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Sunderland v Leeds team news: No Ballard, visitors unchanged

28 December 2025 242 comments
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Sunderland face Leeds United in the first of two Premier League matches to take place on Sunday.

Kick-off at the Stadium of Light is at 14:00 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Regis Le Bris makes just one change from last week’s goalless draw at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Dennis Cirkin earns his first start of the season, with Dan Ballard absent from the matchday squad due to injury.

This adjustment will likely see Nordi Mukiele move to centre-back, with Trai Hume, Omar Alderete and Cirkin joining him in the back four.

Further forward, Brian Brobbey is selected over Wilson Isidor for the third consecutive match.

Daniel Farke, as expected, sticks with the same line-up that thrashed Crystal Palace last time out.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin will once again spearhead the attack, as he seeks to score for the sixth consecutive match.

Positional rival Lukas Nmecha is fit enough to make the bench, however, having missed the last three games due to a hamstring injury.

LINE-UPS

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin, Xhaka, Geertruida, Rigg, Le Fee, Adingra, Brobbey

Subs: Patterson, Neil, Mayenda, Isidor, Mundle, Hjelde, H Jones, J Jones, Tutierov

Leeds United XI: Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Aaronson, Ampadu, Stach, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor

Subs: Darlow, Justin, Bornauw, Gruev, Tanaka, Harrison, Gnonto, Piroe, Nmecha

price change predictions
242 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. GROBARI
    • 5 Years
    7 hours, 20 mins ago

    Bonus points system is horrible
    Stach is by far the best player on the field and has 0 bonus points....

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    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 31 mins ago

      He’s on 1 bonus without a goal contribution, what more do you want

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      1. GROBARI
        • 5 Years
        6 hours, 10 mins ago

        He didnt have it 5 minutes ago, but fair enough

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    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 29 mins ago

      could get 1

      badly want defcon, feel like he might fall just short 😥

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    3. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 24 mins ago

      Played him over minteh

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    4. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 hours, 24 mins ago

      Bonus for motm by man in the stand is long gone

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  2. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    7 hours, 18 mins ago

    DCL scoring every week. How is this real life?

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    1. Babit1967
      • 9 Years
      7 hours, 17 mins ago

      Must say it’s been one of the better moves I’ve made this season bringing him in a few weeks ago.

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      1. Warblers
        • 10 Years
        7 hours ago

        Yep, I brought him in as well. Sadly, he’s been on my bench since then. Ugh.

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 17 mins ago

      His quality was never an issue

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        7 hours, 16 mins ago

        yeah. Combination of injuries and Everton being trash at creating chances since 1963.

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    3. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 16 mins ago

      Season of the casual... No point taking the game seriously.

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    4. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      7 hours, 16 mins ago

      Can you imagine if Arsenal had a striker like DCL?

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    5. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 13 mins ago

      Fpl eh

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    6. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 hours, 12 mins ago

      He's decent in the air and a poacher but not a natural goalscorer.

      He's also pretty streaky.

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  3. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    7 hours, 13 mins ago

    Vvd owners keeping? For how long?

    Fixtures look ok ish

    Leeds will probably score, as they have done before v pool city Chel etc

    Fulham ars burnley after that
    How many cs there,? even Burnley wiped few cs out

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    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      7 hours, 12 mins ago

      Selling as soon as I see Gabriel start a game. Most likely he will start vs Villa which gives VVD the Leeds game before binning.

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      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        7 hours, 11 mins ago

        You keep telling us your season is over

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        1. Brosstan
          • 11 Years
          7 hours, 10 mins ago

          It is over, just trying to salvage the ruins.

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      2. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        7 hours, 9 mins ago

        Same, have Calafiori, not sure on his flag

        Could do either to gab, vvd not justifying his price

        Ml rival did vvd to Keane this gw, gets all them pts, money itb !

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      3. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        7 hours, 4 mins ago

        yeah makes no sense having a Liverpool defender. Wolves should have beaten them yesterday.

