Tottenham and Sunderland are experiencing contrasting campaigns but the two clubs are only separated by three points in the Premier League table. BBC Sport examines some key talking points ahead of Sunday's game (15:00 GMT). Tottenham's start to 2026 was an amalgamation of their 2025 under head coach Thomas Frank – a 0-0 draw at Brentford represented another point won on the road and another game where they created very few chances.
Tottenham and Sunderland are experiencing contrasting campaigns but the two clubs are only separated by three points in the Premier League table. BBC Sport examines some key talking points ahead of Sunday's game (15:00 GMT).
New year, same Spurs?
Tottenham's start to 2026 was an amalgamation of their 2025 under head coach Thomas Frank – a 0-0 draw at Brentford represented another point won on the road and another game where they created very few chances.
The result means Spurs have the best away record in the top flight at the halfway stage – with 18 points amassed from 10 games – but it was yet another match where they were toothless in attack for almost the entire 90 minutes.
The performance was greeted with what can best be described as gallows humour from the travelling Spurs contingent, who punctuated the lack of action with songs about fan favourites Dele Alli, Eric Dier and even former manager Martin Jol. They also chanted "Boring, boring Tottenham" and jeered current boss Frank as he approached them at the full-time whistle.
"It's not perfect… we want us to be free-flowing," said Frank in his pre-match press conference on Friday. "We need to do everything we can to put in an attacking, intense, front-footed performance against Sunderland."
Black Cats could change Tottenham's fortunes
Tottenham's home form in 2025 was their worst on record and 11 league defeats in front of their own fans is the most they have ever suffered in a single calendar year.
However, the Lilywhites have an enviable record when it comes to this fixture. They are unbeaten in their previous 14 top-flight meetings with Sunderland since a 3-1 loss at the Stadium of Light in April 2010 and have won 14 of their 16 Premier League home matches against the north-east club (D1, L1).
Another victory this weekend could spark Tottenham's season into life and would go some way to repairing the apparent rift between head coach and fans.
Home and away
Sunderland have lost just two of their past 12 Premier League games and head to north London following a spirited performance in the 0-0 home draw with title-chasing Manchester City.
The Black Cats remain one of only two sides still unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season and they have taken points from all of the league's top three sides at the Stadium of Light. They have also kept seven top-flight clean sheets this season – with four coming at home – which is one fewer than the combined final total of the three promoted teams last term.
The challenge now for head coach Regis Le Bris is to replicate his side's home form on the road.
The goalless draw at Brighton in their previous away outing extended the club's winless away run to four matches (D2, L2) and was the latest example of Sunderland's ineffective away attack.
They have now failed to score in six of their nine Premier League away games and have amassed just four goals from the other three matches, a total only equalled by bottom side Wolves.
Category: General Sports
