We've asked AI to predict the rest of Sunderland's Premier League season off the back of their 3-0 win over Burnley and the closure of the transfer window.
Sunderland’s 3-0 win over Burnley on Monday has left them well and truly in the race for European qualification.
The Black Cats’ excellent return to the Premier League continued with a resounding win over the Clarets, maintaining their status as the only remaining home unbeaten team in the top flight. Just three points separate Regis Le Bris’ men from the top six, while they’re only four adrift of Chelsea in fifth.
What’s more, it’s hoped the signing of Nilson Angulo to replace the outgoing Simon Adingra will inject new life into Sunderland’s flanks and help them improve on a modest attacking record. With all of that in mind, we’ve turned to X’s AI chatbot, Grok, to see where it predicts Sunderland to finish come the end of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
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Grok predicts the rest of Sunderland’s Premier League season
Grok: Sunderland, currently on 36 points after 24 matches (8th place, +1 GD), have a realistic shot at a strong mid-table finish in their first Premier League season back since 2016/17. With 14 games left, I predict they will earn 18-22 more points, totalling 54-58 points, and finish 10th-12th.
This projection balances their impressive defensive solidity (best among promoted sides, anchored by Xhaka, Ballard, Alderete, and Roefs), recent form (wins like 3-0 vs Burnley post-window), and the boost from Nilson Angulo's arrival (creative left-sided threat), plus Diarra's return from Afcon. However, the run-in is tough: testing away trips to Arsenal, Bournemouth, Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Wolves, and Everton; home games against Liverpool, Fulham, Brighton, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Man United, and Chelsea; plus an FA Cup tie at Oxford (winnable but distracting).
They'll likely pick up points against lower/mid-table sides: expect wins/draws vs Fulham (H), Nottingham Forest (H), Wolves (A), and perhaps a couple of upsets (e.g., vs Brighton H or Everton A). Tougher fixtures (Arsenal A, Liverpool H, Man Utd H, Chelsea H, Villa A) are more likely losses or rare draws, given Arsenal's lead/defence and Liverpool's quality. Their +1 GD suggests low-scoring, gritty results — more 1-0/1-1 than blowouts.
The January window was smart (Angulo adds flair without overhauling), but goal threat remains modest (Brobbey leads with ~5; squad total ~27 goals). No major injuries noted beyond Xhaka's earlier absence, and depth helps rotation.Overall, 54-58 points would be exceptional for a promoted side (top-half security, better than many expected survival fights), cementing their status as competitive returnees without European push (top 7 unlikely due to fixture difficulty and depth gaps vs big clubs).
Grok’s predicted final Premier League table:
Arsenal - 85pts (+45 GD)
Manchester City - 82pts (+40 GD)
Aston Villa - 74pts (+22 GD)
Manchester United - 70pts (+18 GD)
Chelsea - 68pts (+25 GD)
Liverpool - 65pts (+15 GD)
Brentford - 58pts (+10 GD)
Newcastle United - 56pts (+8 GD)
Fulham - 55pts (+5 GD)
Sunderland - 56pts (+4 GD)
Everton - 54pts (+2 GD)
AFC Bournemouth - 53pts (-1 GD)
Brighton & Hove Albion - 50pts (+3 GD)
Tottenham Hotspur - 48pts (+1 GD)
Crystal Palace - 45pts (-5 GD)
Leeds United - 40pts (-12 GD)
Nottingham Forest - 38pts (-14 GD)
West Ham United - 32pts (-22 GD)
Burnley - 28pts (-28 GD)
Wolverhampton Wanderers - 20pts (-40 GD)
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