Burnley v Sunderland: Team news published at 14:02 BST 23 August
14:02 BST 23 August
Scott Parker makes two changes to the Burnley side beaten 3-0 at Tottenham last Saturday.
Jacob Bruun Larsen and Lesley Oguchukwu, who makes his first competitive start for the Clarets, come in with the displaced Oliver Sonne and Josh Laurent among the substitutes.
Centre-back Omar Alderete comes in for his full Premier League debut as Regis Le Bris makes just one change to the Sunderland XI that started last weekend's 3-0 win over West Ham.
Jenson Seelt, who was replaced by Alderete early in the second half last week, drops to the bench.
Burnley v Sunderland: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 18:00 BST 22 August
18:00 BST 22 August
Jordan Butler BBC Sport journalist
The first meeting between newly promoted sides takes place this weekend with Burnley and Sunderland experiencing contrasting fortunes during the first round of matches.
Burnley's impressive 100-point promotion campaign was largely underpinned by two key principles – a near-perfect home record and a watertight defence.
The Clarets conceded just 16 goals in 46 Championship games last term but shipped three in an afternoon on their Premier League return last Saturday. Scott Parker's side performed admirably at Tottenham despite the defeat, and the 3-0 scoreline perhaps flattered their hosts.
A return to Lancashire provides a fresh opportunity for Burnley to open their Premier League account and they were unbeaten on home soil last season, with 14 wins and nine draws from their 23 matches at Turf Moor in 2024-25.
Burnley's first home match of 2024-25 was a 5-0 thrashing of Cardiff City, and although a similar result would be welcomed by all connected to the club, it doesn't appear likely. The team were wasteful in north London on Saturday and failed to take any of the 12 chances they created.
Fan favourite Ashley Barnes was not involved at Spurs but the 35-year-old is the top Premier League scorer in the squad with a respectable 42 goals.
He is also their only current player to reach double figures in the division. The next nearest to his total are Armando Broja and Kyle Walker with eight apiece. Last season's 18-goal top scorer Josh Brownhill has also departed the club and so the simple question remains: where are Burnley's goals going to come from?
Finding the net was not a problem for Sunderland on the opening day as they put three unanswered goals past West Ham at a pulsating Stadium of Light.
It was their first victory in the opening month of a top-flight campaign for 15 years and although the club have made 12 signings, Saturday's three scorers all featured heavily in last season's promotion campaign, a fact that head coach Regis le Bris was quick to recognise.
"They showed they can step up today," he said after the match. "They are really important because they keep the identity of the club and the way we worked last season."
The Black Cats could now win their opening two matches of a top-flight season for the first time since 1980-81. They avoided relegation on the final day of that campaign 44 years ago, and three points here would provide a big boost to their chances of survival before the summer is even over.
And here are the key lines from his news conference:
Le Bris confirmed there were no injury concerns for the visit to Turf Moor.
He stated that the squad has had a great connection from the beginning, especially from "a human perspective as well as football perspective".
On pursuing more defenders: "I think we need competition to be consistent in this league and we need the competition for the squad. Also for the position as well, because of injuries and suspension, but also because of the different style of play we will have to face."
The Black Cats boss said that "we will see" if there are any more signings made before the end of the transfer window.
On potential sales: "The flow of this transfer window is always a bit weird; sometimes it is very slow, but probably next week, many movements will appear. We will have options, so we will see. I hope so (on moving players on)."
Le Bris also reiterated that they "want to reinforce the squad if it makes sense". There is still a possibility of bringing in another defender but it "needs to be the right profile."
On Dan Ballard: "I am not surprised by his performance because he showed it in the play-offs. The main challenge for him is to repeat week after week, and it is always the main problem. We have many talented players but the main challenge will be the ability to repeat."
On Burnley: "They enjoyed a really strong season last year, really consistent, hard to beat, they conceded few goals and they were always well organised. I don't think it'll be different and they still have many threats to score goals. It'll be difficult because they changed their system, but at the same time, we will have a different team with players who played last season but new players as well, so it is always a new story."
