Wayne Rooney makes Sunderland claim in new Premier League relegation prediction on MOTD
Sunderland have amassed seven points from their first four games in the Premier League this season.
Sunderland’s 0-0 draw to in-form Crystal Palace showed that Regis Le Bris’ side have the mental resilience to cope with the demands of the Premier League.
Apart from Sunderland’s 2-0 loss to Burnley, the team has looked solid defensively, whilst posing a dangerous threat on the counter.
With many of their relegation rivals in action on Saturday, dropped points for certain teams means Sunderland could open up a huge gap on the sides at the bottom of the table.
Brentford’s loss to Fulham boosts Sunderland’s survival hopes
Saturday’s action saw Wolves, West Ham, and Brentford lose significant matches, with all three sides occupying positions in the bottom four.
Following Brentford’s 3-1 loss to ~Fulham, Wayne Rooney discussed how they might struggle this season.
Speaking on Match of the Day on 20 September, he said: “I’m a bit concerned for Brentford.
“Losing Thomas Frank is a big factor, and they’ve lost some big players as well.
“I think with the promoted teams, they’re all doing ok, so I think it’ll be a long season for them, and I’ve got worries that they could go down.
Sunderland defeated Brentford 2-1 earlier in the season, coming from behind to score a brilliant 96th minute winner against the Bees.
Whilst Sunderland spent the transfer window assembling a squad that can compete in the Premier League, Brentford have lost several key members in the dressing room.
Bryan Mbuemo, Yoane Wissa, and Christian Norgaard all left for moves to the traditional ‘big six’ teams in the division, whilst the departure of Thomas Frank has meant that they are facing a completely new challenge this season.
| Sunderland | Matcheweek | Brentford |
| 3-0 Win vs West Ham | 1 | 3-1 Loss vs Nottingham Forest |
| 2-0 Loss vs Burnley | 2 | 1-0 Win vs Aston Villa |
| 2-1 Win vs Brentford | 3 | 2-1 Loss vs Sunderland |
| 0-0 Draw vs Crystal Palace | 4 | 2-2 Draw vs Chelsea |
| Sunday 2pm vs Aston Villa | 5 | 3-1 Loss vs Fulham |
| 7 | Points | 4 |
With Rooney expecting Brentford to go down, and taking into account the turmoil that Wolves and West Ham find themselves in, the signs are looking promising for the Black Cats.
Granit Xhaka’s leadership key for Sunderland this season
Xhaka’s leadership has been praised by Fabio Borini, with the Switzerland international enjoying a brilliant start to the season.
His signing was an unbelievable coup, with the 32-year-old leaving Champions League football behind at Bayer Leverkusen to take on the opportunity to play in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light.
Xhaka’s last-minute assist for Isidor’s winning goal against Brentford has shown the quality he has in deciding crucial matches.
Having spent seven seasons at Arsenal, Xhaka knows about delivering top-quality performances week in week out.
As Sunderland continue to build on their brilliant start to the season, Xhaka’s role on and off the pitch will be one of the defining factors on whether Sunderland can become the first promoted team since 2022/23 to avoid relegation.
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