Premier League
Sunderland arrive with considerably more positive recent opening-day numbers. They have won their first league match in each of the previous two seasons, overcoming Cardiff in 2024-25 before beating West Ham in their Premier League opener last term. Another victory would give Sunderland three consecutive opening-day wins for the first time since 1950-51 to 1952-53. The Black Cats also ended last season strongly. Sunderland won their final two Premier League fixtures and could now record three consecutive victories in the competition for the first time since May 2014, when they put together a four-game winning sequence under Gus Poyet. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Brian Brobbey in attack may be seen against Ipswich Town.
Ipswich Town vs. Sunderland kicks off at 15:00 [GMT+1] on Saturday, August 22, at Portman Road. Ipswich Town welcome Sunderland in their opening Premier League fixture of the season, with the Tractor Boys returning to the top flight looking to reverse a poor sequence of opening-day results. The clubs have not faced each other in the Premier League since December 2001, when Ipswich produced a commanding 5-0 victory. That remains the Tractor Boys' biggest win in Premier League history and provides an interesting historical backdrop to their latest meeting with the Black Cats. More recently, Ipswich completed the league double over Sunderland during the 2023-24 Championship campaign. They now have the opportunity to record three consecutive league victories against Sunderland for the first time. This will also be the third occasion on which the teams have met in the opening fixture of a top-flight season. Their first such encounter produced a 3-3 draw in 1981-82, a campaign Ipswich eventually finished as runners-up. Sunderland then recorded a 1-0 opening-day victory in 2001-02, when Ipswich ultimately suffered relegation. Ipswich's broader opening-day Premier League record is less encouraging. They have lost their first match in each of their last four campaigns in the competition, covering 1994-95, 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2024-25. Their last opening victory in the top flight was a 3-0 success against Oldham Athletic in 1993-94, something they would be keen to replicate on Saturday. A familiar face in the dugout, Gary O'Neil will be making his managerial debut for the club when he deploys his preferred 4—2—3—1 formation with George Hirst in attack. There could also be an individual landmark for Chuba Akpom. His previous Premier League appearance came for Arsenal against Tottenham in February 2015. Should he feature, the gap of 11 years and 196 days would be the second-longest between appearances by a player in Premier League history, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo.