Newcastle
- Newcastle come into this long-standing Tyne-Wear derby in better form than Sunderland with a recent two-game winning run that has seen Eddie Howe’s side beat Chelsea 1-0 away and Manchester United 2-1 at home.
- The Magpies have won their share of games at home this season, but not enough to move themselves into the top six, currently sitting 9th in the Premier League table with 42 points from 30 games.
Sunderland
Sunderland are only two points and four places behind them in 13th with 40 points from 30, but will arrive on Sunday still smarting from a 1-0 defeat at home to Brighton .
Head-to-Head
- Eddie Howe has instilled a high-tempo, pro-active approach in his Newcastle team that involves a lot of pressing and making the game simple in the final third.
- Sunderland, meanwhile, will line up in a compact, disciplined mid-block and press sparingly, preferring to strike quickly on counter-attack.
- The last two Premier League head-to-heads have been split, with each side taking a win, Sunderland claiming the most recent clash 1-0 at their home ground three months ago.
Betting Insights
- Sunderland have defended fairly well on the road for a struggling team, conceding 21 goals in 15 away league matches (an average of 1.40 goals per game).
- Both Teams to Score - Yes looks the best value way to go at 1.83, although we wouldn’t be surprised to see Newcastle’s superior quality tell in the end and take the bragging rights for another year.
- But Newcastle are coming into the game with momentum and we feel Howe’s men have to be supported for the win here at 1.62.
Key Players
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Newcastle
- Bruno Guimaraes is Newcastle’s talisman and has provided the drive and dynamism in midfield that the Magpies need to control games.
- The Brazilian has nine goals in 23 Premier League appearances this season - tops for the team.
- Alexander Isak can be a real threat for Newcastle when on his game.
- The Swede has the ability to play through the channels or link up with teammates in the box - his movement and technical ability make him a very good player to have in the second phase of an attack.
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Sunderland
- Sunderland have shared the scoring burden this term, but Brian Brobbey is their top scorer with five goals in 23 Premier League outings.
- Jack Clarke brings a similar attacking sparkle to Sunderland’s right-hand side, often driving at defenders and making things happen in the counter-attack.
