Brighton vs Sunderland: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

Explore Coral's detailed preview for Brighton vs Sunderland in the Premier League. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 15:00 GMT match.

• Fixture: Brighton vs Sunderland
• Date: Saturday, 20 December 2025
• Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
• Venue: Amex Stadium

Brighton will be looking to bounce back from their recent loss to Liverpool, and their home form suggests they could do just that against Sunderland. With a strong midfield presence and a potent attack led by Georginio Rutter, Brighton should have the edge. However, they'll need to be wary of Sunderland's ability to grind out results, as shown in their recent win over Newcastle.

Sunderland, on the other hand, will be buoyed by their victory against Newcastle and will look to exploit any weaknesses in Brighton's defence. The visitors have shown they can compete with top teams, drawing with Liverpool, but their away form has been inconsistent. This match could be closely contested, with both teams having moments of dominance.

Brighton's recent form has been a mixed bag, with two wins, a draw, and two losses in their last five games. Their home form has been particularly strong, with a win over Brentford and a draw against West Ham, which should give them confidence going into this match. However, the loss to Liverpool might still be lingering, and they'll need to shake that off to perform at their best against Sunderland.

Recent Premier League Results:

• Loss: 0-2 vs Liverpool (A)

• Draw: 1-1 vs West Ham (H)

• Loss: 3-4 vs Aston Villa (H)

• Win: 2-0 vs Nottingham Forest (A)

• Win: 2-1 vs Brentford (H)

Sunderland have shown they can compete with the best, securing a win against Newcastle and a draw against Liverpool in their recent outings. However, their away form has been less convincing, with losses to Manchester City and Fulham. This inconsistency on the road could be a concern, but their ability to pull off results against strong opposition suggests they could pose a threat to Brighton.

Recent Premier League Results:

• Win: 1-0 vs Newcastle (H)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Manchester City (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Liverpool (A)
• Win: 3-2 vs Bournemouth (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Fulham (A)

The head-to-head record between Brighton and Sunderland shows a single encounter, with Brighton winning 1-0 after extra time in the League Cup back in 2011. This limited history suggests there's little to go on in terms of past meetings, but it does indicate that Brighton have had the upper hand in their only previous clash. Both teams will be looking to establish dominance in this fixture, given the lack of recent history between them.

Recent Results

• Brighton 1-0 (a.e.t.) Sunderland (23 Aug 2011) - League Cup

• Solly March (Knee) - Out

• Adam Webster (Knee) – Out

• Stefanos Tzimas (Knee) - Out

• Carlos Baleba (International Duty) - Out

• Lewis Dunk (Suspended) - Out

• Diego Gomez (Suspended) - Out

• Tom Watson (Discomfort) - Doubt

• Ajibola Alese (Shoulder) - Out

• Habib Diarra (International duty) - Out

• Luke O'nien (Suspended) - Out

• Noah Sadiki (International duty) - Out

• Arthur Masuaku (International duty) - Out

• Reinildo (International duty) - Out

• Chemsdine Talbi (International duty) - Out

• Bertrand Traoré (International duty) - Out

• Leo Hjelde (Achilles) - Doubt

• Predicted lineup: Verbruggen (GK), Wieffer (DF), Van Hecke (DF), Boscagli (DF), Kadioglu (DF), Ayari (MF), Hinshelwood (MF), Minteh (MF), Gruda (MF), Mitoma (MF), Rutter (AT)

Brighton are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Verbruggen in goal and a back four of Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, and Kadioglu. This setup should provide a solid defensive foundation, allowing Ayari and Hinshelwood to control the midfield and feed the attacking quartet of Minteh, Gruda, Mitoma, and Rutter.

• Predicted lineup: Roefs (GK), Mukiele (DF), Ballard (DF), Alderete (DF), Hume (DF), Xhaka (MF), Rigg (MF), Adingra (MF), Le Fee (MF), Isidor (MF), Brobbey (AT)

Sunderland will likely deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Roefs between the posts and a backline of Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, and Hume. This formation should allow Xhaka and Rigg to anchor the midfield, providing a platform for Adingra, Le Fee, and Isidor to support the lone striker Brobbey.

• Rutter vs Alderete: Georginio Rutter's pace and finishing will be tested by Omar Alderete's defensive solidity.

• Hinshelwood vs Le Fee: Jack Hinshelwood's creativity in midfield will be crucial against Enzo Le Fee's tenacity.

• Ayari (Brighton): Yasin Ayari's ability to control the tempo of the game will be vital for Brighton.

• Xhaka (Sunderland): Granit Xhaka's experience and leadership in midfield will be key for Sunderland.

Brighton vs Sunderland at 15:00 GMT on Saturday, 20 December 2025, isn't being broadcast live for viewers in the UK.

Coral is predicting that the score will be Brighton 2-1 Sunderland.

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