changed to a back four, Wolves have yet to taste defeat in their last three games in all competitions, so the Portuguese will likely continue with the same formation.
Predicted lineup
SUN: Roefs; Hume, Ballard, Mukiele, Geertruida; Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fée; Talbi, Isidor, Mayenda
WOL: Johnstone; Tchatchoua, S. Bueno, Krejčí, H. Bueno; Munetsi, Andre, J. Gomes; Arias, Strand Larsen, Hwang