Sunderland look to continue their strong start to the Premier League season as they prepare to face 13-time champions Manchester United at Old Trafford.
After a hard-fought victory against Nottingham Forest, Sunderland find themselves in the top five of the Premier League table with just one defeat in their opening six games. In contrast, Manchester United have struggled for consistency, suffering a defeat against Brentford and losing half of their six league fixtures under manager Ruben Amorim.
Despite high expectations for a turnaround after a disappointing previous season, the Red Devils currently sit in fourteenth place, just three points clear of the relegation zone. The upcoming clash at Old Trafford holds significant stakes for both teams.
The Premier League has announced Stuart Attwell as the referee for the match, a potential cause for concern for Sunderland. The Black Cats have lost their last four games officiated by Attwell, including a 2-1 defeat at Leeds United and a crucial 1-0 loss to Bournemouth that led to their relegation in 2017.
Sunderland have only won two of their 13 games officiated by Attwell since 2010 and will be eager to secure their first league victory under his oversight at Old Trafford. Their hosts, Manchester United, have a more favorable record with Attwell as the lead official, having lost just five of their 21 matches under his watch.
Attwell will be supported by assistants Constantine Hatzidakis and Nick Hopton, with Dean Whitestone as the fourth official. Neil Davies will serve as the VAR official, assisted by Stuart Burt.
