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Sunderland vs Newcastle Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction

Date: December 14, 2025 Venue: Stadium of Light Kickoff Time: 16:00 This Tyne-Wear derby, also known as the North East derby, arrives at a moment when both clubs are navigating very different narratives, and that contrast could heavily influence the outcome. Premier League betting fans can look forward to a fixture that promises as much nail-biting action as it does betting potential. The game may hinge on whether Newcastle can impose their structure and keep Sunderland from turning the match into a high-energy, transitional battle. If the Black Cats dictate the tempo and use their robust style of play to disrupt the Magpies’ rhythm, the visitors could face long stretches under pressure. In essence, Sunderland has the better platform; Newcastle has the higher ceiling if they perform to capacity.

Marc Strydom
Marc Strydom

Last updated: 2025-12-08

Chad Nagel

7 minutes read

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The stage is set for history to be rewritten in this highly anticipated derby as Sunderland welcomes local rivals Newcastle to the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon, 14 December 2025. So, while this is their first clash between these two clubs in the Premier League since 2016, the dynamics now, league position, and recent form make this match far from predictable. 

Pre-Game Odds & Win Probability

  1. HOME (SUNDERLAND): 49/20 (3.45) – 29%

  2. DRAW: 12/5 (3.40) 29.4% 

  3. AWAY (NEWCASTLE): 59/50 (2.18) – 45.9% 
    Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change.

Head-To-Head Record

Last five meetings (All Competitions)

  1. 06/01/2024: Sunderland 0-3 Newcastle

  2. 20/03/2016: Newcastle 1-1 Sunderland  

  3. 25/10/2015: Sunderland 3-0 Newcastle

  4. 05/04/2015: Sunderland 1-0 Newcastle

  5. 21/12/2014: Newcastle 0-1 Sunderland

Sunderland Current Form – LDWLD

Sunderland have shown upward momentum and internal cohesion since returning to the top-flight. As a newly promoted side performing above expectations, they carry the confidence of a team that has found both clarity in structure and belief in their identity. 

That said, the last five games have been a mixed bag of results for the Black Cats, but they still find themselves in the top half of the table and above their local rivals. After staging an inspirational comeback to share the points against Arsenal at home, they traveled to Craven Cottage to face Fulham and narrowly fell to defeat.

Their resilience and team chemistry were on full display as they came back from two goals down to steal the win against Bournemouth, followed by an impressive performance at Anfield to take a point from Liverpool. With those two impressive results, confidence was high going to the Etihad to face Man City, but they were blown away by their unbelievable quality. With an impressive home record and crowd support, they could make this derby a tough nut to crack. 

Key Players To Watch

  • Granit Xhaka: Xhaka is the type of player and captain who can fit into any team. His experience is vital for the Black Cats, especially for his leadership qualities and the way he can control the game with his exceptional passing ability. He is very effective on both ends of the field, whether it be winning the ball back defensively or creating scoring opportunities in the final third. 
  • Enzo Le Fee: Le Fee is a dynamic, technically gifted midfielder who influences the game through intelligence, creativity, and hard work, making him a complete and impactful presence in midfield. He has five goal involvements, scoring two goals and providing three assists, further validating his importance to the team.  
  • Wilson Isador: Isador blends technical finesse with intelligent play and physicality, making him a forward who can both create and finish goal-scoring opportunities. He loves dropping deep to receive passes, creating separation from defenders before exploding into action. The Frenchman has been a reliable goal threat thus far, as he leads the team with four goals.

Sunderland Team News

Habib Diarra (groin) has missed a large period out after sustaining a groin injury and is expected to return before the end of the year. Romaine Mundle (hamstring) has not played since the start of the season due to hamstring surgery and is still expected to work his way back to full fitness before he can step out onto the field of play. 

Newcastle Current Form – WDWLW

Newcastle enters the derby unbeaten in the last three games, but has only collected six points from seven away games, demonstrating the struggles they have experienced on the road this season. Their away form has been shaky, and their defensive record suggests vulnerability under pressure. However, the Magpies possess Premier League-hardened talent, and derbies often unlock performances detached from form tables. 

