Overview
- Kickoff is 2:00 p.m. GMT (9:00 a.m. ET) at the Stadium of Light, with TV coverage on Sky Sports in the UK and streaming on DirecTV Stream and Sling TV in the US.
- Sunderland enter the day as the season’s surprise package, sitting sixth at Christmas after six clean sheets and only 17 goals conceded.
- Six Sunderland players are away at the Africa Cup of Nations — Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo, Arthur Masuaku, Bertrand Traore and Chemsdine Talbi — and Luke O’Nien is suspended.
- Leeds report Daniel James and Sean Longstaff out injured, while Lukas Nmecha faces a late fitness test under manager Daniel Farke.
- Leeds have improved in December with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring six in his last five games, though away form remains weak, and bookmakers make Sunderland narrow favourites (Betfair: 8-5 Sunderland, 6-4 Leeds, 15-8 draw).