Sunderland host Fulham at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon, and both sides go into Sunderland vs Fulham still on zero points. The opening shape matters here. Both are expected to use a 4-2-3-1, which puts the wide areas and the tempo of the game right at the centre of the contest.

Sunderland's left side is already under strain

Sunderland's team news is the first obvious pressure point. Simon Adingra is out with a foot injury, while Omar Alderete and Dayann Methalie are also among the absentees the hosts have had to manage around.

That leaves Sunderland with less room for rotation on the left and fewer obvious ways to change the game from the bench if the match stays tight. The setup is already awkward enough because Fulham are likely to mirror them in midfield and keep the same basic 4-2-3-1 structure.

Sunderland start the round 19th in the Premier League with 0 points, so the first home game already carries some weight. They lost 2-1 to Ipswich Town on the opening weekend after a 90th-minute strike by Jack Clarke, which makes a strong start here more important than the table would normally suggest in August.

Fulham's threat through Gonzalo García

Fulham arrive with a cleaner attacking reference point in Gonzalo García. He has scored in Fulham's first two games, and that is the sort of start that changes how defenders behave before kick-off. The Hard Tackle's preview put it bluntly: "So far, the Spanish striker hasn’t disappointed as he has found the back of the net in their first two games."

Fulham are 10th before kick-off, which gives them a little more breathing room than Sunderland, even after losing 3-2 at home to Chelsea in their opening league game. They also beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0 in the second round of the EFL Cup, so the mood around the front line has been better than the opening-day result alone would suggest.

The more awkward detail for Sunderland is Fulham's road record in 2026, which stands at 1 win, 4 draws and 5 losses. That is not a record that guarantees control, but it does show a side that can stay in games away from home and lean on moments rather than sustained pressure.

The tactical battle should be narrow and fairly familiar, with both teams trying to win the same zones. Sunderland need their left side to hold up despite the injuries, and Fulham have the sharper attacking edge through García. If that pattern holds, the match should be decided by who can keep the ball wide and stop the other side from turning the game into a series of direct duels.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →