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Sunderland's tally of seven points from four matches is their joint best after four games of a Premier League season, while it has been 70 years since they last accrued more points at this stage of a top-flight campaign (assuming three points for a win).

Another victory would see them start a top-flight season with three straight home victories for the first time since 1965-66. Remarkably, it would also match their tally of victories at the Stadium of Light across the whole of their last Premier League campaign in 2016-17.

Although they failed to have a shot on target in their creditable goalless draw at Crystal Palace, they have scored five goals from just nine shots on target in league matches this season with only Arsenal (64%) converting a higher share than the Black Cats' 56%.

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Sunderland boss Regis le Bris says his side will not underestimate Aston Villa, despite their poor start to the season.

Villa are yet to win a game so far this term and sit second bottom on two points from four games.

"I don't know if it's the right time to play Villa," Le Bris said.

"They're a strong team. They haven't started well - that's obvious - but they're a top-six team. If they are a bit weaker then maybe that's better for us. We won't get gifts from them, so we have to be at our best."

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter

Bournemouth are flying.

The Cherries have made their best ever start to a Premier League season and Andoni Iraola’s fearless side have had the benefit of a clear week to prepare for the visit of Newcastle United.

Bournemouth certainly boast a strong record at the Vitality Stadium against the visitors.

For context, Eddie Howe was in charge of Bournemouth when Newcastle last won on the South Coast, in 2019.

Howe will be handed a warm reception by the home support today, but this has not been a happy hunting ground for the former Bournemouth manager.

So it is rather telling that Howe looks to have switched to a back five today after making seven changes to his team.

Newcastle will have to defend resolutely today to come away with something.

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Newcastle have impressed with a joint top-flight high three clean sheets so far and the Premier League's lowest expected goals against total of 2.1.

They will need to start well against a Cherries side that have scored an early goal in three of their four games so far, which has helped them lead for more minutes than any other top-flight side this season.

In the wake of the Barcelona defeat, Eddie Howe spoke of how his side will need to deal with the comedown following that match and be switched on for their test at Vitality Stadium.

"It's a psychological issue rather than a physical issue," the Newcastle boss said. "It's the big high [of the Barcelona game] - a big experience for the players, another big, emotional game – then the big comedown, then you've got to go to Bournemouth, which is a really tough away game."

This is tough because you could make an argument for every outcome, but I am going to back Bournemouth.

I have been impressed by the Cherries so far, in defence and attack, and although Newcastle beat Wolves last time out, they have not really got going yet.

Former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is yet to win at Vitality Stadium in three visits with Newcastle, and he is going to have to wait a little longer for his first success.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Bournemouth continue to defy the doubters who predicted they might struggle after their defence was asset stripped over the summer by a host of Europe's biggest clubs.

Victory over Newcastle would match their club record of four successive Premier League wins, set twice under former manager and current Magpies boss Eddie Howe.

The Cherries are unbeaten in all six of their matches against Howe's Newcastle and enjoyed one of their best Premier League results in their last encounter with a stunning 4-1 victory at St James' Park in January.

Antoine Semenyo may not have been on the scoresheet that day but he has started this season in sensational form, contributing three goals and two assists to their tally of six goals so far.

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The dark clouds continue to form over Aston Villa after their EFL Cup exit on penalties at Brentford on Tuesday.

They did at least find the back of the net for the first time this season, but their drought in the league stretches to 466 minutes and 49 shots.

For the first time in their history, they have failed to score in their opening four league games to a season. Failing to do so once again at the Stadium of Light would see them become just the third team in top-flight history to begin a campaign goalless in their first five league games, after Ipswich Town in 1970-71 and Crystal Palace in 2017-18.

Unai Emery's side have actually had more shots after four games than Sunderland, as well as Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Brentford and Crystal Palace.

Some of their attacking metrics are also up on their excellent 2024-25 campaign, but despite getting the ball into the box more often, things are just not clicking. Their xG of 2.97 is the second worst in the top flight.

Sunderland make two changes to the side that started the goalless draw at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Chris Rigg makes his first league start of the season, while summer signing Enzo Le Fee also returns to the starting XI. Habib Diarra is injured and not involved, while Simon Adingra drops to the bench.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Mandava, Rigg, Xhaka, Sadiki, Talbi, Isidor, Le Fee.

Substitutes: Patterson, Neil, Ballard, Geertruida, Brobbey, Mayenda, Adingra, Traore, Masuaku.

Youri Tielemans is not involved at all for Aston Villa.

Summer signing Evann Guessand returns to the starting XI, while Boubacar Kamara is also back in the starting XI.

Lamare Bogarde drops to the bench.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Kamara, Buendia, Rogers, Guessand, Watkins.

Substitutes: Bizot, Lindelof, Elliott, Torres, Malen, Sancho, Jimoh, Maatsen, Bogarde.

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter

Bournemouth have made two changes as Bafode Diakite and Alex Jimenez come into the side.

Diakite has recovered from injury while Jimenez has been handed his first start for the club following his summer loan move from AC Milan.

Bournemouth starting line-up: Petrovic, Truffert, Senesi, Diakite, Jimenez, Scott, Adams, Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo, Evanilson

Subs: Dennis, Soler, Christie, Gannon-Doak, Kluivert, Adli, Kroupi Jr, Hill, Milosavljevic

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has made seven changes to the side beaten by Barcelona midweek.

Malick Thiaw makes his full debut for the club after Fabian Schar came off with a head injury in the 2-1 defeat.

Sven Botman, Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock and record signing Nick Woltemade also come into the team.

Newcastle starting line-up: Pope, Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Miley, Murphy, Woltemade, Willock

Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Lascelles, Joelinton, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Elanga, Guimaraes

BBC Radio 5 Live

We'll have live BBC Radio 5 live commentary on two of the games today.

John Murray and Paul Robinson are commentating on Sunderland versus Aston Villa, before Ian Dennis and Rob Green cover Arsenal against Manchester City.

Malick Thiaw makes his first start for Newcastle in one of seven changes for Eddie Howe's side.

Full team news to follow.

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Hello and welcome to our coverage of today's Premier League action.

Here's what's coming up:

14:00 BST

Bournemouth v Newcastle

Sunderland v Aston Villa

16:30 BST

Arsenal v Manchester City

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