English Premier
2026-05-09 - Sunderland vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 9th May 2026 - Kick Off 3pm
Sunderland
Recent results may be a little disappointing, but Regis Le Bris and his Sunderland team have already overachieved this season by merely retaining Premier League status having come into the campaign as favourites for relegation. A top half finish would be a big achievement, while any involvement in UEFA competition would be a huge surprise.
Dropping two points at Molineux last weekend means Sunderland have slipped back into 12th place in the Premier League table, but they are 4 points behind Bournemouth in the top six and there is still all to play for in the final three League games. Finishing above rivals Newcastle United is something the fans will be targeting- with or without European Football- and Sunderland will be bidding to improve the 8-5-4 record at the Stadium of Light this weekend.
Sunderland have lost 4 of the last 7 games played in all competitions and they are winless in 3 following the draw at Wolves last Saturday. After putting together a long unbeaten run at home in the Premier League, it should be noted that Sunderland have lost 4 of the last 5 here in the top flight, including a thumping 0-5 defeat to Nottingham Forest most recently.
Dan Ballard has become the latest Premier League footballer sent off for a hair pull and he is suspended for the last three fixtures. Nilson Angulo and Bertrand Traore could both be involved this weekend.
Manchester United
It has yet to be made official, but there looks to be an increasing move to make Michael Carrick the next full time Manchester United manager after his run as interim guided the club back into the Champions League. A big summer is coming up for Manchester United who will want to build on this season, but the squad is going to need additions with at least eight Champions League games to play around domestic commitments.
Completing the double over rivals Liverpool means Manchester United now look set to finish the season in 3rd place, which is a huge climb from the awful domestic campaign of twelve months ago. The side have a 6-7-4 away record in the top flight and fans will be hoping those draws can be turned into more wins next time around.
Manchester United have won 3 Premier League games in a row since the surprising defeat to Leeds United at Old Trafford. There has been little else wrong with the form at home under this manager, while Manchester United have won half of the 6 away Premier League games played too.
Lisandro Martinez is back from a suspension, but Benjamin Sesko is a doubt having come off with an injury last Sunday.
Head to Head
The reverse fixture ended 2-0 in favour of Manchester United back in October.
Sunderland had been unbeaten in 3 at the Stadium of Light against Manchester United, but that run was ended in an emphatic 0-3 defeat when last hosting in April 2017.
Prediction
Some of the recent defending produced by Sunderland has to be a concern, but you can understand that a long, successful season may have just worn down a few of the players.
Getting into Europe would be a big achievement and offer the club a financial boost, but there will be a feeling in some quarters that Sunderland could become stretched next season with domestic commitments to manage around the additional games.
Instead the better approach may be to slowly consolidate into a permanent Premier League club and then push onto the European spots, although no one associated with Sunderland will admit that publicly.
Regis Le Bris will pick a strong team and upsetting a giant like Manchester United will always be well received in this part of the North East.
Michael Carrick will be keen to avoid that.
Not only did he support big rivals Newcastle United when he was younger, but Carrick will remember how Manchester United were treated when losing the title in 2012 after winning at this ground. The Sunderland fans enjoyed the moment and Michael Carrick will be keen to keep some momentum behind his current Manchester United squad following 3 wins in a row.
Manchester United have been better at home in most aspects, but they have shown some resilience to battle to 3 wins in 6 away Premier League games played under Michael Carrick.
A couple of those wins came in 0-1 efforts at Everton and Chelsea and that feels like a result that could be repeated in this fixture on Saturday afternoon.
It does feel like a game where the first goal is going to play a huge part in the eventual outcome, but Manchester United have shown that having several days to prepare for matches is something that they can exploit.
And just on recent form, Manchester United may hold a narrow edge over Sunderland in this contest as they edge past them for another three points that likely takes Michael Carrick that much closer to the permanent role.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Sunderland 0-1 Manchester United
