Sunderland vs Leeds United prediction 28.12.2025 | Premier League

Sunderland headed into Christmas in a pretty good place. Beating Newcastle at home and then grinding out a 0-0 draw away at Brighton was not flashy, but it showed a bit of steel. It also stretched their unbeaten run, which tells you this side is starting to look comfortable at this level.

Step back and the form reads even better. The Black Cats have lost just twice in their last ten league games, and that run includes a 2-1 win at Chelsea and a 2-2 draw at Arsenal. Not exactly gentle tests. At home, it has been even more convincing. Eight games unbeaten at the Stadium of Light, five wins and three draws, and teams clearly do not enjoy coming here.

Luke O’Nien is still suspended after the red card against Manchester City. Simon Adingra, free from AFCON duty, should stay up top, while Granit Xhaka quietly runs the midfield, having provided five goal contributions in the league since his arrival.

Leeds arrive with some resilience of their own. The Whites are unbeaten in four, picking up two wins and two draws despite facing in-form Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Chelsea. That run deserves credit.

However, the away form tells a less reassuring story. All but one of Leeds’ five league wins have come at Elland Road, and the road has been unforgiving.

Daniel Farke’s side on the road have been hard to trust lately. Five away games without a win, four of them defeats, and the history against Sunderland does not exactly inspire confidence either.

Most of the attacking weight still falls on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has seven league goals and should partner Noah Okafor again. Lukas Nmecha is still out with a hamstring problem, so options remain limited.