Here is how Sunderland and Aston Villa will line up for today’s Premier League clash at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland go into the game having won just one of their last ten Premier League games, and with no win in five, Gus Poyet’s men have been dragged into the relegation dogfight.
The Black Cats have gone with an attacking line-up, with Poyet choosing to start with Ricardo Alvarez and Steven Fletcher to provide a boost in the final third alongside Jermain Defoe.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa enter the game having won their last two fixtures under Tim Sherwood, both coming against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League and FA Cup respectively.
Sherwood is handed a boost with Christian Benteke back in the starting line-up after an injury, whilst Scott Sinclair, Gabby Agbonlahor and Charles N’Zogbia all feature as Villa go for goals on Wearside.
Sunderland lineup
Starting:
- Costel Pantilimon
- Wes Brown
- John O’Shea
- Anthony Réveillere
- Patrick van Aanholt
- Liam Bridcutt
- Sebastian Larsson
- Jack Rodwell
- Ricardo Álvarez
- Jermain Defoe
- Steven Fletcher
Substitutes: Vito Mannone, Sebastián Coates, Billy Jones, Santiago Vergini, Jordi Gómez, Danny Graham, Connor Wickham.
Aston Villa lineup
Starting:
- Brad Guzan
- Leandro Bacuna
- Ciaran Clark
- Matthew Lowton
- Jores Okore
- Tom Cleverley
- Fabian Delph
- Charles N’Zogbia
- Scott Sinclair
- Gabriel Agbonlahor
- Christian Benteke
Substitutes: Shay Given, Carles Gil, Lewis Kinsella, Carlos Sánchez, Ashley Westwood, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Andreas Weimann.
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