Ahead of the derby, Newcastle have put together a great string of results, having beaten Man City at St James’ Park, followed by a narrow defeat away to Marseille in the UEFA Champions League, but returned to winning ways after crushing Everton at the Hill Dickinson stadium to earn their first away victory of the season. 

A return to St James’ Park to face Tottenham provided a real test of character after Spurs scored late into stoppage time to secure a vital point. It was not a point gained, but rather two points dropped in a match that looked certain to go their way. Another home match saw the Magpies defeat Burnley last time out, extending their unbeaten run at home to five games. 

Key Players To Watch

  • Nick Woltemade: Woltemade’s stock is rising as he continues to put in impressive performances. The German enjoys playing with the freedom to roam around, link-up play to get teammates into the game, make intelligent runs into space, and has the skill to take defenders on. He has become a popular figure for the Toon Army and will be eager to make a name for himself in this derby by adding to his goal tally.  
  • Bruno Guimaraes: Guimaraes is the complete box-to-box midfielder who works tirelessly to be effective on both ends of the field. He’s adept at chasing down opponents to win back possession, provides cover for the defensive line, and is not afraid to play out from the back, even when under pressure. His mentality and desire to win are of the highest quality, and one to keep an eye on in this derby. 
  • Malick Thiaw: Thiaw has cemented his place in the defence for the Magpies and shown he is very capable of taking his game to the next level. He thrives in performing his defensive duties, where he can display his quality on the ball, retain possession, and make himself a threat during set-pieces, making him an important player for Eddie Howe and the backline. 

Newcastle Team News

Nick Pope (groin) is set to miss another two weeks due to injury, with a return expected against Manchester United on Boxing Day. Emil Krafth (knee) sustained a knee injury on international duty and has not been involved since but is on the right track to make a comeback soon. 
Sven Botman (back) remains sidelined with a back injury since he received an injection after seeing a back specialist, and that treatment needs about a week to work. This will likely leave him out for the midweek clash against Leverkusen in the Champions League and a doubt for this fixture.
Kieran Trippier (hamstring) suffered a hamstring injury in training, and it turned out to be more serious than expected, meaning Trippier could only return around Boxing Day for the Magpies.

Predicted Line-Up

  1. Sunderland: 4-4-2
    Roefs, Mukiele, Alderete, Ballard, Mandava, Talbi, Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fee, Isidor. 

  2. Newcastle: 4-3-3
    Ramsdale, Livramento, Schar, Thiaw, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Gordon, Woltemade

Suggested Bets

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  1. Both Teams To Score (Yes): Sunderland are tough at home and often find ways to score, while Newcastle are relentless in attack with many players who can find the back of the net. 19/25 (1.76) with Betway.

  2. First Half – First Goal (Newcastle): Newcastle will not sit back and allow Sunderland to control proceedings but look to take the early advantage. 67/50 (2.34) with Unibet. 

  3. Total (Over 2.5): With just a point separating these two clubs, expect end-to-end action from both sides. 93/100 (1.93) with William Hill.

Value Bets

Dive into a highly anticipated matchup loaded with sharp insights and tips with seriously generous odds to boost your payout.

  1. Last Team To Score (Sunderland): The Black Cats have built a reputation by scoring late goals, especially at the Stadium of Light. 5/4 (2.25) with Midnite.

  2. Anytime Goal Scorer (Nick Woltemade): This fixture may be settled over a set-piece, which the German is very capable of scoring from. 6/5 (2.20) with BetMGM. 

  3. Anytime Score (1-2). Newcastle’s relentless attack could upset Sunderland’s defensive backline. 11/5 (3.20) with William Hill. 

Prediction: Double Chance (Draw/Newcastle)

Sunderland have been formidable at home and made it a difficult place to visit for any team. They will likely feed off the energy from the home fans in hopes of securing another big victory, but Newcastle is no pushover and will aim to put the Black Cats under pressure as a win will see them jump above Sunderland and closer to those European places. 

Marc Strydom
Marc StrydomSports Writer

A dedicated sports lover with a wealth of experience in the sports betting world, Marc Strydom has mostly worked as an Editor-in-chief of a sports betting newspaper in South Africa. Marc’s enthusiasm covers many sports, though he is most passionate about football and the NBA. He has covered a wide range of topics on multiple respected platforms.

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