Will 'bold and ambitious' spending pay off?published at 13:57 BST 20 August
13:57 BST 20 August
Nick Barnes BBC Radio Newcastle commentator
Image source, Getty Images
I think it is fair to say Sunderland have defied all expectations when it comes to their summer recruitment.
Not only in terms of the money spent but in the number of players signed.
Unquestionably fans instinctively knew Sunderland's squad from the Championship needed strengthening for the Premier League campaign.
Five or six players with Premier League experience would conservatively have been a lot of people's estimation, but as to how much they would cost and whether that would be enough was always going to be the big question.
No-one really knew how much owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus would be prepared to spend with his model of sustainability at the forefront of everything the club has done in his tenure.
He and his team have blown everyone away with the money spent but also with the quality of the players signed.
Granit Xhaka is the standout example, but he's not the only one. Habib Diarra, Omar Alderete, Noah Sadiki, Simon Adingra, the list goes on.
The defeat of West Ham, albeit only one game, suggested all these players are comfortable in their Premier League skin.
The bonus was their three goals were scored by three players who came up with the team from the Championship.
It's a bold and ambitious bid to stay up but Sunderland fans are certainly backing them to do so.
How does it compare to other promoted clubs?
Image caption,
Transfermarkt data showing the highest spending promoted clubs in the history of the Premier League
According to transfermarkt,, external Sunderland now top the all-time list for amount spent by a promoted club in the Premier League.
With a summer spend of £142m so far, both them, and fellow promoted side Burnley - who have spent £109m - are hoping for a solid return on their investment.
As far as the numbers go, the other four teams to have spent big upon their Premier League return have had mixed results.
Both Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest narrowly avoided the drop after busy summer windows following promotion, but are now playing in Europe.
However, last summer saw Southampton an Ipswich finish as the bottom two sides in the league.
'We won't have to suck it and see with new signings'published at 13:56 BST 20 August
13:56 BST 20 August
Image source, Getty Images
Former striker Marco Gabbiadini believes Sunderland's new signings give the club a good chance of staying in the Premier League.
Speaking after their 3-0 win over West Ham, Gabbiadini said: "I'm not getting carried away but you've got to enjoy the moment.
"The fans have really bought in to what's going on this year and they actually believe that the club has had a really good go, they've spent the money and brought in players that give us a good chance of staying up.
"There's going to be a lot of competition [for places], and that's only a good thing for the fans. These are players that are coming in who are proper players and we won't have to suck it and see with these players, they are proven."
Nordi Mukiele became the 12th player to join the club this summer earlier this week.
The Black Cats summer spending currently stands at around £141.5m with over a week of the window remaining, and Gabbiadini feels that the squad depth will only help the manager.
"There's going to be games this season where we come up against the top sides and it isn't going to be a battle," he added.
"It isn't going to be about winning tussles or winning headers, because they won't move the ball off the ground and that might mean different type of games suits different types of players.
"These games, the West Hams, Burnleys and Brentfords, are huge games for us as these are the ones in theory that we have more chance of winning."
Black Cats' transfer strategy a 'measured gamble'published at 12:03 BST 20 August
12:03 BST 20 August
Image source, Getty Images
Football Finance Writer Chris Weatherspoon says Sunderland "benefited" financially from playing League One football in four of the eight seasons since their relegation from the Premier League in 2017.
The Black Cats suffered consecutive relegations and spent four campaigns in the third tier before promotion back to the Championship in 2022.
After promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs last season the club have already spent £141.5m and are exploring a move for Leicester's Abdul Fatawu which would move them above Nottingham Forest's£142m spend in the summer of 2022 - a British record for a promoted club..
"The team that started the play-off final cost less than £10m to assemble and Rhian Brewster on the other side cost double that," said Weatherspoon.
