Match Information
Our pre-match preview Written before kick-off — see what we expected from this match
Match Overview
Ipswich host Sunderland at Portman Road in the opening round of the new Premier League campaign, a fixture that carries the fresh-start energy typical of Matchday 1. With both sides currently sitting in mid-table territory - Ipswich in 15th and Sunderland in 10th - this early meeting offers little in the way of table pressure but plenty of opportunity for both clubs to build momentum from the outset.
Preseason form offers the most relevant lens through which to view this contest, given the lack of competitive league data at this stage. Ipswich head into the match on the back of two friendly wins, including a 3-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on August 8 and a 1-0 win against Le Havre on August 4, though those were sandwiched around defeats to Oxford United and Osasuna in late July and early August. Sunderland, meanwhile, have shown a mixed rhythm of their own, notably picking up competitive minutes in the Premier League Summer Series, including a 1-0 away win over Wrexham on August 2, alongside a loss to Leeds on July 30 and a heavier defeat to Liverpool on July 25. That Sunderland have already faced Premier League-affiliated opposition in a structured series format may offer them a slight edge in match sharpness compared to Ipswich's exclusively friendly schedule.
Squad availability is not expected to be a major storyline here, with no injuries reported for either club heading into the match. Both managers - whoever takes charge on the touchline - will have close to full squads to select from, meaning team selection is likely to hinge on tactical preference and match fitness built up during preseason rather than enforced changes.
With the season just beginning, this fixture is more about early statement-making than any concrete positional battle, setting an early tone for both clubs' campaigns.
Predicted Lineups
Ipswich
D. Button; H. Clarke, D. O'Shea, C. Kipré, L. Davis; A. Matusiwa, J. Taylor, C. Humphreys; A. Fatawu, C. Akpom, S. Egeli
Sunderland
R. Roefs; T. Meunier, D. Ballard, O. Alderete, Reinildo; H. Diarra, E. Le Fée, C. Rigg; S. Adingra, W. Isidor, B. Brobbey
Team Form Analysis
Ipswich
League Position: 15Ipswich Form Analysis
Ipswich's preseason form presents a mixed picture ahead of the new campaign. The club recorded wins in three of their last five outings, including confident victories over Rayo Vallecano (3-0) on August 8 and Le Havre (1-0) on August 4, both at home, suggesting a degree of comfort in front of their own supporters. A narrow 2-1 away win over Wycombe on August 1 further added to the positive momentum.
However, defensive concerns emerged in the same period, with a 2-0 loss to Oxford United on the same day as the Wycombe fixture, and a 1-2 home defeat to Osasuna on July 29 highlighting occasional lapses at the back. The attacking output has been encouraging overall, with the side finding the net in four of their five most recent matches. As the Premier League season begins, translating that attacking sharpness into consistent defensive solidity will be key to a strong start at Portman Road.
Sunderland
League Position: 10Sunderland Form Analysis
Sunderland's build-up to the new season shows a club testing itself against varied opposition. Wins over Lens (2-0 away, August 8), Wrexham (1-0 away, August 2), and York (5-1 away, July 18) point to encouraging attacking form, with the side scoring freely in each of those victories. The 5-1 win over York in particular demonstrated attacking firepower when opportunities were created.
That said, tougher competitive tests exposed some vulnerabilities. A 0-1 home defeat to Leeds on July 30 and a 4-2 away loss to Liverpool on July 25, both in the Premier League Summer Series, showed the defense can be breached against sharper opposition. The Liverpool match in particular saw Sunderland concede four while still scoring twice themselves, suggesting an open, end-to-end approach against top-level sides. Heading into the league opener, Sunderland will look to carry forward their goal-scoring form while tightening up defensively against a Premier League-standard opponent.
Head-to-Head
Ipswich
Sunderland
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-13 | Ipswich | 2 - 1 | Sunderland |
| 2023-08-06 | Sunderland | 1 - 2 | Ipswich |
| 2021-12-18 | Ipswich | 1 - 1 | Sunderland |
| 2021-11-20 | Sunderland | 2 - 0 | Ipswich |
| 2021-01-26 | Ipswich | 0 - 1 | Sunderland |
| 2020-11-03 | Sunderland | 2 - 1 | Ipswich |
| 2020-02-08 | Sunderland | 1 - 0 | Ipswich |
| 2019-08-10 | Ipswich | 1 - 1 | Sunderland |
| 2018-02-03 | Sunderland | 0 - 2 | Ipswich |
| 2017-09-26 | Ipswich | 5 - 2 | Sunderland |
Memorable Matches
The history between these two sides includes some notably high-scoring and dramatic encounters. On September 26, 2017, Ipswich produced one of the most emphatic results in the fixture's recent history, defeating Sunderland 5-2 in a match that showcased attacking quality on the Ipswich side. More recently, on January 13, 2024, Ipswich edged Sunderland 2-1, continuing a pattern of competitive, closely fought meetings between the clubs. Earlier meetings, such as the August 6, 2023 clash which Ipswich won 2-1 away from home, further underline that these fixtures have often been tightly contested, with Ipswich holding a slight edge in several recent renewals of the rivalry.
Venue Factor
Portman Road provides the setting for this Premier League opener, with home advantage always a relevant factor as a new season begins. Atmosphere at the venue is likely to play its part, particularly with supporters eager to see their side start the campaign strongly following a preseason schedule split between wins and losses. For Sunderland, the trip to Suffolk represents their first competitive away test of the league season, following a preseason that included away fixtures at Lens, Wrexham, and York, all of which produced positive results. That road form, though earned outside competitive league play, may offer some reassurance as they adapt to away conditions in a new campaign at Portman Road.
Read our see expert picks for additional insight on this fixture.
