Brighton vs Sunderland Preview, prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | Premier League 2025-26

Two sides meet each other in the English top flight for the first time in this century.

American Express Stadium in Brighton gears up to host the Matchweek 17 fixture of the English Premier League, featuring Brighton & Hove Albion vs Sunderland.

Home team Brighton are placed tenth in the Premier League points table, and a win in the next game could even take them to the top five. They are led by German gaffer Fabian Hurzeler, who has previously led teams like FC St. Pauli before heading to Brighton in 2024.

Sunderland are living a fairytale story. From miraculously making it to the Premier League after gaining promotion to actively competing for a continental spot, the Black Cats are in sublime form. French gaffer Le Bris has previously been at the managerial helm of Lorient before making a move to Tyne and Wear.

Onto the next 👊#BHASUN pic.twitter.com/geHb8kpG4Q

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) December 17, 2025

Kick-off:

• Location: Brighton, England
• Stadium: American Express Stadium
• Date: Saturday, December 20
• Kick-off Time: 8:30 p.m. IST
• Referee: Andy Madley 
• VAR: In use

Players to Watch

Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)

The 21-year-old Gambian international has previously played for Newcastle United and Feyenoord before making a move to East Sussex in 2024. He will be keen to find his name in the scoresheet to help Brighton clinch a vital home win. He has scored once and given 3 assists in 16 games.

Robin Roefs (Sunderland)

The Dutch custodian has been a stalwart presence between the sticks for the Black Cats. He has featured in all 16 games for Sunderland so far. At such a young age, Roefs has made his mark in some of the top European flights and will be eyeing yet another clean sheet against Brighton.

Match Facts

• Gordon Smith from Brighton is the leading goalscorer in this fixture
• These two teams last met in 1983 in the English top flight
• These two sides will meet each other after 14 years

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Sunderland: Betting Tips and Odds

• Match to end in a draw – 3/1 with bet365
• Yankuba Minteh to score – 12/5 with bet365
• Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Sunderland – 7/1 with bet365

Injury and Team News

Brighton will miss Adam Webster, Solly March and Tom Watson. Only Carlos Baleba will be a major absentee due to AFCON, and Minteh remains unaffected after Gambia failed to qualify.

Sunderland will miss Leo Hjelde, Ajibola Alese and Habib Diarra. They are badly hit due to AFCON absentees; Noah Sadiki from Congo and Traore from Burkina Faso will be out due to AFCON, alongside Arthur Masuaku, Reinildo Mandava and Chemsidine Talbi.

Head-to-Head

Total matches: 28

Brighton won: 12

Sunderland won: 10

Draws: 6

Predicted Lineups

Brighton predicted lineup (4-2-3-1)

Verbruggen (GK); Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Milner, Hinshelwood; Minteh, Rutter, Gomez; Welbeck

Sunderland predicted lineup (4-2-3-1)

Roefs (GK); Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Mandava; Mundle, Xhaka; Poveda, le Fee, Ba; Brobbey

Match Prediction

A win for both teams would solidify their spot in the upper echelon of the points table. Looking at the recent form of both teams, we expect this game to end in a stalemate.

Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Sunderland

Telecast Details

India: JioHotstar, Star Sports Network

UK: TNT Sports and Sky Sports

USA: NBC Sports

Nigeria: SuperSport

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