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    2. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 hours, 36 mins ago

      Likely WCing as soon as it arrives as need to lose him, Hincapie, Senesi & possibly Lacroix. Pointless (literally) pick - he doesn't get defcons, doesn't keep clean sheets & is no longer a goal threat.

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  4. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 hours, 13 mins ago

    That's given at Elland Road

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    1. Kaneyonero
      • 9 Years
      7 hours, 12 mins ago

      Would've been a Stach Fk

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      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 hours, 6 mins ago

        Yep

        Stach is a great pick

        Till Longstaff is back

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  5. Garlana
    • 10 Years
    7 hours, 11 mins ago

    Just made my first -4 of the season for this gw, and now I have issues with Timber, Richards and Rodon. Fun

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 hours, 7 mins ago

      Timber should be fine.

      Wasn't it a bit precautionary, because of the knock in the previous match?

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        7 hours, 6 mins ago

        yeah. timber will start v Villa.

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      2. Garlana
        • 10 Years
        7 hours, 6 mins ago

        I've been frantically searching for an update before I use my FT on Cunha!

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    2. MJF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 47 mins ago

      I like the risk and reward way the price changes make people play. Always a risk to move early.

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  6. Gudjohnsen
    • 8 Years
    7 hours, 11 mins ago

    Any chance Xhaka scores the winner here?

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  7. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    7 hours, 9 mins ago

    Ffs why take DCL off?

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 hours, 8 mins ago

      He's fragile

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    2. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      7 hours, 5 mins ago

      Minutes managed. He should score against Liverpool though with their trash defence.

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    3. CoracAld2831
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 5 mins ago

      Extremwlu injury prone.

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      1. CoracAld2831
        • 4 Years
        7 hours, 4 mins ago

        *Extremely injury prone.

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  8. FOREST FOREVER 2
    • 1 Year
    7 hours, 8 mins ago

    We can talk about the best and worst transfers this seson. Estike, Xhaka, DCL very good. KDH I think as well. isak the worst, Xavi not far off.

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    1. Kaneyonero
      • 9 Years
      6 hours, 45 mins ago

      Any player that is on form and then just decides to go off form just to troll my season

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      1. FOREST FOREVER 2
        • 1 Year
        5 hours, 59 mins ago

        LoL. I thought I was very good in doing that.

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 43 mins ago

      Cunha, Mbeumo, Cherki, Roefs, Zubimendi and Woltemade have been good too.
      Gyokeres, Wissa, Elanga, Delap, all of Liverpool's bar Ekitike bad.

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      1. FOREST FOREVER 2
        • 1 Year
        5 hours, 57 mins ago

        Yes. i have been specially impressed by Boomo at ManU.

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        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          5 hours, 52 mins ago

          Him and Cunha have been breaths of fresh air, the latter especially - seems like he just "gets it." Jury's still out on Sesko imo, though he's clearly an improvement on Hojlund, and Lammens has been decent.

          If we bring in Ruben Neves as rumours suggest, this will be the first decent set of transfers we've made in nearly a decade.

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          1. FOREST FOREVER 2
            • 1 Year
            5 hours, 48 mins ago

            Good to see United playing some decent attackingfootball. Though I am a Forest fan, supported ManU during our long absence from the top flight.

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    3. Herger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      6 hours, 40 mins ago

      Xhaka, DCL and Sesko would be my top 3

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      1. FOREST FOREVER 2
        • 1 Year
        5 hours, 52 mins ago

        Sesko?

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  9. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 7 mins ago

    *puts armbands back on Haaland*

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    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      7 hours, 5 mins ago

      Ekitike captain next game week over Haaland surely?

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  10. Ady87
    • 12 Years
    7 hours, 5 mins ago

    48 all out with 18 + Guehi on the bench

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    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      7 hours, 4 mins ago

      Should've started the 18 points mate

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    2. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      7 hours, 3 mins ago

      Why didnt you bench boost?

