Follow live coverage as Sunderland face West Ham United today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Liverpool look to fend off competition from Arsenal, Manchester City and more.
The race for the Champions League places should also be a compelling battle, with a fifth place possible for English teams. Manchester United’s latest rebuild under Ruben Amorim sets expectations high once more after a dismal season last time out.
Meanwhile, it’s Burnley, Leeds United and Sunderland who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Sunderland AFC 0 - 0 West Ham United FC
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:44
A long switch of play evades Diouf on the left. Paqueta steadily gets back to his feet, as previously, Xhaka clattered into him as he passed the ball off. Really let him know he was there. Adingra then fouls Todibo as he heads out a long ball from the home defence.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:42
The latest stats arrive. West Ham have completed 209 passes to Sunderland's 106.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:42
Todibo is forward and tries a cross. However, this is blocked and Wan-Bissaka is tasked with a right-sided throw. Sunderland stay firm in their shape and the ball goes backwards until a ballooning Hermansen clearance under pressure gives Sunderland the ball back.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:42
Sunderland try to feed Mayenda in the West Ham box unsuccessfully, before cries go up for a corner. However, the ball remains in and the Hammers half-clear before a failed final ball gives the visitors a goal kick.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:38
That last post is rather telling of West Ham's approach. Fullkrug has had to do it himself. There haven't been many balls from out wide to serve the big man. Perhaps that'll change if we go into the break goalless. For now, the German is frustrated as he gives a physical foul away in the Sunderland half.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:37
Fullkrug wrestles with Seelt on the right byline and is unable to cross without the defender rebounding the ball off him for a Roefs' goal kick. More solid defending from the hosts.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:35
On the half-hour mark, possession sits at 38% for the hosts and 62% for West Ham.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:34
After Fullkrug fires off-target, West Ham continue to grow in confidence. Bowen tries a shot, but Seelt blocks it well.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:32
BALLARD! GREAT SAVE WITH A SLIDING CHALLENGE! Wan-Bissaka works the ball inwards from the right for Bowen to turn into space well. He knocks it off to Fullkrug, who leaves it for Diouf to hit back across. It's past Roefs, but Ballard is back to slide it away from the bottom-right corner! Excellent defending.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:28
West Ham continue to build down the right. They earlier breached the box with Bowen, but Sunderland remain steadfast in their defensive approach so far.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:28
Ward-Prowse tries to make himself some space with a driving run in the centre, but much akin to this game's pace so far, he doesn't get far until a Sunderland prod sees the ball knocked away. Play moves to the right.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:25
Ward-Prowse swings in a cross from the right-sided set-piece after Diouf's dummy. However, it evades everyone and Sunderland are allowed to regroup.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:24
Adingra goes down on the edge of the West Ham area, and protests are ignored. Bowen races away before Reinildo brings him down for a foul. We're in crossing territory here.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:23
Paqueta threatens near the Sunderland box, yet falls under a challenge from Xhaka. The referee waves away the meagre protest and the hosts can counter, but instead choose to build more steadily.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:21
Adingra does too much as he jinks inside from the right down the edge of the box. Bowen picks up the ball and threatens to spark a counter, yet the Ivorian races back brilliantly to slide the ball out of play. He'll quickly win favour with the locals with dedication like that. Great tenacity.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:19
Reinildo stands with the ball, preparing for a throw, and 'Sunderland 'til I die' belts out. What an atmosphere. Will it be rewarded?
