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An all-Premier League clash awaits in the United States as Leeds United and Sunderland meet for a pre-season friendly at the Sports Illustrated Stadium on Friday morning.
Both teams lost in their respective friendlies last time out, with Leeds going down 3-2 to Wrexham and Sunderland being beaten 4-2 by Liverpool.
Leeds will also face Liverpool in the US while Sunderland will play Wrexham, so it will be interesting to see how both teams do here.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Leeds United vs. Sunderland key stats
- Leeds have won just once in four games in all competitions (D1, L2).
- Sunderland's loss to Liverpool ended a five-game unbeaten run across all competitions (W3, D2).
- The last eight H2Hs have seen an even split with two wins each and four draws.
Leeds United vs. Sunderland preview: Nothing to split the sides?
Leeds vs Sunderland — Tale of the Tape
| Leeds | vs | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|
| 14th | Position | 7th |
| 47 | Points | 54 |
| 49 | Goals For | 42 |
| 56 | Goals Against | 48 |
| 8 | Clean Sheets | 11 |
Leeds did well in their first season back in the Premier League, keeping clear of relegation and reaching an FA Cup semi-final.
There were questions over Daniel Farke's future at the start of the season after a poor run of results, but the German managed to turn it around with a clever tactical change around November.
Leeds' ambitions will be stay in the Premier League again, but they have not got off to a good start in pre-season with a 3-2 defeat to Championship side Wrexham.
However, results do not matter too much as long as the players gain fitness, and the Whites will have a strong squad to choose from, with Switzerland forward Noah Okafor perhaps the most notable absentee given his involvement in the World Cup.
Granit Xhaka, Chemsdine Talbi, Omar Alderete and new signing Thomas Meunier will all be missing for Sunderland for the same reason, but Regis Le Bris will also have a relatively strong squad to choose from.
The Black Cats were also newly-promoted in 2025/26 and boasted an exceptional campaign, where they finished in seventh in the Premier League and qualified for the Europa League as a result.
They lost 4-2 to Liverpool in their first pre-season match, but caused the Reds plenty of problems and showed a few times last season they can mix it with the big boys.
Sunderland picked up four points from both Premier League fixtures last term, and so will fancy themselves to get another positive result here.
Leeds United vs. Sunderland form guide & betting tips
| Leeds | vs | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|
WDWLL |
Form | DWWWL |
| 7 | Goals For | 12 |
| 8 | Goals Against | 7 |
L |
Friendlies | WL |
Whispers predicts: Leeds United 2-2 Sunderland
The bookies cannot split the sides with both of them given 6/4 (2.50) odds of winning, so a Draw at 13/5 (3.60) is worth backing in our eyes.
Each of the three friendlies both have been involved in have seen both teams score and at least five goals, so BTTS – Yes at 8/13 (1.62) and Over 3.5 goals at 15/8 (2.88) make up our second and third picks.
Overall, we are predicting a 2-2 draw, which is available at 12/1 (13.00).
> BTTS – Yes at 8/13 (1.62) | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 3.5 goals at 15/8 (2.88) | Likelihood: Possible
> Draw at 13/5 (3.60) | Likelihood: Outsider