Published Dec 17, 4:42am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Dec 17, 4:42am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Dec 17, 4:42am ET
Premier League action is set for the Amex Stadium on Dec 20, as Sunderland bid to move into the Champions League spots when they travel to Brighton. Find our picks here.
It has been a memorable seven days for the Black Cats, and they will still be riding a wave of adrenaline following a famous win over local rivals Newcastle last Sunday.
Brighton’s form has been indifferent throughout the campaign, winning six of their 16 fixtures. Inconsistency has plagued them in recent weeks, losing two of their last three.
|
|
|---|---|
| Brighton | -147 |
| The Draw | +302 |
| Sunderland | +424 |
Brighton’s consistency has been a continued issue throughout 2025-26, and it means that they come into this round of fixtures sitting tenth in the standings.
The Seagulls have won just six of their 16 fixtures this term, and they have suffered five defeats. Only Man United and Liverpool currently have worse defensive records than Brighton based on the top ten in the standings, while Brighton suffered a second defeat in three last time out against Liverpool.
The majority of Brighton’s wins have come on home turf this season, winning four of their eight fixtures. But, they have still allowed a high average of 1.38 efforts per 90.
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Sunderland’s memorable first season back in the Premier League continues to be one of the stories of the campaign. The Black Cats produced another stirring display last weekend to beat Newcastle 1-0, meaning that they have now taken four points from a run of fixtures against Liverpool, Man City, and the Magpies.
That run of form sees them sit eighth in the current standings, and a victory on Saturday could lift them into the Champions League spots. However, this is the period of the season where many expect the Black Cats to struggle, as they will be hit hardest of the EPL teams by AFCON.
Sunderland will be without six first-team players for the next month, which includes key stars such as Sadiki, Reinildo, and Taibi.
| TOTAL | Brighton | Sunderland | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Goals | 8 | 4 | 4 |
The fact that Sunderland will be without a number of key players is very challenging to overlook this weekend.
Brighton have lost just once at the Amex this season, while the Black Cats have often saved their best performances for the Stadium of Light. Therefore, the home victory appears to be the standout betting angle this weekend.
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Pick
Brighton (-147)
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