West Ham United vs. Sunderland

The London Stadium hosts a fascinating Saturday lunchtime clash today, January 24, 2026, as West Ham United takes on a high-flying Sunderland. Kick-off is set for 12:30 GMT (07:30 ET).

This is a tale of two trajectories. West Ham enters the match in 18th place (17 points), desperately fighting to escape the relegation zone. However, they arrive with significant momentum after a stunning 2–1 away win against Tottenham last weekend. Sunderland, in their first season back in the top flight since 2017, are the league’s surprise package in 9th place (33 points), sitting just three points off the Champions League spots.

Match Information

West Ham: The "Nuno" Revival?

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side appears to have finally turned a corner, winning their last two matches across all competitions. The victory at Spurs was particularly symbolic, with Crysencio Summerville and Callum Wilson providing the clinical edge that had been missing for much of the season.

Team News and Selection:

• Key Absences: The Hammers are likely to be without Lucas Paquetá (back injury), whose future remains the subject of intense transfer speculation. Lukasz Fabianski is also sidelined with a back issue.

   
   

   

• The "Summerville" Spark: Crysencio Summerville has scored in back-to-back games and is currently the primary creative outlet for the side.

• Defensive Boost: Jean-Clair Todibo has solidified the backline in recent weeks, though they are still searching for a rare clean sheet.

• Predicted XI (4-4-1-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Scarles; Bowen, Souček, Fernandes, Summerville; Pablo; Castellanos.

   

   

Sunderland: The Top-Four Chasers

Régis Le Bris has performed wonders with the Black Cats. After a 3–0 demolition of West Ham on the opening day of the season, Sunderland has remained remarkably consistent. They arrive in East London following a 2–1 win over Crystal Palace, looking to complete a rare seasonal "sweep" over the Hammers.

Team News and Selection:

• Injury Blows: Striker Wilson Isidor is out with a knee injury. They are also missing Arthur Masuaku and Bertrand Traoré.

   
   

   

• Returns: Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi are back from international duty and could feature, providing a much-needed boost to the midfield depth.

   

   

• The "Brobbey" Threat: January signing Brian Brobbey has integrated quickly, offering a physical focal point that complements the creative flair of Enzo Le Fée.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Hume, Le Fée, Mundle; Brobbey.

   

   

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• Season Opener: Sunderland won the reverse fixture 3–0 at the Stadium of Light in August 2025.

   

   

• Home Comforts: West Ham has historically dominated this fixture at home, winning 11 of their last 17 meetings with Sunderland in London.

   

   

• Defensive Woes: West Ham has the second-worst defensive record in the league, conceding 44 goals in 22 matches.

   

• Away Form: Despite their high league position, Sunderland has struggled on the road lately, failing to win any of their last six away matches in the Premier League.

   

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

West Ham will look to capitalize on the "London Stadium factor" and their recent giant-killing of Tottenham. Expect Nuno to deploy a compact 4-4-1-1, using Jarrod Bowen and Summerville to exploit the space behind Sunderland’s aggressive full-backs.

Sunderland, under Le Bris, favors a possession-based approach controlled by the veteran Granit Xhaka. However, their recent away struggles suggest they may find the atmosphere and West Ham's renewed defensive grit difficult to break down. This has all the markings of a tight, cagey affair decided by a single goal.

Final Score Prediction: West Ham 1–1 Sunderland