Sunderland, Everton and Aston Villa's likely final Premier League positions amid race for Europe | OneFootball

Sunderland have gathered momentum heading into the final month of the Premier League season. The positivity from their Tyne-Wear derby win at Newcastle United before the final international break carried into Sunday’s home victory over relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur, settled by a Nordi Mukiele goal. They have won three of their last four and now turn to next Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa.

According to Sunderland Echo, Opta’s latest projection has Sunderland finishing 11th on 52.95 points. Arsenal are forecast first with 82.15, Manchester City second on 76.57. The model puts Aston Villa fourth with 64.84 and Everton eighth on 55.20, with Brighton seventh on 55.39 and Brentford ninth with 54.92.

Sunday’s win left Sunderland one point behind seventh-placed Brentford and six points adrift of the Champions League spots. The Black Cats remain firmly in the European mix.

The run-in takes Regis Le Bris’s side to Villa Park, then brings home games against Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Chelsea, plus away trips to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton.

Optimism is high on Wearside, and while the data currently points to an upper mid-table finish, the race for Europe is still alive.

Source: Sunderland Echo