Newcastle United vs Sunderland - Predictions, Stats & Odds
Premier League Statistics, AI predictions, (Expected) Lineups and Insights for Gameweek 31
Premier League - Gameweek 31
Sunday, 22 Mar 2026 • 12:00
St James Park (Newcastle upon Tyne)
Goals
Game Review
In a thrilling Premier League encounter at St James' Park, Sunderland emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United. This result was somewhat unexpected given Newcastle's recent form and home advantage, but Sunderland's resilience and tactical discipline paid dividends. The match began with Newcastle United taking an early lead through Anthony Gordon (GAP -0.7%), who found the net in the 10th minute. However, Sunderland responded strongly in the second half. Chemsdine Talbi (GAP +1.4%) equalized in the 57th minute, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Brian Brobbey (GAP -2.6%) scored the decisive goal in the 90th minute, sealing a crucial victory for the visitors. Newcastle made four changes to their lineup, bringing in Kieran Trippier (GAP +0.6%), Dan Burn (GAP +3.0%), Joelinton (GAP +4.2%), and Anthony Elanga (GAP +0.1%). These changes were part of a rotation strategy, as the home team looked to maintain momentum in the league. Sunderland, on the other hand, made a single change, introducing Luke O'Nien in place of Daniel Ballard, likely due to Ballard's injury concerns. Tactically, Sunderland's manager set up the team to absorb pressure and hit Newcastle on the counter-attack. This approach was evident in the second half as they capitalized on Newcastle's defensive lapses. Granit Xhaka (GAP +1.1%) played a pivotal role in midfield, controlling the tempo and providing stability. Post-match reactions highlighted Sunderland's determination and Newcastle's missed opportunities. The result leaves Newcastle needing to regroup as they aim to secure a higher finish in the league. Sunderland, buoyed by this victory, will look to build on this performance as they climb the table. Overall, this match showcased Sunderland's ability to execute a game plan effectively, while Newcastle will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities to improve their standing in the Premier League.
Lineups
Newcastle United
| Pos | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| FWD | |
| FWD | |
| FWD | |
| FWD |
Substitutes
| 54' | Malick Thiawfor Sven Botman |
| 65' | Joe Willockfor Nick Woltemade |
| 65' | Jacob Murphyfor Anthony Elanga |
| 65' | Valentino Livramentofor Kieran Trippier |
| 76' | William Daugaard Osulafor Harvey Barnes |
| 89' | Yoane Wissafor Anthony Gordon |
Sunderland
| Pos | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| FWD | |
| FWD |
Substitutes
| 85' | Enzo Le Féefor Habib Diarra |
| 90' | Eliezer Mayendafor Brian Brobbey |
| 90' | Reinildo Mandavafor Chemsdine Talbi |
League Table after the game
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sunderland | 31 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 32 | 36 | -4 | 43 | L D W L W |
| 12 | Newcastle United | 31 | 12 | 6 | 13 | 44 | 45 | -1 | 42 | L L W W L |
Last Games
Premier League
Gameweek 31
What is GAP?
What is Plus Minus Goals (G±)?
Plus Minus Goals (G±) is the average goal difference per game while the player was on the pitch. A value above 0 indicates that the team rather wins, a value below 0 means his team concedes more goals than they score when the player is on the pitch. As an example, if the player's team is winning 3:1 the goal difference is +2, if the player's team is loosing 0:1, the goal difference is -1. It is a pure metric which is barely adjusted for circumstances to purely show the goal difference.
What is GAP?
GAP (Game Advantage Percentage) shows the percentage gap between a player and the average league player. It answers the question: How much does a player improve or worsen a team's performance? It is based on high level game data with a focus on the impact on the goal difference (G±) from the last 50 games of a player. Besides that, GAP goes further and considers game context by involving data from the player and all other players who are at the same time on the pitch, no matter if teammates or opponents. Football GAP - the individual metric for team players.