Arabic version: سندرلاند يواجه اختباراً جديداً بعد احتلال المركز السابع

According to BBC News, Sunderland return for the 2026-27 Premier League season facing renewed relegation predictions despite finishing seventh after their first campaign back in the top flight.

The Black Cats won promotion through the Championship play-offs in May 2025 and ended an eight-year absence from the Premier League with European qualification, their first since 1973. Their results, however, contrasted with underlying statistics: only relegated Burnley and Wolves had a lower expected-goals difference last season.

Sunderland were without six players during the Africa Cup of Nations in December and January, twice as many as any other side. BBC Sport said their underlying numbers improved after those players returned, with the team ending the season performing like a mid-table side. There is no Afcon this season.

The article also questioned the idea of “second-season syndrome”. Of 52 promoted teams that had previously survived their first Premier League season, 11 were relegated in the following campaign. Sunderland will also take on a European schedule, with at least eight Europa League matches alongside domestic commitments.

Five of the previous nine promoted Premier League teams to qualify for Europe achieved another top-half finish, while two were relegated. Sunderland will hope their recent rise from League One to Europe provides the foundation to handle the added demands.