Premier League hosts Sunderland will hope to avoid an upset against League One opponents Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup's second round on Tuesday at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats lost 2-0 against Burnley on Saturday in their second league match of the campaign, whereas Huddersfield beat Stevenage 1-0 on the same day.
Match preview
Sunderland began their top-flight campaign in fine fashion, winning 3-0 against West Ham United on August 16, but defeat to relegation rivals Burnley will be disappointing to manager Regis Le Bris.
The hosts are seventh in the league, though, and expectations are high considering the club have spent close to £150m on new players.
Sunderland have faced Huddersfield four times since 2022, but the Black Cats only won one of those encounters while losing their most recent two clashes.
Furthermore, the top-flight outfit have won just three of their last 11 competitive games, with the club suffering six defeats in that period.
The Black Cats' only home match this term was against West Ham, and that victory ended a streak of three consecutive losses at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka on August 16, 2025
Huddersfield were excellent from a defensive perspective against Stevenage considering they restricted their opponents to just one shot from inside the box that did not originate from a set piece.
The triumph was the Terriers' second clean sheet in two matches, and they boast League One's joint second-best defensive record after five games, conceding three times while also scoring the joint most goals of any team in the division (10).
Boss Lee Grant guided his side to a 2-2 stalemate with Leicester City in the first round of the EFL Cup on August 13, with his players winning the subsequent penalty shootout 3-2.
Grant has overseen five victories from his six fixtures in charge this season, and his team's only loss was a 3-2 defeat against Blackpool on August 16.
Huddersfield have won one and been held to one stalemate in their two away fixtures of 2025-26, and they were also beaten in each of their final six matches of 2024-25.
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Huddersfield Town EFL Cup form:
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Team News
Huddersfield Town head coach Lee Grant on July 19, 2025
Sunderland are certain to make changes to the team that lost against Burnley, and it would not be surprising to see Anthony Patterson came into the starting XI in place of goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Patterson could be protected by a central defence consisting of Omar Alderete and Jenson Seelt, while midfielder Granit Xhaka may come out of the team in favour of Daniel Neil.
Perhaps fans will see a front three led by striker Marc Guiu, who will want to make his first start for the Black Cats since signing on loan from Chelsea.
If Huddersfield select a similar starting lineup to the team that beat Leicester on penalties, then centre-forward Dion Charles will play between wingers Ruben Roosken and Cameron Ashia.
Daniel Vost and David Kasumu may be asked to shield a backline featuring centre-backs Josh Feeney and Murray Wallace.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Pembele, Seelt, Alderete, Huggins; Le Fee, Neil, Sadiki; Talbi, Mayenda, Adingra
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Gooch, Feeney, Wallace, Roughan; Vost, Kasumu; Ashia, Wiles, Roosken; Charles
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We say: Sunderland 2-1 Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield are likely to prove to be challenging opponents for their hosts considering they have so far been League One's joint best offensive side.
However, the quality within Sunderland's squad should still be enough for victory, especially after they spent so heavily in the summer transfer window.
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