Premier League 2025-2026: Sunderland vs Crystal Palace Prediction - 17 Jan 2026

Sunderland has had a mixed run in their recent fixtures. After a tough 0-3 loss to Brentford away from home, they managed to hold Tottenham to a 1-1 draw, followed by a resilient goalless draw against Man City on home turf. Notably, Sunderland has been defensively solid with two clean sheets in their last five games. However, they struggle offensively, averaging only 0.954 expected goals in their recent matches, which could impact their ability to break down Crystal Palace's defense. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, has also faced challenges recently. They've settled for draws against Aston Villa (0-0) and Fulham (1-1) while suffering a 0-2 defeat to Newcastle. The Eagles have managed an average of 1.2 goals scored in their last five outings, slightly more than Sunderland. Yet, they have conceded 1.4 goals on average, indicating potential vulnerabilities at the back. Their expected goals statistics show a promising 1.392, suggesting they can create opportunities, but converting them remains crucial.