“Sunderland Insider Shocks Fans with Bold Prediction for Epic Leeds United Showdown.This will leave you speechless….
Leeds United will face Sunderland on Friday night in their last match before the October international break, and Black Cats expert Luke Phelps has shared his prediction for the outcome.
In this opening weekend fixture, Daniel Farke’s injury-plagued team will take on the Championship’s early frontrunners, managed by Regis Le Bris, who was previously linked with Leeds in 2023 and is now thriving in his role.
Despite Sunderland losing Jack Clarke, a product of Thorp Arch Academy, to Ipswich Town, where he has reunited with Kalvin Phillips and Leif Davis, Kieran McKenna’s side is focused on securing Premier League safety.
Leeds heads into the match with a lengthy injury list. Ilia Gruev is unlikely to recover from an injury sustained against Norwich, joining captain Ethan Ampadu on the sidelines. Dan James, Max Wober, and Manor Solomon are also expected to miss the game, though Isaac Schmidt might return if he overcomes a glute injury. Leeds faces a challenging evening ahead.
### Sunderland Confident Ahead of Clash
Sunderland enters the match with high confidence after returning to the top of the second tier following a straightforward 2-0 victory over Derby County. They will be optimistic about their chances against Leeds.
Phelps believes Friday night is an opportune moment for Sunderland to face Leeds, stating, “Given Leeds United’s injury struggles, I’m inclined to back Sunderland for a win, especially at home. The Black Cats have maintained a perfect home record this season.”
He added, “They’ve already defeated Burnley, and after a comfortable win against Derby where they didn’t have to push too hard, a victory against Leeds seems very achievable.”
Phelps considers this match one of Sunderland’s biggest tests of the season but believes if the young squad can manage their emotions and focus on their game, they can secure a home win, predicting a score of 2-1.
### Historical Context of Sunderland vs. Leeds
In the past decade, Sunderland and Leeds have faced each other five times, mainly due to Leeds’ relegation to League One and Sunderland’s subsequent struggles. Their first encounter was in 2015.
Last season, Sunderland proved challenging for Leeds, earning five points from their matches, including a notable performance inspired by Jobe Bellingham at the Stadium of Light in December 2023. Sunderland successfully contained Leeds twice last term, with Leeds managing just one win in their last seven encounters, when Thomas Christiansen’s side triumphed over Simon Grayson’s Sunderland.
