Overview
- Kickoff is 2:30pm ET on Wednesday, January 7 at the Gtech Community Stadium in West London, with live streaming on Peacock.
- Both clubs are level on 30 points and pushing for an unexpected European berth this season.
- Brentford arrive after a 4-2 win at Everton highlighted by an Igor Thiago hat trick under first-year coach Keith Andrews.
- Sunderland have drawn four straight, including results against Manchester City and Tottenham, with Brian Brobbey netting at Spurs.
- Squad options are trimmed by injuries and AFCON duties: Brentford are without Fabio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo and Josh Dasilva through injury and Frank Onyeka and Dango Ouattara on international duty, while Sunderland also miss several AFCON call-ups.