Pundits Chris Sutton and Paul Merson predict Aston Villa will win against Sunderland in their upcoming Premier League match. Despite Sunderland’s strong start, having taken seven points from their first four matches with a 100% home record, both experts believe Villa will come out on top.
Chris Sutton’s Prediction
- Sutton forecasts a 2-0 win for Aston Villa, with Ollie Watkins scoring his first goal of the season and securing Villa’s first win.
- He acknowledges Sunderland’s good start but isn’t swayed by their form, backing Villa to break their goal drought.
Paul Merson’s Prediction
- Merson predicts a narrow 1-0 defeat for Sunderland, believing Villa’s quality will ultimately pay off.
- He criticizes Villa’s current form, saying they don’t impress him like they did last season, but expects them to absorb Sunderland’s early pressure and capitalize on their chances.
- Merson also suggests Sunderland will come out aggressively, and if they score first, they’ll have a massive chance to win.
Match Details
- Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
- Time: 2:00 p.m. BST (9:00 a.m. ET)
- Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
- Predicted Lineups:
- Sunderland: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Mandava; Diarra, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Isidor, Adingra
- Aston Villa: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Bogarde, McGinn; Malen, Buendía, Rogers; Watkins
- Betting Odds:
- Sunderland: +260
- Aston Villa: +110
- Draw: +235
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Injury and Team News
- Sunderland will be without Ajibola Alese, Daniel Ballard, Dennis Cirkin, and other squad members due to injuries.
- Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana is out long-term, while Youri Tielemans is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Boubacar Kamara is ready to play ⁴.
