Sunderland’s projected finish before Brighton and Newcastle clashes | OneFootball

Sunderland have nine games left in their first season back in the Premier League, and talk of a European push persists. According to Opta, the latest predictive table outlines where they could end up as Brighton and Newcastle loom.

In midweek, a penalty from summer signing Habib Diarra sealed a 1-0 win at Leeds United, taking Sunderland to 40 points and preserving their top-flight status.

They sit 11th, four points adrift of seventh-placed Brentford. The Opta model projects Sunderland to finish 13th on 48.08 points, with Brentford seventh on 57.36, Newcastle 11th on 50.49 and Brighton 12th on 49.95.

At the top, Arsenal are forecast to finish on 81.73 points, ahead of Manchester City on 77.24 and Aston Villa on 67.08, with Liverpool fourth on 65.52.

Sunderland host Brighton on Saturday, then target a league double over Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James Park eight days later.

Source: Sunderland Echo