English Premier
2025-12-14 - Sunderland vs Newcastle United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 14th December 2025 - Kick Off 2pm
This game is live on TV
Sunderland
It was always going to be a big challenge for Sunderland to put in the same effort they had produced at Anfield to earn a draw just days later at the Etihad Stadium and ultimately the team were well beaten. Despite that, Sunderland fans have to be incredibly proud with how the team have been performing and there is massive excitement about the first Tyne-Wear derby of the season.
If you had told a Sunderland back in August that they would be sitting above rivals Newcastle United when the first League derby in over nine years was to be played, most would have expected The Magpies to be struggling. Instead it is The Black Cats who have been overachieving with Sunderland up into 9th place in the Premier League table and with 23 points on the board. The side have a 4-3-0 record at the Stadium of Light where they have scored 14 goals and conceded 7.
Sunderland have won 1 of the last 6 Premier League games, but they have played the top two and Champions Liverpool in that run. The sole victory was earned in a 3-2 win over Bournemouth as Sunderland showed massive heart to fight back from 0-2 behind, although 3 of the last 5 at the Stadium of Light have ended in draws.
Luke O'Nien is suspended after being sent off last weekend and will not be available until the fixture to be played on New Year's Day. Reinildo is a doubt.
Newcastle United
Another pretty solid away effort was wasted by Newcastle United in the Champions League on Wednesday as they conceded a late goal at Bayer Leverkusen to be held to a 2-2 draw. That has been a feature of the club's season with late goals changing far too many of their results in a negative direction and Eddie Howe cannot be very happy with the dropped points.
They return home and it should not take too much to motivate the players with Newcastle United's squad likely to have been reminded by fans all season about the importance of the Tyne-Wear derby. The Magpies are 12th in the Premier League table and Eddie Howe is looking for his team to build up some consistency, although Newcastle United have really struggled away from home where they have a 1-3-3 record in the top flight.
Newcastle United will take the positive out of the fact they are now unbeaten in 4 games in all competitions following the draw out in Leverkusen, but they have failed to win consecutive games since the end of October. The side had lost 4 away games in all competitions, but Newcastle United won their last Premier League game 1-4 at Everton before the draw against Bayer Leverkusen.
Sven Botman and Joelinton are doubts for the visiting team, while Nick Pope is expected to miss the remaining fixtures before Christmas Day.
Head to Head
The last League meeting between these North East rivals was back in March 2016, but Newcastle United did beat Sunderland 0-3 at the Stadium of Light in January 2024 in the FA Cup Third Round.
However, Sunderland are unbeaten in 4 home League games against Newcastle United and have won each of the last 3.
Prediction
The Tyne-Wear derby is just about as passionate as any you will see in English Football and both Newcastle United and Sunderland fans will have circled the two games to be played against one another as soon as the fixtures were released back in June.
However, Newcastle United fans might have expected this to be a one-season derby with Sunderland down as favourites to be relegated before a ball had been kicked.
Instead it is Sunderland fans who will be coming into the fixture with bragging rights behind them as the team have continued to overachieve and will kick off ahead of their fierce rivals in the Premier League standings.
Last weekend would have been a disappointing result, but Sunderland have had a full week to prepare and the squad looks in good shape.
At the Stadium of Light, the passionate fans have helped push this team forward and Sunderland have been very dangerous from set pieces. They are certainly going to test a Newcastle United team that have been very disappointing away from St James' Park all season, although Sunderland will have to note that recent performances at Everton and Bayer Leverkusen have been much more positive for The Magpies.
Eddie Howe's men won a Cup tie here in January 2024 so most of the squad will be well aware of the kind of atmosphere that will be generated.
Sunderland are a much better team now, but they are still looking a bit more vulnerable at the back and Newcastle United have plenty of pace and quality in the final third to test this defensive shape.
For all of the issues in picking up consistent away points, Newcastle United have shown they are dangerous getting forward and they should be able to breach this backline.
Keeping The Black Cats out is another story though and this opening Tyne-Wear derby of the 2025/26 season looks like one that could produce plenty of drama on the pitch.
Conditions look like they could be a little wet and windy, but that may not be too much of a detriment to the game and backing at least three goals looks the call with the 1-1 scoreline perhaps being the most dangerous.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Sunderland 1-2 Newcastle United
