West Ham v Sunderland: Momentum Needed at London Stadium
Well, here we go again – another must-win game, although this one feels a little different after that gritty 2–1 victory away at Tottenham. Suddenly there’s belief again, a bit of bite, and most importantly, commitment. Funny what one proper performance can do.
Manager Nuno Espírito Santo has all but confirmed the absence of wantaway Lucas Paquetá, saying: “The situation is the same as last week… He won’t be in the squad for the game against Sunderland.” To me, it still feels like the “injury” is a smokescreen while the club haggles with Flamengo. Either way, I wouldn’t expect wholesale changes – and honestly, why would you after what we saw against Spurs?
Makems manager Régis Le Bris has tried to play down just how crap West Ham have been by claiming we’re “a team in form” but I doubt anyone is buying that nonsense. The match will be an opportunity to see a player we rejected in the summer -Brian Brobbey- close up, following some excellent recruitment by Sunderland last summer.
Match Details
- Fixture: West Ham United v Sunderland
- Competition: Premier League
- Venue: London Stadium
- Date & Time: Saturday 24 January 2026, 12:30pm GMT
Recent Form
West Ham will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce in all competitions. After ending a miserable ten-game winless run with a 2–1 FA Cup victory over QPR, the Hammers followed it up with a superb away win at Tottenham. Crysencio Summerville continued his fine form, while Callum Wilson grabbed a dramatic late winner.
There’s been a positive buzz around Rush Green this week, and with a five-point gap to 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, this is a real opportunity to claw our way further clear of trouble.
Sunderland Threat Assessment
This won’t be straightforward. Sunderland arrive in east London sitting just three points off the top four, an incredible return in their first Premier League season since 2016/17. Head coach Régis Le Bris has them well organised, confident, and hard to beat – only one defeat in their last seven league games tells its own story.
They come into this off the back of a 2–1 home win over Crystal Palace and will fancy their chances, especially if West Ham’s intensity drops even slightly.
Team News
West Ham could welcome back El Hadji Malick Diouf after his AFCON triumph with Senegal. Paquetá remains sidelined, while Łukasz Fabiański continues to be assessed.
For Sunderland, Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi could return following AFCON duty. However, Bertrand Traoré and former Hammer Arthur Masuaku are expected to miss out through injury.
Predicted West Ham XI
If Nuno sticks with what worked against Tottenham, this pretty much picks itself – though don’t rule out a tactical tweak.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Areola |
| RB | Wan-Bissaka |
| CB | Mavropanos |
| CB | Todibo |
| LB | Scarles |
| CM | Fernandes |
| CM | Souček |
| RM | Bowen |
| LM | Summerville |
| CF | Pablo |
| CF | Castellanos |
Prediction
What a difference a win makes. My head says a hard-fought 1–1 against a very decent Sunderland side. But my heart? I’m going with a narrow 2–1 home win and another step in the right direction.
After getting last week’s result so spectacularly wrong, I hesitate to guess this week’s ! But, after this season’s “s**t show” – so far – anything could happen. Bearing in mind that we are West Ham, I have to go with a home defeat, I am afraid; but keeping my fingers very firmly crossed ! West Ham ? Who, truthfully, has any idea !
Sunderland are not great in their last six matches, one win, four draws and one defeat. Five of the last six to have played them got a result of some sort.
So the chances of getting something are good.
The performance at Tottenham was gritty is exactly what we need as that’s what’s been missing.
We are stronger with a couple of new players and a couple back from Africa. We need a win and may do but I think a draw is more likely 1-1
I reckon Mav should be straight in, he’s playing well. However I think Wan-Bissaka was rather poor on his first game after returning from AFCON and maybe has to prove worthy of a starting place. I assume no Diouf in your predicted eleven because he needs a rest after his later return?
Can’t help but think that Ollie Scarles needs somebody to keep him awake and concentrating at all times. No more gazing. No more watching to see what happens. Don’t stop, Ollie.
COYI
Any news on Magassa?
I see no Dinos in your team Gonzo. Is he injured ? I thought he was possibly our MOTM last week.
Oh shit, my mistake mate, let me change that
Phew thank god for that I thought we were gonna have witness another nervous breakdown from our most expensive CB. Cheers mate
Language Gonzo 😆
It’s English, Peter 😉
Ha ha . . . yes indeed Peter. That said, putting Kilman in the team probably deserved some profanity