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  11. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    7 hours, 4 mins ago

    Is it finally time to buy DCL? Liverpool next

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    1. CoracAld2831
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 1 min ago

      Probably not.

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    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 hours, 1 min ago

      Probably 6 weeks too late

      A little like Phil Foden?

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  12. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 hours, 2 mins ago

    I thought it was going to be 1-1

    But I was driving so I didn't put the bet on

    Then again, it would have probably been 80p profit on a £1 free bet.

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    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      7 hours, 1 min ago

      Yesterday's games were good for gambling

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  13. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    6 hours, 59 mins ago

    28p all out and another 11m GW rank. Anyone worse?

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    1. Custard Gannet
      • 6 Years
      6 hours, 58 mins ago

      27 with Mateta left to play... so 29 points.

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  14. FOREST FOREVER 2
    • 1 Year
    6 hours, 59 mins ago

    Leeds upto 20 points. Bou on 22 could struggle specially if they lose Semenyo.

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  15. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 9 Years
    6 hours, 58 mins ago

    What a gameweek. Took a hit to field 15 for BB. Timber does not feature. Rodon barely. Captained Haaland.

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    1. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 hours, 57 mins ago

      Taking hits for bench boost is pointless and self-defeating

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      1. Nightcrawler
        • 6 Years
        6 hours, 49 mins ago

        not if u want to keep them longer. I got wilson and calvert lewin as my 7th and 8th attackers to complete the bench boost couple of weeks ago. would never have got them without the chip

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      2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 9 Years
        6 hours, 42 mins ago

        I know. But then it also enabled me to get Ekitike. Wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

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  16. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    6 hours, 57 mins ago

    In the last 4 games Cherki has more xGi than Haaland, having second thoughts about selling him for Szobo.

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    1. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 hours, 51 mins ago

      If you had him why would you even think about selling him

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  17. #1 Salah Hater
    • 1 Year
    6 hours, 54 mins ago

    I'd be shocked if a top 6 side didn't move for Ethan Ampadu in the summer.

    Fantastic footballer.

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  18. F4L
    • 11 Years
    6 hours, 53 mins ago

    did stach get injured at the end there? was hobbling about abit

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  19. CoracAld2831
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 53 mins ago

    Would you do Minteh to Szoboszlai for free?

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    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 4 mins ago

      nah

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    2. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      6 hours, 1 min ago

      Just get Wirtz or Macallister instead

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      1. CoracAld2831
        • 4 Years
        3 hours, 31 mins ago

        Thank you.

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  20. adstomko
    • 9 Years
    6 hours, 51 mins ago

    Good to go for GW19?

    Raya
    Gabriel - Virgil - O’Reilly - Fofana
    Saka - Foden - Wirtz - Cunha
    Haaland - Ekitiké
    (Dubravka - Clyne - Miley - Guiu)

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  21. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    6 hours, 48 mins ago

    Guehi G + A + CS + DC pts needed today please.

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    1. MJF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 43 mins ago

      Well within the realms of possibility.

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  22. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 hours, 41 mins ago

    Which of these transfers looks better?

    A) Senesi > Tarkowski
    B) Thiago > Bowen
    C) Something else

    1FT 1.2m ITB

    Sanchez
    Timber VVD O'Reilly Senesi
    Saka Foden Rice
    Haaland Ekitiké Thiago

    Dubravka Mukiele Le Fée KDH

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  23. Legohair
    • 9 Years
    6 hours, 37 mins ago

    Need some help with my team

    Raya
    Timber-VVD-O'Reilly
    Cunha-Semenyo-Rice-Minteh-Foden
    Haaland-Ekitike

    Dubravka, Andersen, Esteve, Guiu

    A. Esteve to Dorgu
    B. Semenyo to Wirtz
    C. Semenyo&VVD to Palmer&Dorgu(-4)

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