Sunderland vs West Ham: Supercomputer predicts result of Premier League clash
Sunderland return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence as they begin their campaign against West Ham on Saturday.
Sunderland have bolstered their squad with significant signings like Granit Xhaka, Habib Diarra and Simon Adingra, adding experience, creativity and flair to compete in the English top flight.
Regis Le Bris has done an exceptional job at the club and his next challenge will be to help them avoid relegation.
West Ham predicted to beat Sunderland on 16 August
Opta’s Super Computer crunched the numbers ahead of the game on 16 August and the Hammers have been backed to win the game.
Graham Potter’s side have been given a 43.3 per cent chance of picking up the three points against Sunderland.
On the other hand, there is a 30.3 per cent probability that Le Bris will secure his first win as a Premier League manager of the Black Cats.
A draw is deemed to be the least likely outcome, but the early predictions suggest that it could swing any way.
Le Bris must believe his side can get something from this game
Sunderland enter their 2025/26 Premier League opener against West Ham as underdogs, having returned to the top flight after a strong Championship campaign that secured promotion.
These acquisitions signal their intent to avoid a relegation scrap, building on last season’s cohesive and dynamic performances.
Conversely, West Ham struggled last season, narrowly avoiding the drop zone and their transfer activity has done little to significantly enhance their starting eleven.
| Player | Former Club | Fee |
| Habib Diarra | Strasbourg | £30m |
| Simon Adingra | Brighton | £21m |
| Enzo Le Fee | AS Roma | £20m |
| Chemsdine Talbi | Club Brugge | £19.5m |
| Noah Sadiki | Union Saint-Gilloise | £17.75m |
| Granit Xhaka | Bayer Leverkusen | £17.3m |
| Robin Roefs | NEC Nijmegen | £11.5m |
| Reinildo Mandava | Atletico Madrid | Free |
| Arthur Masuaku | Besiktas | Free |
| Marc Guiu | Chelsea | Loan |
Despite ending last season with consecutive away wins, the Hammers remain vulnerable, with their squad depth and quality not markedly improved.
Le Bris will certainly be optimistic about getting something from this game as the home crowd will be buzzing and the new signings will be eager to prove their worth in the Premier League.
Sunderland’s home advantage, coupled with their new signings’ potential to gel quickly, makes them a formidable challenge.
While West Ham’s experience gives them a slight edge on paper, their inconsistent form and lack of substantial reinforcements suggest Sunderland could capitalise on their momentum and passionate home support to cause an upset in this contest.
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