Newcastle United will host Sunderland at St James’ Park on Sunday for an important Tyne-Wear derby, as the Magpies seek to end a long winless streak against their rivals.
Newcastle returns home aiming to recover from a tough week in Barcelona, where they suffered a 7–2 defeat and were eliminated from the Champions League.
Despite this setback, Eddie Howe’s squad has performed well in the Premier League this month, achieving consecutive victories against Manchester United and Chelsea, which has moved them ahead of Sunderland in the standings.
Newcastle is looking for a perfect month in the league for the first time since 2018, though they face a challenge as they haven’t kept a clean sheet against Sunderland since 2011.
Sunderland visits Tyneside hoping to extend their unbeaten run in derby matches to 11 games. They previously secured a 1–0 win in December, which recorded one of the lowest combined expected goals for a Premier League match.
Although their recent form shows they have scored only four goals in the last eight matches, Sunderland has proven resilient, earning 16 points from situations where they were trailing.
A win today would elevate Sunderland past Newcastle and could boost their chances for a top-seven finish.
Newcastle United vs Sunderland – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 22 March 2026
- Kick-off: 12:00 GMT
- Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
- VAR: Paul Howard
- Last Meeting: Sunderland 1–0 Newcastle United (14 Dec 2025, Premier League)
Team News
Newcastle United
Eddie Howe is concerned about Sandro Tonali, who left the match against Barcelona with a groin issue. He remains a possibility for Sunday after a positive evaluation. Tino Livramento and Sven Botman are likely to return to the lineup after resting.
The team will miss Bruno Guimarães, Fabian Schär, and Lewis Miley, who are expected to return after the international break. Anthony Gordon is in great form, aiming to score in three straight Premier League matches for the first time.
Sunderland
Régis Le Bris is optimistic that Enzo Le Fée and Reinildo Mandava will be fit, but Nordi Mukiele and Dan Ballard will undergo late fitness tests. Sunderland will definitely be without Bertrand Traoré, Romaine Mundle, and Nilson Angulo.
Sunderland’s strong defense has been notable this season, recording 135 blocks, the second-highest in the Premier League.
Form
Newcastle United
This month has been strong for Newcastle, winning their last two Premier League matches against Manchester United (2-1) and Chelsea (1-0). Despite recent struggles in Europe, the team has scored in 15 consecutive matches across competitions.
However, they’ve dropped 19 points from winning positions this season, which is the second-most in the league.
Sunderland
Sunderland’s recent performance has been inconsistent, with two consecutive 1-0 defeats in the FA Cup and Premier League, placing them 13th in the table. Nonetheless, their away form shows promise.
They won their last away league match against Leeds and aim for back-to-back away victories with clean sheets for the first time in the 21st century. Importantly, they remain unbeaten in their last 10 league encounters with Newcastle.
Predicted Lineups
Newcastle United Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Ramsey, Willock, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes
Sunderland Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ellborg; Geertruida, O’Nien, Alderete, Reinildo; Diarra, Xhaka, Sadiki; Le Fee, Brobbey, Talbi
How to Watch Newcastle United vs Sunderland?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Coverage begins at 11:30 GMT for the 12:00 kick-off.
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