"They got promoted pretty cheaply and that is why there has been surprise at how much they've spent this summer. I didn't expect them to spend this much.
"The owners hadn't spent a lot of money - there was one deal prior to them getting promoted which was over £3m and even that wasn't clear. In terms of the rules, that has given them the space to spend.
"Despite being out of the Premier League for eight years they've benefited from being in League One for four of them because they lost less money than they would have done from Championship wages. They haven't built up the level of loss that other clubs have from being in the Championship for a long time.
"With the broadcasting revenue, even if they were to finish bottom this season they would make around £110m.
"They have taken a bit of a measured gamble. They have spent big on three experienced players but the bulk of money they have spent this summer is on players under the age of 24.
"The measured gamble here is if they were to get relegated they are banking on being able to sell these players for good money next summer."
Black Cats Hammer home advantagepublished at 08:28 BST 20 August
08:28 BST 20 August
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
The game I attended was at Sunderland where West Ham arrived to show the newcomers what the Premier League was all about. The Black Cats were singularly unimpressed, Graham Potter's side looked as lumpen and leggy as the opposition look sprightly and energetic.
Sunderland coach Regis Le Bris fielded seven debutants from the start and his team were anything but shy and nervous on their first outing. Take out the wily Granit Xhaka and the remaining five midfielders and attackers in red and white had an average age of less than 21. Only Simon Adingra had ever played in the Premier League before.
They still out-ran and out-thought West Ham. The 21-year-old Habib Diarra caught the eye with his unstoppable runs from deep in midfield but it felt like two different generations playing against each other; not to put too fine a point on it, many of the West Ham players looked old in comparison, a phrase every footballer hates to hear.
Sunderland are better than I thought but even with a 3-0 opening win and the excitement around the packed stadium there is a concern. Somewhere in amongst the wild enthusiasm they know that there might just a be a fragility to the team that could be crushed by bigger and better sides than the Hammers.
The Ballard of the Lambton Wormpublished at 12:37 BST 19 August
12:37 BST 19 August
Gavin Henderson Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
What a feeling. What an unbelievable feeling. It took us just over 3000 days to get back to the Premier League, and on Saturday it felt like Sunderland Association Football Club could finally let out a big, audible sigh of relief — we're back, and we don't plan on going anywhere.
We did ourselves proud. The fans were amazing and cheered every tackle and kick. The club put on a show as the world's media clapped eyes on us for the first time in years, and boy did they deliver. The players on the pitch, no matter how long they've been a Sunderland player, knew and understood just how much this occasion meant to the fans and ensured they left nothing on the pitch. And our coach, Regis le Bris, enacted the perfect gameplan. His side were organised and well-coached, and the elements of what made us special last season were still present despite the fact only three players from last year's side remained in that starting 11.
As kick-off approached and the tifo of the Lambton Worm was unfurled, I sensed that it was going to be our day. It just felt like, no matter what West Ham planned to do to us, we'd find a way to combat it. I felt that way when we played Coventry too, and it's not often in my life as a Sunderland supporter that I've felt those feelings, so when you do feel them you should trust your gut. We really earned that victory.
Despite the sheer amount of upheaval it seems poignant that the three players that scored the goals were lads who had such a massive part to play in our promotion. For the first, Eliezer Mayenda perfectly placed his header into Mads Hermansen's bottom corner; for the second, Dan Ballard did what he always does, and almost ripped a hole in the net with his nodded effort; and then for the third, Wilson Isidor cut inside and bent the ball around the goalie in trademark style to finish things off in style.
This, to me, is key. Despite the huge changes, the club must still ensure the talented lads that got us this far have a massive part to play, and providing they come up with the goods, they absolutely do.
We honestly could not have wished for a better start, and I'm so proud of everyone connected with the football club. Enjoy it - drink it in.
