Sunderland

Hear from Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris after Sunderland's victory against Brentford in the EFL Cup.

Press play below or listen on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the EFL Cup quarter-finals has been completed:

Fleetwood Town v Everton or Newcastle

Manchester City v Bradford City

Crystal Palace v Sunderland

Liverpool v Bournemouth

The matches will be played in the week commencing 14 December.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Sunderland's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies.

There are five Carabao Cup fourth round games on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Manchester City v Brighton (19:30)

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa

• Fulham v Crystal Palace

• Sunderland v Brentford

• Liverpool v Chelsea (20:00)

Kick-off times 19:45 GMT unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Hull City" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Everton match", for example.

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

Image source, BBC Sport

New this season: Match of the Day Predictor

Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Read more about it here

You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or on this link

Image source, SAFC

A mural honouring Sunderland's 1937 FA Cup hero Eddie Burbanks has been unveiled at the Cambridge Arms in Roker.

It completes the trio of murals dedicated to the goalscorers of the club's first-ever FA Cup final victory, against Preston North End, joining Raich Carter's in Hendon and Bobby Gurney's in Silksworth.

Reflecting on his creation, artist Frank Styles said: "I've had some great feedback, including from people whose families knew Eddie," said Styles. "Murals like this help keep the spirit of community alive.

"Yes, it was a long time ago, but I think it's magical to imagine that your actions might still be remembered 90 years later.

"The Cambridge Arms is a great place for this painting, as Eddie is looking towards the site of the old Roker Park stadium and the locals couldn't have been more welcoming."

Sunderland's 2026-27 home kit also pays tribute to the triumph, with the original city crest featuring on the outside of the back of the neck and the full starting XI from that "famous day out at Wembley" included as an interior back of the neck detail.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland boss Regis le Bris said right-back Thomas Meunier could be available to feature from the bench for Wednesday's Carabao Cup last 16 tie against Brentford.

However, the Black Cats boss confirmed Wilson Isidor's return is "on the edge" as he looks to recover from a knock.

Meunier has been a welcome addition to Wearside with his capabilities of playing in a right-back and right-wing role.

Le Bris said: "Probably Thomas will be available coming off the bench. We'll decide."

Both Meunier and Isidor last featured for Sunderland in the 2-0 defeat to Brighton in October.

Since then, the Black Cats have picked up one point out of two games in the Premier League and have won four points from two Europa League matches.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini says the return of Brian Brobbey can give Regis le Bris the "focal point" he needs to build his attack.

The 24-year-old striker, who has scored three goals so far this season, played 65 minutes in Sunday's goalless draw against Leeds after missing three games with a hamstring injury picked up on international duty with the Netherlands.

"We're short up front and he's been a good player over the last six months," Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"At the end of last season and into this season he's started very well. [Wilson] Isidor is the back-up and not many supporters have too many complaints about his quality. [Timur] Tutierov is a young player coming through and it's a big job to do when you've not got any experience really at this level.

"To have Brian there, he certainly ruffles feathers and you can see defenders straight away are wary of his presence and try everything they can to stop it.

"He had a few opportunities, he still looked a little bit off the pace but that's understandable. You do need a focal point in your attacks.

"I'm pleased he's back and hope there is no further occurrence of his injury from that performance. He sensibly wasn't left on for the full 90. It's good to see him back."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Sunderland and Leeds.

Here are some of your comments:

Sunderland fans

Denise: The windy conditions was never going to allow this to be a classic game of football. We kept focused, dealt better with the conditions but yet again it was a missed opportunity of maximum points.

Jura: Never has our eighth league game of the season been so significant. Losing this game would have been disastrous. We very much needed a win but a draw considering the conditions wasn't the end of the world.

Stephen: Brobbey is still a little rusty but he still demonstrated why we've missed him. I was pleased with our performance despite only a draw. I'm more confident than I was last week that we'll get through this dark period.

Leeds fans

Robert: Weather was the winner. Could have been a good game, but being honest, it was not. Another point gained towards safety.

Wayne: Fair result when you take the weather conditions into account but Leeds were a bit unlucky at the end.

Eric: We were not the only team to play in less than favourable weather conditions so let's forget the excuses. Week in, week out we have the same problems, poor distribution, poor passing, a yard slower than the opposition and second best to the 50-50 balls. Against Sunderland we were just not physical enough.

Ian: With the Windy conditions, you would have expected a confident team to pass along the floor rather than hooking it into the air. Still, on a positive note another clean sheet. We may be difficult to beat but we could do with a win. Bournemouth next week, but they will be confident after thrashing Manchester United.

Sunderland defender Luke O'Nien says "belief is never going to leave" as they played out a goalless draw against Leeds to sit at the foot of the Premier League table.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, O'Nien said: "Belief is never going to leave this team. I think the table reflects fairly where you should be - which is really humbling - but the best of it is we're not going to be there for long if we do the things we did today. It's in our hands to get back to what we did last year.

"Today was a step in the right direction."

