Starting XI: Here's how we think Sunderland will line up against Sheffield United tonight

01/01/2025 01:00 AM

Just the one change predicted for RLB against Sheffield United.

The starting lineup at Stoke saw the surprise inclusion of Milan Aleksic – it's important for him to get some game time but I think he struggled and I don't think we'll see him in the team tonight. I think his place will be taken by Patrick Roberts, who was on the bench at Stoke, as we go with the following to take on the high flying Blades.

Goalkeeper: Anthony Patterson

Patterson had no chance with the goal at Stoke, and will be in for a busy night tonight.

Defence: Trai Hume, Chris Mepham, Luke O'Nien, Dennis Cirkin

Same again in defence today, and hopefully the back four can return to some form. All of them have been below their usual standards recently so they need to step it up again tonight. Aji Alese could come in for Cirkin – that's the only change I think we could possibly see – but I expect an unchanged backline.

Midfield: Dan Neil, Jobe, Adil Aouchiche

Adil Aouchiche was excellent at Stoke on the left, and he'd be incredibly unfortunate to not play from the off tonight. Where he lines up is the question – and on balance I think he'll play in the 10 ahead of Neil and Jobe. The option is for him to play left and Mayenda to play centrally with Isidor, but I don't think we'll start like that.

Attack: Patrick Roberts, Wilson Isidor, Elezier Mayenda

Mayenda could probably do with a rest after a couple of bad misses, but unless you're going to stick with Aleksic or through Harrison Jones in he's going to start on the left, with Isidor central and Patrick Roberts returning on the right – fitness pending, of course.