Struggling Aston Villa head off to in-form Sunderland in Premier League action on September 21.
Unai Emery's side have the unwanted record of being the only top-flight team without a goal scored after four games played.
Villa are unsurprisingly winless within that run, with two points to their name. They also endured a midweek EFL Cup exit at the hands of Brentford.
Hosts Sunderland are enjoying life back in the Premier League with the Stadium of Light turning into the solid base Regis Le Bris wanted.
The Black Cats have already beaten West Ham United and Brentford on home soil with just one loss overall in league action.
MORE: Who is each Premier League team's club captain 2025/26?
Sunderland vs. Aston Villa lineups: Confirmed starting XI, team news, injury latest
Seven Sunderland players have been ever-present as starters this season and Le Bris has not made sweeping changes for the visit of Villa.
Habib Diarra is out injured, meaning a first start of the season for Chris Rigg in midfield, while Simon Adingra drops to the bench to make way for Enzo Le Fee.
Sunderland starting XI (4-3-3): Roefs (GK) — Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Mandava —Rigg, Xhaka, Sadiki — Talbi, Isidor, Le Fee
Injured: Hjede (calf), Mundle (thigh), Cirkin (hand), Alese (shoulder), Diarra (undisc.)
Suspended: None
Emery is still without the majority of his first-choice midfield with Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana still out, although Boubacar Kamara returns to the starting lineup.
Victor Lindelof has shaken off a minor issue to take a place on the bench alongside Harvey Elliott, who scored in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brentford.
Aston Villa starting XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konza, Mings, Digne — Bogarde, Kamara — Guessand, Rogers, Buendia — Watkins
Injured: Tieleman (calf), Onana (thigh), Robledo (muscle)
Suspended: None
Unavailable: Barkley (personal reasons)
Sunderland vs. Aston Villa match details
- Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
- Kickoff time: 2 p.m. local / 6:30 p.m. IST
- Location: Stadium of Light, Sunderland (UK)
- Competition: Premier League
- Referee: Sam Barrott
- VAR: James Bell