Why Everton draw was a good point for Sunderland
Football Manager 2026 helps us predict Sunderland’s next six games including clashes with Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United.
Sunderland have enjoyed a remarkable return to the Premier League and will head into Saturday’s home game with leaders Arsenal sitting in the top four of the table.
After earning a battling point in Monday’s home game with Everton, Regis Le Bris’ side have now lost just one of their last eight league games and remain unbeaten at home during the first three months of the season. As it stands, the Black Cats have collected Wearside wins against West Ham United, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers and shared the points with Aston Villa and Everton.
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Sunderland 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland fell to a home defeat against Arsenal in our Football Manager 2026 simulation (photo Sports Interactive)placeholder image
Sunderland fell to a home defeat against Arsenal in our Football Manager 2026 simulation (photo Sports Interactive) | Sports Interactive
It was always going to be a tough task against an Arsenal side that are dominating the Premier League in the virtual world as well as the real one. The Gunners were bang in form ahead of their trip to Wearside and they continued their march towards the Premier League title with a 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light. All of their goals came in the space of 12 first-half minutes as a Martin Odegaard opener and a brace from summer signing Viktor Gyokeres handed the points to Mikel Arteta’s men.
Fulham 1-0 Sunderland
A trip to West London was next on the agenda for Le Bris and his players as they looked to bounce back from that defeat against Arsenal - but they found themselves on the wrong end once again as Alex Iwobi got the only goal of the game to give the points to the Cottagers.
Sunderland 1-3 Bournemouth
Sunderland made the perfect start to their attempts to bounce back from suffering consecutive defeats as Habib Diarra opened the scoring with just six minutes on the clock at the Stadium of Light. However, Le Bris’ men were reduced to ten men on the half-hour mark as Reinildo Mandava saw red for a two-footed lunge on Justin Kluivert. The Cherries made the most of their man advantage during the second-half as a brace from Evanilson and a Tyler Adams effort gave them all three points.
Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
Simon Adingra scored as Sunderland claimed a point at Liverpool in our Football Manager 2026 simulation (photo Sports Interactive)placeholder image
Simon Adingra scored as Sunderland claimed a point at Liverpool in our Football Manager 2026 simulation (photo Sports Interactive) | Sports Interactive
A visit to the reigning Premier League champions was always likely to be a daunting task as the Black Cats looked to end a poor run of results. Le Bris’ side made the perfect start once again as Chemsdine Talbi’s cross to the far post was volleyed home by Simon Adingra and that looked to have put Sunderland on their way to a famous win at Anfield. However, there was a late sting in the tail as the Reds snatched a share of the points with a 95th minute equaliser from midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.
Sunderland 0-3 Manchester City
Pep Guardiola’s men were hunting down leaders Arsenal ahead of their visit to the Stadium of Light as one of world football’s most feared strikers stamped his authority on the game inside the opening 15 minutes as Erling Haaland scored twice to add to his ever-growing tally of goals. City then put the seal on a professional away performance when Rayan Cherki came off the bench to net a third goal with seven minutes left on the clock as the Black Cats search for a win was extended to a fifth game.
Sunderland 2-1 Newcastle United
Sunderland claimed a 2-1 win against arch rivals Newcastle United in our Football Manager 2026 simulation (photo Sports Interactive)placeholder image
Sunderland claimed a 2-1 win against arch rivals Newcastle United in our Football Manager 2026 simulation (photo Sports Interactive) | Sports Interactive
A long awaited derby day arrived on Wearside as the Black Cats looked to land a win against the Magpies. However, it was the visitors that made the better start to the contest and they got their reward just before half-time as club record signing Nick Woltemade was found by Joelinton and fired a rising effort beyond the advancing Robin Roefs and into the top corner of his net.
Sunderland got back into the game midway through the second-half when Habib Diarra produced a stunning strike from the edge of the box after good work from Enzo Le Fee - and that seemed to have ensured the points would be shared as the game made its way towards full-time. There was to be one final decisive moment as Simon Adingra rose to meet a Diarra cross in the first minute of injury-time and headed home the winning goal to secure the bragging rights for the Black Cats.
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