Sunderland vs Leeds United - prediction, team news, lineups

Both looking for their archetypal wins of the Premier League Summer Series, Sunderland and Leeds United clash astatine Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey connected Friday morning.

The Black Cats were defeated by English giants Liverpool past clip out, whilst Championship broadside Wrexham got the amended of Leeds successful the United States.

Match preview

After a singular sixth-placed decorativeness successful the Premier League past season, Sunderland are preparing for a run of continental enactment and person taken their pre-season plans crossed the pond.

Following a 5-1 triumph implicit League Two newcomers York City connected July 28, the Black Cats made their mode implicit to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series alongside Liverpool, Wrexham and Friday's opponents Leeds.

Regis Le Bris's troops commenced their North American docket with a 4-2 decision successful Nashville, Tennessee connected Saturday night, erstwhile Liverpool picked up their archetypal triumph nether caller brag Andoni Iraola.

Sunderland fielded an extremely-recognisable XI for the nonaccomplishment to the Merseyside Reds, with lone Reinildo, Nordi Mukiele and goalkeeper Melker Ellborg not portion of the squad that fired the nine to Premier League promotion successful 2024-25.

The Black Cats person already made a fig of cardinal moves up of their run successful the Europa League, with nine skipper Granit Xhaka committing his aboriginal to the Stadium of Light cause, whilst Thomas Meunier has joined connected a escaped transfer.

On a akin enactment to their opponents this Friday, Leeds kick-started their Premier League Summer Series travel with decision past weekend, erstwhile second-tier Wrexham proved their worthy astatine this month's competition.

Daniel Farke's broadside had not adjacent touched the shot successful the contention erstwhile Kieffer Moore fired the Red Dragons up wrong the archetypal minute, earlier goals from Bailey Cadamarteri and Sam Smith sealed a 3-2 triumph for Phil Parkinson's troops.

Leeds were peculiarly underpowered successful guardant positions during that nonaccomplishment to Wrexham, with the beforehand 3 consisting of Wilfried Gnonto, wantaway striker Joel Piroe and academy imaginable Callum Mills.

The Whites went winless crossed 2 matches versus Sunderland during the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, with the Black Cats winning the past gathering astatine Elland Road successful March courtesy of a Habib Diarra penalty.

The Yorkshire outfit statesman their quest for a top-half decorativeness successful the Premier League with a travel to Nottingham Forest connected August 22, but person affable clashes against Liverpool and Manchester United to look guardant to earlier the existent enactment commences.

Sunderland affable form:

W L

Leeds United affable form:

L

Team News

Sunderland fans are inactive awaiting the debut of summertime signing Thomas Meunier, who is enjoying his off-season interruption aft playing for Belgium astatine the World Cup.

Le Bris is apt to instrumentality with a akin XI that started against Liverpool, truthful expect Chris Rigg and Enzo Le Fee to stay successful the motor room.

After a high-profile determination from Fulham to Leeds this summer, Harry Wilson is successful enactment to marque his afloat debut connected Friday morning.

A fig of the Whites' first-team regulars could beryllium promoted from the seat for this clash, including Anton Stach, Lukas Nmecha and Ao Tanaka.

Whilst James Trafford's reported £40m determination from Manchester City is being finalised, Lucas Perri and Alex Cairns stock the goalkeeping duties for Farke's men.

Sunderland imaginable starting lineup:

Ellborg; Mukiele, Ballard, O'Nien, Reinildo; Browne, Hume, Le Fee, Rigg, Mundle; Isidor

Leeds United imaginable starting lineup:

Perri; Justin, Rodon, Cresswell; James, Ampadu, Stach, Bogle; Wilson, Gnonto, Nmecha

We say: Sunderland 1-2 Leeds United

At this aboriginal signifier of pre-season erstwhile it is hard to foretell squad lineups, it is astir intolerable to confidently foretell a affable result.

However, we are backing Wilson to impressment connected his afloat Leeds debut and occurrence his broadside to triumph implicit Sunderland.

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