Manchester United will be desperate to return to winning ways when they welcome Sunderland to Old Trafford on Saturday.

Gameweek 7 of the 2025/26 Premier League season continues on Saturday. The proceedings will start with the game between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road before the action continues with two simultaneous matches, including Manchester United vs Sunderland at Old Trafford.

Manchester United would have hoped for a better start to the 2025/26 season after a promising pre-season campaign. However, the Red Devils have won only two games in seven outings across all competitions, and the 3-1 defeat to Brentford last weekend was the latest setback for them. Nevertheless, changing managers may not be the brightest idea, although Ruben Amorim will be eager to see his team returning to winning ways.

On the other hand, Sunderland could not have asked for a better start to the 2025/26 season. The Black Cats were active in the market, and they spent over £100 million in the summer transfer window. The positive reinforcements have paved the way for exciting results, as Regis Le Bris’s men have lost only once thus far in the Premier League, with the run of results taking them to fifth in the standings.

The most recent Premier League match featuring Manchester United and Sunderland ended in a 3-1 win for the Red Devils. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Manchester United

Ruben Amorim has received positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of only two first-team players vs Sunderland on Saturday.

Casemiro has served his suspension after missing the game against Brentford last weekend. The Brazilian international will likely return to the starting eleven straightaway. Amad Diallo should also be available after Amorim gave him a compassionate leave after a family bereavement. However, Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Noussair Mazraoui (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.

Altay Bayindir will likely retain his spot between the sticks ahead of Senne Lammens, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Sunderland on Saturday. The central defensive unit will feature Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Luke Shaw. Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu will continue as the two wing-backs.

The wide duo will provide width in the final third and protect the centre-backs in the defensive phases. As for the midfield unit, the returning Casemiro will line up alongside Bruno Fernandes in the double pivot. Finally, Benjamin Sesko will lead the line for Manchester United against Sunderland, with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha completing the numbers in the offensive third.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Bayindir; Yoro, de Ligt, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko

Sunderland

Like his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Regis Le Bris has received a positive update on the team news front ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Sunderland manager will be without five first-team players on Saturday.

Aji Alese is in contention to take on Manchester United after stepping up his recovery from a shoulder injury. However, Leo Hjelde (achilles), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Romaine Mundle (thigh), and Habib Diarra (groin) remain in the treatment room. Additionally, Reinildo Mandava continues to serve a suspension after being sent off against Aston Villa.

Robin Roefs is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Sunderland lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Saturday. The backline will feature Trai Hume, Nordi Mukiele, Omar Alderete, and Arthur Masuaku.

As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Chris Rigg, Granit Xhaka, and Noah Sadiki in the middle of the park.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Masuaku; Rigg, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Isidor, Le Fee

Key Stats

• Manchester United have lost just two of their last 30 league games vs Sunderland (W22 D6), with Saturday’s clash the first meeting between the two sides since a 3-0 win for the Red Devils in April 2017. Across all competitions, the Black Cats have managed to win just one of their last 31 away games against Manchester United (D9 L21), winning 1-0 in May 2014 thanks to Sebastian Larsson’s winner.
• Manchester United have won their last two home Premier League matches, as many as in their previous nine combined at Old Trafford (D2 L5). The Red Devils are looking for three consecutive Premier League wins at Old Trafford for the first time since winning run of eight between April and August 2023.
• Sunderland have won just one of 29 away Premier League matches against the Manchester clubs (D4 L24), a points-per-game ratio of only 0.24, the worst of any side to play more than 15 away games against Manchester United and Manchester City.
• Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 24 Premier League games against newly promoted sides (W21 D3) since losing 4-1 to Watford in November 2021. The Hornets were also the last promoted side to stop Manchester United from scoring, in a 0-0 draw in February 2022.
• Sunderland have 11 points in six Premier League matches this season (W3 D2 L1), the best start by a newly promoted side since West Ham United in 2012/13 (also 11). They need only one point to equal Southampton’s tally from the entirety of the 2025/26 campaign in 38 games (12).

Player to Watch

Bruno Fernandes

While Benjamin Sesko, Granit Xhaka, and Wilson Isidor were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Bruno Fernandes as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Manchester United and Sunderland at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese international has made the most line-breaking passes leading to a shot in the Premier League this season (9). Fernandes also has five goals and six assists in his last nine matches against newly promoted opponents. So, amid his underwhelming performances at the onset of the 2025/26 season, the Manchester United will aim to be the game-changer for the home side.

Prediction

Manchester United 1-1 Sunderland

Saturday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford will be Ruben Amorim’s 50th game in charge of Manchester United in all competitions. None of the last five managers to hit 50 games have won their 50th (D3 L2 – David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag), with Sir Alex Ferguson the most recent boss to win his 50th match back in November 1987 away at Bury.

The trend may continue this weekend, as Sunderland will give the hosts a run for their money. The Black Cats have been the surprise package in the Premier League this season, while Ruben Amorim’s men have not been at their best. So, there may not be much to separate the two sides, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw for Saturday’s clash at Old Trafford.