Premier League Club-By-Club Predictions: Has Sunderland invested enough to survive in the Premier League? Or are they set to return to the Championship?

Sunderland are one of the more interesting packages this season - they could either find themselves stuck at the bottom or at the top of the relegation fight. The side they’re stuck on could determine their success in 2025/26.

(Image Credit to Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

For the first time since 2017, Sunderland will play Premier League football. 

But will their stay be short-lived, or will their summer investments pay off?

What Noah says:

Regardless of how this season goes, Sunderland and their fans are in for a wild ride. And of the promoted sides, Sunderland is the side I’m rooting for to stay in the Premier League. That said, the last two promotion sides that I backed to stay up - Luton Town in 2023/24 and Ipswich Town in 2024/25 - didn’t stay up, so hopefully third time's the charm. 

In terms of their start to Premier League life, Sunderland plays against a fellow promotion side in the form of Burnley in their third match; that is part of a doable first four games for the club. I could see them beating Burnley and maybe getting a point a game later against Brentford, particularly if the Bees struggle off the line. However, following that early stretch is where they could start to struggle - matches against Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and Chelsea kick off a twelve-game stretch that sees the Black Cats play European opposition six times. That stretch is immediately followed by closing out 2025 against Manchester City and kicking off the 2026 part of their schedule against Tottenham. 

After a more relaxed January slate, February begins with matchups against Arsenal and Liverpool, but only four of Sunderland’s final twelve games involve teams in European competitions, which could put the club in the driver’s seat in the relegation battle. 

Alongside an easier slate than their Premier League compatriots, Sunderland had one of the better transfer windows of the twenty Premier League sides, bringing in players like Enzo Le Fee and Granit Xhaka to help the Black Cats survive the first season back in the top flight. 

That said, do I think Sunderland staying up is a guarantee? Not necessarily. But are they in a good position to do so? Yes. That said, Premier League experience favours their promotion compatriots Burnley and Leeds United, but the easier slate arguably belongs to Sunderland. I think Sunderland capitalises on their favourable schedule to survive, but it will come down to the final two matchdays.

Projected finish: 16th

What Ellie says:

Coming into the top tier of English football as a side who barely made it through the playoffs after a very bad run of form to end of the season, Sunderland will find it difficult to adapt to their new home in the Premier League. 

They will struggle to adapt their playing style to that of the League, which will result in them not being competitive enough to warrant an escape from relegation. With a fairly young squad, Régis Le Bris will find it difficult to adapt their playing styles to what the Premier League requires. 

Without enough funding and support, their relegation battle will be tight, but unfortunately, they will fall short of staying up and will end up back down in the Championship for 25/26.

Projected finish: 20th

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Article written by Noah Guttman and Ellie Swain