Listen to the full clip above or on BBC Sounds here

You can also listen to Gary Bennett and Nick Barnes' full-time analysis here

Regis Le Bris spoke to Sky Sports after Sunderland's draw against Leeds: "It's a positive [point], the more positive [thing] is the way we played with intensity, togetherness - we were Sunderland today.

"It's still a long journey, we know with this busy schedule playing in Europe, playing in the Carabao Cup, it's a new challenge for us and we need to embrace it. I think we showed this afternoon that we are in this challenge, we want to embrace it and be ourselves and we probably deserved a bit more today."

On their attacking threat: "Good chances but we still need to be clinical. We had this conversation at half time about this consistency and this belief we need to have because sometimes it's just a click and you score but today wasn't the case."

On seeing belief in his side: "Absolutely. We saw Sunderland on the pitch today so I am confident with the team spirit and confident with the way we are working hard together to get better and consistency is still key. We have another game on Wednesday then Coventry and the objective is to get better."

On Nordi Mukiele who went off injured: "He's OK - no problem."

Luke O'Nien also spoke to Sky Sports: "I think the wind played a big part and credit to both defences and the attacks as well to be able to keep it to no goals in that swirling wind.

"I think it was a good effort from everybody so obviously we want three points from where we are in the table but keep putting up the performances like that and we'll get some."

On being bottom of the Premier League table: "I think always the table reflects fairly where teams deserve to be, and I think over the course of the course of the season if we keep putting in performances like that it will represent where we should be.

"But the table always reflects where people should be but we need to keep looking at ourselves, don't look at other anyone else, it's no-one else's fault but us and we know that."

On playing in Europe: "I think the extra games help - you build momentum, more players come in, it builds rhythm. We've got a game Wednesday, then Saturday, Thursday - as kids growing up all you wanted to do was play football every day.

"It suits us all nicely and we're going to need everybody in the squad and whatever competition it is we're out there to win games."

Hear more from Le Bris on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Sunderland have nine points fewer than they did at the same stage of last season's Premier League (5 in 2026-27, 14 in 2025-26), the biggest drop-off after eight games of any team.

• No team have scored fewer goals than Sunderland (6) in the Premier League this season. Only twice previously have the Black Cats netted fewer after eight games of a Premier League campaign: 3 in 2002-03 and 5 in 2013-14.

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA Media

Brian Brobbey had netted a hat-trick in his previous Premier League outing, a 5-3 loss at Manchester City on 20 September.

However, Sunderland had failed to score in their two league matches while he was out with the hamstring injury he sustained while on international duty, and drew another blank against Leeds.

James Trafford dived low to his right to keep out Brobbey's deflected shot early on and then was alert to smother the ball at Brobbey's feet after the Dutch striker had put pressure on the visitors' backline.

While providing a focal point for Sunderland's attack, he got little change out of Leeds' three centre-backs and had touched the ball only 16 times before he was replaced in the 65th minute by Ukrainian Timur Tutierov.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Sunderland's performance

What did you make of Leeds' display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are five games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Crystal Palace v Newcastle

• Hull City v Brentford

• Liverpool v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Manchester United v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Sunderland v Leeds (16:30)- listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Brighton" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Sunderland match", for example.

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

Image source, BBC Sport

New this season: Match of the Day Predictor

Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Read more about it here

You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or on this link

Sunderland have killed me this season because I just don't seem to be able to predict them at all.

The Black Cats are bottom of the table after losing four league games in a row and their boss Regis le Bris has a few problems to solve.

One of them is having European football that stretches their squad - they were away in Poland on Thursday - but at least they will have striker Brian Brobbey back from injury at the weekend.

After last weekend's loss at Bournemouth, Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele suggested the Black Cats may have become "arrogant", but I don't see that outburst being as damaging as the ones by Manchester United players recently.

Still, things like that are better kept inside the dressing room because some of Mukiele's team-mates will be asking him if he was calling them arrogant.

I was never arrogant as a player, by the way, but people used to call me far worse than that in my day.

Maybe we will see a reaction from Sunderland here, but I still don't see them winning this because Leeds are battle-hardened and are a good team too.

They weren't at their best against Manchester United but still picked up a point, and they won't be leaving the Stadium of Light empty-handed.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

Struggling Sunderland face a tricky test against a Leeds United side that have made themselves very hard to beat. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes going into Sunday's game at the Stadium of Light.

Bottom-of-the-table Sunderland only need to look at Leeds for an example of how to turn around a poor start to a Premier League season. Daniel Farke's position became precarious after the Whites accrued only 11 points from their opening 13 matches of 2025-26.

A now famous tactical tweak in defeat by Manchester City proved to be the catalyst that has since turned them into one of the top flight's hardest teams to beat, with only six losses in 32 matches since.

The Black Cats have dropped to the foot of the table after earning just four points from seven games, their lowest tally at this stage of a league season since 2016-17, when they had two and went on to finish bottom.

