Bournemouth vs Sunderland: Premier League Preview

Bournemouth vs Sunderland is a Premier League relegation-zone meeting at 15:00 SAST on Sunday, 18 October 2026, at the Vitality Stadium. Bournemouth are 19th and Sunderland 18th, separated by a single point, so the result matters for both clubs. This preview was written before kick-off and uses our match data and the results played so far.

What time is Bournemouth vs Sunderland and who is the referee?

Bournemouth vs Sunderland kicks off at 15:00 SAST (14:00 in England) on Sunday, 18 October 2026, at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth. Craig Pawson is the referee, according to our fixture data.

It is round seven of the season. Meanwhile, our live scores page tracks the score during the match, and the Premier League predictions hub lists the rest of the weekend’s fixtures in South African time.

Where do Bournemouth and Sunderland sit in the table?

Sunderland are 18th with four points from six games, while Bournemouth are 19th with three points from six. Both have a goal difference of minus six, but Sunderland are ahead on points.

Bournemouth have not won a league game yet. They have drawn three and lost three, scoring seven goals and conceding 13. Sunderland have one win, one draw and four defeats, with six goals scored and 12 conceded. Therefore, only Tottenham, who also have three points, sit below the two sides today.

How has Bournemouth played so far?

Bournemouth have drawn with Everton, Newcastle and Brentford, and lost to Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea. The scores were 1-2 at City, 1-1 at home to Everton, 2-2 at Newcastle, 2-2 at home to Brentford, 0-1 at home to Liverpool and 1-5 at Chelsea on 10 October.

The home record is not the problem on its own. At the Vitality Stadium they have played three, drawn two and lost one, scoring three goals and conceding four. However, the heavy defeat at Chelsea showed how quickly a game can slip away, and it accounts for five of the 13 goals they have conceded.

Tavernier leads the team with three league goals, according to our player data. As a result, much of the creative load falls on him while the side waits for its first win.

How has Sunderland played so far?

Sunderland’s only win came at home to Fulham, 1-0, on 30 August. Since then they drew 1-1 at Brentford, lost 2-0 at home to Arsenal, lost 5-3 at Manchester City and lost 2-0 at home to Brighton on 10 October. Before that, they started with a 2-1 defeat at Ipswich.

Their numbers away from home are mixed. They have played three on the road, drawing once and losing twice, with five goals scored and eight conceded. Still, the 5-3 game at City showed that they can score against the best side in the division.

Brobbey is the top scorer with three goals. Meanwhile, the defence has leaked 12 goals in six games, which is why the visitors sit so low despite having scored in four of their six matches.

What does the head-to-head record say?

The two clubs have met six times in the Premier League, with two wins each and two draws. Bournemouth won 2-0 at home on 19 September 2015 and 1-0 at Sunderland on 29 April 2017. Sunderland won 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium on 5 November 2016.

The two most recent games were close. Sunderland won 3-2 at home on 29 November 2025, and the return fixture at Bournemouth ended 1-1 on 28 February 2026. Consequently, neither side has been able to take control of this fixture for long, and the last two results were separated by one goal at most.

Who is injured for Bournemouth vs Sunderland?

Our injury data lists four absentees for each side, although the confirmed team news arrives with the lineups about an hour before kick-off. Bournemouth are without Araujo (thigh), Kroupi (foot), Scott (thigh) and Milosavljevic. Sunderland are without Ballard (muscle), Meunier (muscle), Mundle (knee) and Isidor.

Because these lists can change late, treat them as provisional. In addition, a late fitness test can alter a starting eleven within hours of the match.

What would a result mean for the table?

A Bournemouth win would lift them to six points, level with Manchester United and Coventry, and move them above Sunderland. A Sunderland win would take them to seven points, the same as Crystal Palace. A draw would leave the order unchanged, with Sunderland on five points and Bournemouth on four.

Since the gaps near the bottom are tiny, one result can move a team several places. You can check the full standings on our live scores page after the match.

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