'It is only three points, we need more'published at 14:04 BST 18 August
14:04 BST 18 August
Image source, Getty Images
Enzo le Fee spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle after Sunderland's opening victory over West Ham: "It is really good to start with three points at home, but it is only three points - we know we need more.
"I am ready. Even if I only had two minutes, I am ready to help the team. Everybody has to have this mindset because it is never just a first xi that finishes a season. Everyone wants to start, and hopefully he [Regis le Bris] trusts me for this season. I have to do the job for him and the club.
"It was a really good atmosphere, it was looking like the play-off game against Coventry. If we can have this every time we are at home it will be incredible. I know the fans will be behind us and it's really important."
Sliding doors moment for unlucky Seeltpublished at 09:26 BST 18 August
09:26 BST 18 August
Steven Wyeth Final score reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Sunderland deservedly received huge credit for the second-half performance that swept aside West Ham on their Premier League return. However, an assured, resilient and mature opening 45 minutes should not be overlooked.
The rumbustious atmosphere, after eight turbulent years away from the top flight, might have resulted in a cavalier reaction, favouring a more experienced opponent.
Instead, Sunderland's players kept their emotions in check, stuck to Regis le Bris' well-constructed gameplan and neutralised West Ham's only period of superiority. That ability to channel the Stadium of Light's joyous enthusiasm laid the foundation for victory.
Meanwhile, one player's misfortune might have inadvertently been a significant contributing factor to the Black Cats' victorious day. Jenson Seelt had more reason than most to relish the occasion, starting a competitive game for the first time since a knee injury in March of last year.
However, it was a return that lasted just 53 minutes, the unlucky Dutch defender landing heavily after a towering defensive header. It was a sliding doors moment because his replacement, debutant Omar Alderete, was the player to finally expose the weakness identified in the Hammers' defence.
Eight minutes after his introduction Alderete delivered the cross from which Eliezer Mayenda scored the opening goal and from that moment there was an inevitable feel about Sunderland getting three points.
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham - the fans' verdictpublished at 18:02 BST 17 August
18:02 BST 17 August
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Sunderland and West Ham.
Here are some of your comments:
Sunderland fans
Colin: Outstanding performance by the lads in red and white. We needed to start on the front foot and boy did we do that. Great win and hoping to build on that.
Terry: The performance and the goals were just brilliant. You could see what it meant to the fans and the players by the pure passion displayed by every one in the stadium. I would have LOVED to have been there! Liked the comment by the commentator likening Dan Ballard's goal to Niall Quinn!
David: A truly emotional and memorable return to the Premier League for the club and fans, with hugely encouraging performances from all of the debutants resulting in an important win. A long way to go, of course, but on this evidence there could be a lot of people outside of Wearside eating humble pie come the end of the season.
Tom: It's an incredible time to be a Sunderland supporter. I'm very pleased to see the three goalscorers were players who got the club where they are now.
Russell: I've followed Sunderland since the 1973 cup final and this season is the most confident I've been about a good start for a long, long time.
Craig: Championship play-off semis: Sunderland won't win. Final: they won't win. Get promoted: Sunderland are coming straight back down. Proving the naysayers wrong is what we what we love to do! More please.
West Ham fans
Tom: If you have a bad season, look at what was wrong and fix it. Or, in our case, just ignore it and hope for the best. This result was as inevitable. Either Potter is a poor manager or he's just being handcuffed by poor owners. It's going to be VERY hard to find three worse teams than us this season. I don't think there are.
Michael: Trouble is with our midfield - there's no energy or bite in there. To be honest, if they could shake it up between now and when the window shuts, we'd be OK. Probably need to offload four or five players and get in four or five younger and hungrier ones.
Derek: For 60 minutes we looked OK and were really troubling Sunderland. Then, like a deck of cards, we folded. I have to question Freddie Potts not starting after playing every pre-season game. Our midfield must be the slowest in the league. This needs addressing asap and we also badly need a striker.
