Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest Premier League preview, team news and prediction

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Sunderland host Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light on Friday on matchday 34 of the 2025-26 Premier League season, with both sides chasing very different objectives. The Black Cats remain in the mix for a potential European finish, while Forest travel to Wearside needing points to keep their survival bid on track.

Back in the top flight for the first time since their 2016-17 relegation, Sunderland have enjoyed a strong return and head into the run-in still within touching distance of the European places. They sit four points adrift of sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion and, with a game in hand on the Seagulls, could close the gap to one with victory. However, the battle is congested, with just eight points separating sixth from 14th, meaning a fast finish will likely be required to get over the line.

Goals have been a feature of Sunderland’s recent matches. Over 2.5 goals has landed in two of their last three outings, including last weekend’s remarkable 4-3 defeat at Aston Villa, sealed by a Tammy Abraham winner in the 93rd minute. Both teams have scored in four of Sunderland’s last seven league games and, with only two clean sheets in that spell, their form has been mixed overall — three wins, one draw and three defeats. Home results have generally been a positive, with eight wins, five draws and three losses at the Stadium of Light, although they have only one win from their last four there.

Forest arrive in better recent shape, having won four and drawn three of their last seven matches in all competitions. That sequence has taken them into the Europa League semi-finals, where they will face Aston Villa, and it has also helped steady their league position. Pereira’s side are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games, although three of those have ended level, and their recent fixtures have tended to be open: four of their last six matches have produced at least three goals, while Forest have scored two or more in three of their last five. Both teams have found the net in four of their last six league outings, and Forest have also managed just two clean sheets in their last seven.

In the league, Forest’s last five matches have brought two wins and three draws, including an emphatic 3-0 victory over relegation rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The schedule remains challenging, with Chelsea, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Bournemouth still to come after this trip, so maintaining momentum will be vital.

Sunderland did come out on top in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, but Forest’s current form suggests a tight contest this time. With both sides trending towards high-scoring games, an entertaining draw looks a plausible outcome, and a 2-2 scoreline would not be a surprise. Forest have lost their last two meetings with Sunderland, though they did win on their last Stadium of Light visit in 2017, when Daryl Murphy scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory.

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Sunderland are set to be without Omar Alderete, Simon Moore and Romaine Mundle on Friday, while Jocelin Ta Bi, Bertrand Traore and Nilson Angulo remain doubts with injury problems.

Trai Hume stepped in for the injured Alderete and got on the scoresheet in last weekend’s late defeat at Aston Villa, and the full-back could again be included in a back line featuring Dan Ballard, Luke O’Nien and Nordi Mukiele. In attack, Brian Brobbey, the club’s leading Premier League scorer with six goals, is expected to spearhead the frontline at the Stadium of Light.

Nottingham Forest also have a lengthy list of absentees and doubts, with Murillo, Dan Ndoye, Willy Boly, Nicolo Savona, John Victor and Callum Hudson-Odoi all sidelined. Vitor Pereira may stick with much of the XI that began last weekend’s impressive 4-1 win over Burnley, including hat-trick scorer Morgan Gibbs-White, although Igor Jesus could be brought back into the starting team after coming off the bench to score late in that match.

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