Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Sunderland vs Burnley
Kickoff Time: 2026-2-3 4:00 (HKT)
Sunderland suffered a 1-3 defeat to West Ham in their last match, and they have managed only 1 win, 5 draws, and 2 losses in their last 7 league games, indicating a dip in form. The primary reason for this decline is that most of Sunderland’s key players participated in the Africa Cup, which significantly weakened the team’s overall strength. However, with the conclusion of the Africa Cup, Sunderland is now set to welcome its strongest squad.
Sunderland’s tactical style is highly aggressive, known for their tough play and ability to engage in high-intensity physical confrontations. Their tight defensive system has proven challenging for many top clubs. Additionally, set pieces are an important scoring method for Sunderland, with 38% of their goals coming from set plays. This efficient scoring capability from set pieces adds to their chances of victory. Notably, Sunderland has demonstrated strong home performance, achieving 6 wins and 5 draws in their 11 home matches, making them the only team in the Premier League that remains unbeaten at home.
Burnley, on the other hand, drew 2-2 at home against Tottenham in their last match, extending their winless streak to 14 league games. While Burnley has recently drawn against powerhouse teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham, their defensive issues are hard to overlook. They have conceded a total of 44 goals this season, making them the second-highest conceders in the Premier League, and their defense has been in shambles. Burnley’s tactical approach is very open; even against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham, they actively push for goals. The reason is simple: Burnley struggles defensively and must rely on their attack to salvage points. Furthermore, Burnley is a typical “away side,” with a dismal record of 1 win, 2 draws, and 8 losses in their 11 away games.
Although both teams are newly promoted, Sunderland’s overall performance is clearly superior to Burnley’s, and Sunderland has adapted to the Premier League much better. Considering the disparity in their home and away performances, Sunderland, with their strong home advantage, is certainly more trustworthy than Burnley.
Sunderland‘s Last 5 Games: LWDLD
26-01-24: West Ham 3 – 1 Sunderland
26-01-17: Sunderland 2 – 1 Crystal Palace
26-01-10: Everton 1 – 1 Sunderland (Sunderland won 3-0 on penalties)
26-01-08: Brentford 3 – 0 Sunderland
26-01-04: Tottenham 1 – 1 Sunderland
Burnley‘s Last 5 Games: DDWDL
26-01-25: Burnley 2 – 2 Tottenham
26-01-18: Liverpool 1 – 1 Burnley
26-01-10: Burnley 5 – 1 Millwall
26-01-07: Burnley 2 – 2 Manchester United
26-01-03: Brighton 2 – 0 Burnley
Head-To-Head Record
25-08-23: Burnley 2 – 0 Sunderland
25-01-18: Burnley 0 – 0 Sunderland
24-08-24: Sunderland 1 – 0 Burnley
23-04-01: Burnley 0 – 0 Sunderland
22-10-22: Sunderland 2 – 4 Burnley
Prediction: Sunderland wins at home