Adrian: Same old, same old. Don't look fit enough, don't look hungry enough. Might as well keep Potter's post-match interview and play it each week. Fans deserve better.
Colin: First half was fair - the rest of the game West Ham were rubbish. Last season all over again. It's a shame for the fans becaiuse we expected more from Potter and the squad.
Rob: We've started where we finished off last season. Can't say I expected anything else when a club I've supported for over 50 years doesn't back the manager with top-class signings that never happen year in, year out. Yet another stressful season for us Hammers fans!
Do Sunderland have the blueprint to stay up?published at 13:28 BST 17 August
13:28 BST 17 August
Matthew Howarth BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Last season, we had to wait until 5 October for any of the three promoted clubs - Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton - to get their first victory.
Recent history suggests a fast start is crucial for promoted top-flight sides. In the past 10 seasons, all 12 promoted clubs who have accrued 11 points or more in their opening 10 games have avoided relegation.
By contrast, only two of the 18 teams with 10 or fewer points after the same number of matches have stayed up.
Burnley were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Thomas Frank's Tottenham on Saturday afternoon, while Leeds - who welcome Everton to Elland Road on Monday - have their work cut out to match Sunderland's memorable opening-day triumph.
With games coming up against the newly promoted Clarets, and a Brentford side in transition following Frank's departure, Le Bris and his players will fancy their chances of building on their phenomenal start.
Former England international - and Sunderland fan - Steph Houghton told Final Score: "We've got to look to go to Burnley and try and win the game. We'll definitely be going into the match full of confidence.
"Le Bris has built a young squad with lots of pace, especially in forward areas. When you create those chances you have to take them and that's exactly what they did.
"The Sunderland fans always make plenty of noise and hopefully they can make Turf Moor feel like the Stadium of Light next weekend."
Ex-England striker Wayne Rooney told BBC Match of the Day: "The signs are excellent. They played a lot of debutants but the organisation was very similar to how they played last season. There was a lot of energy about Sunderland.
"We saw last season the promoted teams coming up, trying to play and be expansive - and you can't do that. Sunderland showed you can get results if you are organised, work hard and stay together as a team."
Former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett told BBC Radio Newcastle: "We have to remember the giant strides we have made.
"The big question was, after signing all those players: would they gel together as a team? Today they answered that question."
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 11:31 BST 17 August
11:31 BST 17 August
Pundits Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's opening Premier League fixtures.
Debutants impress on Black Cats' dream daypublished at 20:40 BST 16 August
20:40 BST 16 August
Matthew Howarth BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Sunderland have bolstered their ranks with 11 new signings this summer, but their ability to keep their heads above water will depend largely on how well manager Regis Le Bris manages to mould his new recruits into a coherent unit.
The Frenchman could not have asked for a much better start on Saturday as his team defended diligently in the first half before a clinical second-half display secured an eye-catching victory over West Ham.
The experience and tenacity of former Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen captain Granit Xhaka is likely to be crucial this season, but the Black Cats' other new recruits also impressed against the Hammers, with Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki looking capable of forming a potent midfield alongside the veteran Swiss international.
Diarra perhaps should have given the home side an early lead after running on to Eliezer Mayenda's eye-of-the-needle pass, his shot striking Mads Hermansen and sailing over the crossbar for a corner, which came to nothing.
Sunderland fans may have been forgiven for wondering whether that missed opportunity would come back to haunt them, but they needn't have worried.
Summer signing Omar Alderete, who only entered the fray after Jenson Seelt had been forced off with a back injury, delivered a perfect cross for Mayenda to break the deadlock, and the Black Cats retained a firm grip on proceedings after that.
Remarkably, this was Sunderland's first Premier League win in August or September since 2012 - four seasons before they were relegated to the Championship - while their last victory in the opening month of a top-flight campaign was a 1-0 success over Manchester City in August 2010.
With games against fellow promoted side Burnley and Brentford coming up, Le Bris' team may fancy their chances of building on this impressive start.
