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2025/26 Premier League MW27 Sunderland vs. Fulham Preview:
Can the Black Cats outshine the Cottagers at Stadium of Light?

February 19, 2026 by Marc Jerbs

This Sunday, February 22, 2026, the stage is set for an intriguing Premier League Matchweek 27 clash between Sunderland and Fulham. With just two points separating the sides in mid-table, both teams will view this contest as a crucial opportunity to strengthen their league position and create breathing room from the chasing pack.

Current Standings and Form

Sunderland currently occupies 11th place with 36 points from 26 matches, while Fulham sit 12th on 34 points. The margins are slim, and the stakes are significant.

Fulham have endured a difficult stretch, losing four of their last five league matches. Their only recent victory came against bottom-placed Wolves, leaving them nervously glancing toward the relegation zone. Defensive lapses have been costly, with the Cottagers conceding at least twice in each of their last three league defeats. Another similar result would mark their worst such run since a nine-match spell between February and April 2019.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have impressed in their return to the top flight but have recently shown signs of vulnerability. A 2-2 draw with Arsenal before the international break highlighted their attacking quality yet defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool marked their first back-to-back league losses of the campaign. Notably, the Black Cats have lost four of their last six matches—matching the total defeats they suffered across their first 20 games of the season.

Team News and Predicted Lineups

Fulham
Manager Marco Silva faces several selection concerns. Rodrigo Muniz remains sidelined with a thigh injury, Antonee Robinson is not yet match-fit despite returning to training, and Sasa Lukic serves a one-match suspension after accumulating five yellow cards. Omar Alderete is also considered doubtful.

Predicted Fulham XI: - Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Iwobi, Berge; Wilson, King, Kevin; Jimenez.

Sunderland
Head coach Régis Le Bris will be without Leo Hjelde and Romaine Mundle as they continue building fitness with the U21s. Habib Diarra remains a couple of weeks away from full readiness, while Aji Alese is also injured. Reinildo, however, has recovered from a knock sustained on international duty and is available for selection.

Predicted Sunderland XI: - Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Traore, Isidor, Le Fee.

Key Players to Watch

Fulham – Raúl Jiménez - With Muniz unavailable, Jiménez will shoulder the attacking responsibility. He recently found the net for Mexico against Paraguay but has managed just one goal in 10 Premier League appearances this season. Interestingly, he scored Fulhams winner in the reverse fixture and could become a decisive figure once again.

Sunderland – Granit Xhaka - Xhaka has been instrumental in Sunderlands midfield resurgence. He leads the Premier League this season with four assists stemming from line-breaking passes and has played eight such passes that directly resulted in goals-both league highs. His composure and vision will be central to Sunderlands ability to dictate the tempo.

Statistical Insights

Sunderland boasts the lowest opposition shot conversion rate in the league (8%) during the 2025–26 season. Despite facing nearly 15 shots per game, they have conceded just 30 goals—joint-fourth fewest in the division. Fulham are aiming for their first league double over Sunderland since 2002–03. Sunderland have not won a home Premier League match against Fulham in their last five attempts (three draws, two losses).

Historical Head-to-Head

The two clubs have met 66 times in all competitions. Sunderland holds the edge with 26 victories compared to Fulhams 20, while 20 matches have ended level. Their most recent meeting produced a thrilling 3-2 win for Fulham. Marco Silvas personal record against Sunderland stands evenly balanced, with one win, one draw, and one defeat in three encounters.

Final Thought

With both sides separated by only two points and struggling for consistent momentum, this fixture could hinge on fine margins - whether its a moment of brilliance from Xhaka in midfield or a clinical finish from Jiménez up front. Expect a competitive, high-intensity contest where defensive discipline and midfield control may ultimately determine who walks away with three valuable points.

2025/26 Premier League Table

#	CLUB	W	D	L	PTS
1	Arsenal	17	7	3	58
2	Manchester City	16	5	5	53
3	Aston Villa	15	5	6	50
4	Manchester United	12	9	5	45
5	Chelsea	12	8	6	44
6	Liverpool	12	6	8	42
7	Brentford	12	4	10	40
8	Everton	10	7	9	37
9	Bournemouth	9	10	7	37
10	Newcastle United	10	6	10	36
11	Sunderland	9	9	8	36
12	Fulham	10	4	12	34
13	Crystal Palace	8	8	10	32
14	Brighton & Hove Albion	7	10	9	31
15	Leeds United	7	9	10	30
16	Tottenham Hotspur	7	8	11	29
17	Nottingham Forest	7	6	13	27
18	West Ham United	6	6	14	24
19	Burnley	4	6	16	18
20	Wolves	1	7	19	10

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