7M - Premier League Preview: Aston Villa vs Sunderland - prediction, team news, lineups

Aston Villa host Sunderland at Villa Park on Sunday, April 19, 2026, in a Premier League fixture with both sides chasing distinct objectives in the table.

Villa sit fourth with 55 points from 32 matches, firmly in the Champions League qualification race. Unai Emery's side enter the match with positive momentum, having won two of their last three fixtures including a dominant 4-0 victory over Bologna and a 3-1 triumph in Italy. However, home form has been inconsistent, with just two wins, one draw and three losses in their last six Premier League outings at Villa Park, scoring five and conceding seven.

Sunderland occupy tenth place with 46 points, looking to build on a resilient campaign under Regis Le Bris. The Black Cats arrive after mixed results: a 1-0 defeat to Brighton, followed by a 2-1 win at Newcastle and a 1-0 success against Tottenham. Away from home, Sunderland have recorded two wins, one draw and three losses in their last six Premier League trips, netting five but conceding eleven.

Attacking trends suggest a measured contest. Villa have averaged one goal per game across their last ten matches, conceding 1.3 on average while keeping three clean sheets. Sunderland mirror these numbers with ten goals scored and thirteen conceded in their previous ten fixtures. Defensive statistics point toward a low-scoring affair: under 2.5 goals has occurred in ten of Villa's last twelve Premier League matches, while under 3.5 goals has featured in 22 of Sunderland's last 24 away games.

Head-to-head history shows tight encounters. The most recent meeting ended 1-1, and Villa hold a 40 percent win rate across the last ten clashes (four wins, five draws, one loss). Both teams failed to score in six of those ten meetings.

Team news favors the visitors slightly. Sunderland have only one confirmed absence, with defender Daniel Ballard sidelined through injury. Villa have a fully fit squad to select from, with Ollie Watkins (nine Premier League goals) and Morgan Rogers (eight goals) leading the attacking line. Ross Barkley and Nordi Mukiele each have one goal in their last six league appearances and could prove influential.

With Villa's superior league position and home advantage, combined with Sunderland's defensive vulnerabilities on the road, the hosts are expected to edge a closely contested match.

Predicted score: Aston Villa 2-1 Sunderland