Sunderland find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with 7 games played in the season. With the teams gradually settling and finding their rhythm, it is about time the Black Cats find theirs and mount a turnaround as soon as possible.
They will travel to the Bet365 Stadium to face a struggling Stoke side, who have been giving them company since the start of the season. The teams are separated by a solitary point which Stoke accrued through a hard fought but slightly fortuitous draw against Manchester United.
David Moyes will be desperate to avoid a third successive managerial failure which might well bring the curtains down on a career which promised a lot when he was at Everton. After debacles at Manchester United and Real Sociedad, Sunderland was his big chance to rise from the ashes of ridicule but as of now, he seems to be botching things up once again.
After a strange transfer window, he has been hit with expected injuries and subsequent personnel crisis which has left the board and the manager with egg on their face. Moyes needs to pull up his socks and make the players realise the eventual fate which they will encounter if this sequence of results carries on.
And starting against Stoke, they will have to ride over their injury problems and give their 100% on the pitch.
T4O’s PREDICTED SUNDERLAND LINE-UP VS STOKE CITY (4-3-1-2)
DEFENCE
Jordan Pickford will look to celebrate his first senior England call-up by keeping a clean sheet which in turn will boost Sunderland’s chances of nicking points. The defence has been spared the wrath of the multiple injuries in the camp and hence Moyes can roll out his usual back four. Manquillo will be at right-back with Lamine Kone and John O’Shea making up the central defensive pair. Papy Djilobodji offers an alternative. Van Aanholt will be at left-back.
MIDFIELD
Jan Kirchhoff is out injured which might see Jack Rodwell come into the side at the base of the midfield. McNair has been regularly used by Moyes in midfield and the player might see a continuation in that role. Didier N’Dong will most likely fill up the 3rd slot in midfield. Cattermole will be an option if he can prove his fitness in time.
ATTACK
Adnan Januzaj’s injury would have been a big blow with the Black Cats already running low in attacking reserves. Wahbi Khazri will hope for an extended run in the team and will line up behind the duo of Watmore and Defoe.