Having had the misfortune to face Arsenal, Manchester City and Brighton, hopes were high a fixture against winless Bournemouth would be the perfect tonic. But a calamitous afternoon ended in a flattering 2-0 defeat and meant that they had been beaten in four successive league matches by a two-goal margin. The last time they lost five league games in a row by two or more goals was 96 years ago.

The Cherries recorded their highest xG in a Premier League match of 4.32, mustering 29 shots against an error-ridden backline that never looked comfortable and had Kevin Danso sent off after just 17 minutes.

"It's always a different player every time [making mistakes], so it is hard to fix," said boss Regis le Bris afterwards.

Last season, they had the fourth-best defence in the top flight and conceded just 1.26 goals per game, but that has rocketed to 2.0 per match, with only Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town letting in more.

Leeds looking to turn draws into victories

A draw with Manchester United is not normally to be sniffed at, but such is Leeds' confidence and form they were left frustrated they didn't secure all three points against their bitter rivals.

While being hard to beat is obviously a huge positive, turning one point into three is something that will be top of Farke's to-do list. His team have drawn 13 of their 27 league fixtures in 2026, the most of any top-flight side.

One man they have certainly been able to rely on is in-form striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. His equaliser against Manchester United was his 17th top-flight strike since 29 November last year, a tally only Manchester City's Erling Haaland can beat. However, Farke said on Friday Calvert-Lewin is a doubt for Sunday with a bruised foot.

Leeds have another chance to shed their Super Sunday curse - in eight attempts, they have never won a Premier League game in the prime 16:.30 slot.

In another quirk, their draw with Manchester United extended their winless run in games that have kicked off before 15:00 to 21, the longest such streak in the Premier League.

Good job, then, that the Whites have come alive at night, with an incredible 49% of their points over the past two seasons earned from games at 20:00 or later.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes says Sunday's game against Leeds United is the Black Cats' "biggest game of the season" yet because it is so vital they end their poor run in the Premier League.

"It's a a huge game, massive game," said Barnes. "We all know what's at stake in this game.

"Sunderland really do need to get something from the game on a number of levels so this now is the biggest game of the season."

Hear more from Barnes below, or listen here on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland boss Regis le Bris says they have "to enjoy the challenge of getting better" following a disappointing start to the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.

The Black Cats sit bottom of the league with four points having lost their past three games.

"It's almost a new feeling because everything has been so positive for such a long time," said Le Bris before Sunday's game against Leeds United. "It's hard to take, but I think the most important [thing] is to enjoy the challenge to get better."

Le Bris' men also have European football to contend with while focusing on turning results around in the league.

He said they knew "that the schedule was relentless" before going into this run of games so hopes the team will benefit from playing in quick succession in the long term.

On Sunday's opponents, he added: "They are doing really well and they are consistent as well. They are in a different position, but anything is possible in football."

Listen to live commentary of Sunderland v Leeds on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds at 16:30 GMT on Sunday.

Former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett says Thursday's 1-1 draw at Lech Poznan "is disappointing" for the Black Cats, but a reflection of their lack of confidence in front of goal.

Regis le Bris' side registered eight shots on target in the first-half, with Malick Fofana striking the woodwork, as they failed to extend their advantage.

"How many times were we in front of a goal and we didn't even work the goalkeeper?", Bennett asked BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes.

"It's disappointing from Sunderland's point of view that we didn't win and get the three points, and maybe you put that down to confidence in front of goal."

Listen to Bennett and Barnes' post-match analysis by pressing the play button above, or here on BBC Sounds

And check out the view of fan Eleanor McCabe, who says she "cannot wait for Brian Brobbey back", below or on BBC Sounds here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Thursday's draw against Lech Poznan in the Europa League.

Here are some of your comments:

Stephen: Thankfully we put aside our dismal performance on Sunday with a lot more focus and energy. But we'll only start winning games again when we start capitalising on our opportunities.

Phil: Didn't capitalise on a flying start. Wasted chances. We feel rather toothless without Brian Brobbey up front and generally laboured in going forward. Our defence has lost its grip and, is it just me, or is Granit Xhaka looking rather disinterested currently? I'm hopeful that a couple of wins will get us back to our best and up the league table. Haway The Lads!

Keith: Apart from the obvious lack of firepower, this was a very encouraging performance. Passing was crisp and there were some accurate crosses in a good, open game. Nilson Angulo worked hard but Nordi Mukiele and the ageing warhorse Luke O'Nien took the eye in defence and midfield. Keep up the hard work, lads!

John: Very frustrating season continues. Eleven shots on target, about half of them scuffed or too close to the keeper. They are showing a distinct lack of quality. Long season ahead.

Chris: An improvement on previous performances, but the amount of chances we squandered was proof we need another forward in the squad.

John: Following the last Premier League game, this was a massive improvement. Luke O'Nien was outstanding, and there were some excellent performances throughout the team. Jules Ahoka looks like a good buy. Pity we couldn't score again, but let's not be too downbeat about the result. Looking forward to Sunday.