Sunderland vs Crystal Palace preview, 17 Jan 2026: xG form

17 Jan 15:00

R. Jones

This match has been played.

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SUN favoured at home, but only just.

SUN35%Draw30%CRY34%

Based on 76 matches played this season.

Sunderland1.2C. Palace1.2

Next to nothing between them on expected goals, this one could go either way.

Each side's share of attacking actions down the left, centre and right, on a pitch map.After gameweek 1

SUN attack

LW0.35

CF0.29

RW0.29

CAM0.00

CDM0.12

CM0.24

LB0.00

CB0.12

RB0.06

PROSUN attack report PROCRY defence report

LightPhysically dominant

PROSUN shape report PROCRY shape report

CRY attack

LW0.18

CF0.47

RW0.24

CAM0.24

CDM0.12

CM0.06

LB0.06

CB0.06

RB0.06

Last 6, goals vs xG

SUN9 scored from 6.1 xG+2.9

CRY6 scored from 9.3 xG-3.3

32%called correctly

Error score

3% better than guessing the usual home, draw and away split

0.212 against 0.218 for the guess. Lower is better.

Confidence vs realitySaid · got

33-50%

27%·41

50-60%

40%·5

60-70%

67%·3

70-80%

100%·1

Bar is what happened, tick is what the model said. Samples are small this early.

Last 50 settled matchesAccuracy ledger

Sits offHeavy counter-press

Deep blockPresses higher

Low intensityMiddling intensity

Takes risksVery bold

Central playEven width

Fairly directFairly direct

Both squads ranked by each player's chance of scoring in this fixture, with assist chance, xGI/90 and projected minutes.When the gameweek is set

SUN Player	Routine	Taken	xG
Mukiele	Throw-ins	112	1.8
Xhaka	Free kicks	80	2.2
Xhaka	Corners R, 9 short	61	1.9
Fée	Corners L and R, 6 short	50	1.7
Fée	Penalties	4	3.0
Diarra	Penalties	1	0.8

Share of set-play xG

Throw-ins

32%

Corners

31%

CRY Player	Routine	Taken	xG
Richards	Throw-ins	101	1.1
Lerma	Throw-ins	50	0.4
Wharton	Corners L and R, 1 short	44	1.6
Mateta

PROSUN set pieces PROCRY set pieces

Share of set-play xG

Corners

49%

Penalties

24%

SunderlandSunderland
2-1
Crystal PalaceC. Palace
Le Fée 32'
Brobbey 70'

Model verdict

Projected xG

Attacking zones vs vulnerabilities

Position vs Expected Position

Style ranks

Form & Head-to-head

Model accuracy

Key players

Set-piece takers