When Sunderland’s 2025/2026 fixtures have been launched, the notion of going through journeys to final season’s runaway Premier League champions and their four-time champion predecessors inside the area of three days may’ve felt considerably unlikely.
Nevertheless, the fixture laptop — a tool that will or is probably not working Home windows 2000 — doesn’t appear to look after the thought of an “simple journey” and after seeing off Bournemouth in a loopy, rain-soaked affair on Saturday, the Lads should now metal themselves for arguably the hardest home project of a league season. The timing could also be eye-catching however as they at all times say, “You’ve obtained to play everybody twice”, so let’s get right down to enterprise.
Rallying as we did to see off the Cherries may’ve compelled Sunderland to dig extra deeply than they maybe would’ve wished, however such outcomes additionally breed perception and it’ll be a squad buoyed by a sterling effort that makes the journey to Merseyside tomorrow night after which alongside the East Lancashire Highway subsequent Saturday.
Commercial
Two video games towards world class opponents — don’t be fooled by Liverpool’s present hunch, as a result of they’ll and greater than seemingly will discover their groove as soon as once more — and a possibility for Régis Le Bris to pit his wits towards two of the highest flight’s most highly-acclaimed bosses. From the second Tommy Watson’s winner hit the web towards Sheffield United at Wembley, Le Bris would’ve identified what was coming and on the threat of sounding presumptuous, I prefer to assume he’s been excited by these challenges ever since.
Daunting?
Maybe, however as Roker Report’s Paddy Hollis, that is precisely the place we wish to be; the place we should always at all times attempt to be, and the hope of being concerned in these sorts of events certainly stored the flame burning throughout these lengthy years in lower-league exile.
Let’s face it: Sunderland have hardly regarded like undesirable visitors on the Premier League occasion this season — we regarded like we belonged from virtually the very first minute towards West Ham, and so Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola will probably be absolutely conscious of the challenges we are able to pose for his or her groups.
Commercial
First up, Liverpool.
All-conquering and runaway Premier League champions final season, 2025/2026 has represented a startling drop off for the Anfield outfit, with their title defence falling aside at alarming velocity, their Champions League marketing campaign hardly catching fireplace and most of their summer time signings bar Hugo Ekitike not making wherever close to the type of affect that many may’ve anticipated.
Given the toll the video games may tackle his squad, may Le Bris change issues up, and after his newest contribution, does Brian Brobbey have a powerful case to begin and to probably trigger the Reds’ defence points together with his physicality and aggression?
They’ve regarded considerably shaky on the again for a while and a fired-up Brobbey actually has the attributes to provide the likes of Virgil Van Dijk one thing to consider — once more, in no way a difficult difficulty for Le Bris to should grapple with.
Waiting for the weekend, I’m intrigued to see how Sunderland’s defence goes concerning the enterprise of trying to maintain Erling Haaland quiet.
Commercial
The Norwegian marksman could also be “half man, half machine, all goalscorer” however he drew a clean towards Leeds United and I’ve a suspicion that the likes of Omar Alderete particularly will probably be relishing the chance to take him on.
With lethal gamers all around the park together with the electrifying Jeremy Doku, Metropolis are deadly at dwelling and the dimensions of the problem shouldn’t be misplaced on anybody, however I’ve seen no traces of an inferiority complicated from Sunderland at dwelling or away this season, and the identical mindset must be carried into this one. Granit Xhaka has performed in these sorts of video games for years — he’ll know what must be carried out and the message will likely be acquired loudly and clearly by his teammates.
On condition that we went to Stamford Bridge and fell behind earlier than mounting a stirring fightback and finally claiming all three factors towards Chelsea, Sunderland’s blueprint towards the league’s elite sides has already been established: no concern; no backward steps and full dedication to the duty at hand from the primary whistle to the final.
Mix that strategy with the footballing means we possess and who’s to say we are able to’t choose up some extent or two and proceed to set ourselves up for the pre-Christmas derby in optimistic vogue? This week, all roads result in Lancashire. Let’s go for it.