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:17
Fullkrug flicks a long ball onto Bowen, but Ballard deals with it. Sunderland spend some time on the ball. They patiently push from side to side until Ward-Prowse dispossesses Adingra and wins a throw.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:16
Xhaka wins a very professional free-kick as he tracks back well to skip over a Fullkrug lunge. Referee Robert Jones awards a foul and nothing else. That's the sort of stability and experience we should see from Xhaka this term, barring any silly bookings or worse, dismissals.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:16
Bowen's progress is halted on the left of the Sunderland box and a counter threatens to begin. Bums get off seats, but Diarra's pass hits the West Ham man in front of him and ricochets into his head. Sit back down, everyone.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:12
West Ham are just trying to piece a move together right now. The Sunderland noise seems to be as constant as the deft passes as the Hammers try to work through the red and white bodies.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:10
BIG SAVE HERMANSEN! Diarra scampers through the West Ham backline in the central-right channel with the help of Mayenda and drives an effort at Hermansen. The Dane manages to parry over for a corner! Great reactions! The resulting corner flies through everyone, allowing the play to reset.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:08
Sunderland look promising down the right as Xhaka and Talbi link up with Hume. However, the latter's cross is easily blocked and the hosts are contained to a throw-in before West Ham regain possession.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:07
EARLY CHANCE! Bowen gets the ball down with his chest and drives away from Reinildo and Seelt before shooting low at Roefs from the right. The Dutch keeper does well to turn it behind. From the resulting right-sided corner, he parries away before Diouf half-volleys over from the edge of the box.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:05
The early stages see possession swap from one side to the other, before a long ball looks for Mayenda for the hosts. Aguerd reacts accordingly and tackles well.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:04
'Can't Help Falling in Love' rings out around this passionate arena before West Ham get us started, kicking from left to right.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
15:02
The players are out and the Stadium of Light is rocking. A giant tifo of a knight slaying a dragon dons one end, as the hosts have some goliath battles to take on this term. This ground is packed to the rafters today. Hopefully, all in attendance will be witnessing an action-packed contest. Before that though, we have a minute's silence as football continues to mourn the demise of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
14:57
Today, the Black Cats and the Hammers square off for the first time since April 2017, when Fabio Borini netted a 90th-minute equaliser for the home side in a 2-2 top-flight draw on Wearside. Sunderland will be hopeful that their spending will aid their survival, while West Ham will be looking to improve upon mediocrity after Graham Potter's first half-season at the helm. This is the fourth time the visitors are starting a Premier League campaign against a promoted side, with the Hammers winning each of the previous three. Sunderland are trying to win their opening PL fixture at the eighth time of asking (D4 L3).
Sunderland vs West Ham United
14:41
Graham Potter hands former Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen his West Ham debut, with Alphonse Areola having to settle for a place on the bench. El Hadji Malick Diouf also starts, while Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum Wilson are named among the substitutes.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
14:41
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris hands Premier League debuts to seven summer signings, as Granit Xhaka, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandova, Chemsdine Talbi, Simon Adingra and goalkeeper Robin Roefs all start. Fellow new arrivals Enzo Le Fee, Marc Guiu, Omar Alderete are on the bench, while former Hammers defender Arthur Masuaku is not in the matchday squad.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
14:36
SUBS: Alphonse Areola, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Kyle Walker-Peters, Andy Irving, Edson Alvarez, Freddie Potts, Oliver Scarles, Tomas Soucek, Callum Wilson.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
14:36
WEST HAM (3-5-2): Mads Hermansen; Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Nayef Aguerd; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Guido Rodriguez, James Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta, Malick Diouf; Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Fullkrug.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
14:30
SUBS: Anthony Patterson, Omar Alderete, Chris Rigg, Daniel Neil, Enzo Le Fee, Harrison Jones, Marc Guiu, Patrick Roberts, Wilson Isidor.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
14:30
SUNDERLAND (4-3-3): Robin Roefs; Trae Hume, Daniel Ballard, Jenson Seelt, Reinildo; Habib Diarra, Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki; Chemsdine Talbi, Eliezer Mayenda, Simon Adingra.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
14:30
After eight years in the Football League, Sunderland are back in the promised land, and welcome West Ham to the Stadium of Light for their Premier League curtain-raiser. The day’s hosts will be hoping to make a solid start following their play-off promotion last term. Regis Le Bris has overseen 11 signings and has no regrets over the club’s £130 million outlay, especially if it’s what’s required to keep his side up. West Ham enter this campaign looking to better their 14th-placed finish from last season, and reignite the passion of East London that saw them fervently supported in a brief European foray not too long ago. That said, West Ham have lost their opening match of a Premier League season more times than any other side (16). A rejuvenated Sunderland will present another great test today.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
14:30
Hello everyone, and welcome back to live text coverage of the Premier League as the first Saturday of the 2025-26 season rolls into life! Yesterday we had a great opening night with Liverpool's 4-2 win over Bournemouth. As the Black Cats return to the top-flight, many will be hoping that Sunderland and West Ham can replicate the action on Wearside.
Sunderland vs West Ham United
13:00
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
