Sunderland keep focus on Ipswich before Europe

Sunderland will compete in the Europa League this season for the first time since the 1973-74 Cup Winners' Cup, but defender Trai Hume insists the club’s immediate priority is their Premier League opener at Ipswich Town.

The Black Cats finished seventh in their first season back in the top flight last term, securing a place in the 2026-27 Europa League. The league phase draw is set to take place on August 28.

Despite the European games ahead, Hume refused to look past the trip to Portman Road this weekend.

"Pre-season has been good. There has been a lot of travelling - going over to America and France - but we have to get used to that this season with us being in Europe. We will be travelling and playing games straight after, so we have to always be ready. We are focused on the next game now, and that’s Ipswich. We will take each game as it comes this season. The last two games have given us a taste of what we could face in Europe this year, but it’s all about preparing for next weekend at Ipswich."

Ipswich bolster squad for Premier League return

Ipswich have been busy in the transfer market ahead of their return to the Premier League, bringing in the likes of Sasa Lukic, Daizen Maeda and Julio Enciso.

Enciso previously spent time on loan at Portman Road in the 2024-25 season, while he played under Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil at Strasbourg last term. O'Neil was delighted to welcome Enciso back on a permanent move, especially after an impressive World Cup campaign from the Paraguayan.

"Supporters will already know what he is capable of, following his loan spell the last time we were in the Premier League, and for me I’m delighted to be working with him again after our time together at Strasbourg last season. He is a young player who is capable of creating something out of nothing and has shown that throughout his career, including at the World Cup in the summer. We are delighted to have him with us and can’t wait to see him on the pitch."

Players to watch

Ipswich Town – Chuba Akpom
Chuba Akpom last played a Premier League game in February 2015 for Arsenal against Tottenham. If he plays in this game, it will be the second-longest gap between appearances in the competition’s history (11 years, 196 days), after Cristiano Ronaldo’s 12 years and 118 days between 2009 and 2021.

Sunderland – Wilson Isidor
Dan Ballard and Wilson Isidor scored for Sunderland in their opening game win over West Ham last season. The only players to score for the Black Cats on MD1 in back-to-back Premier League seasons are Darren Bent (2009-10 and 2010-11) and Jermain Defoe (2015-16 and 2016-17).

Match context and prediction

The last Premier League meeting between Ipswich and Sunderland was in December 2001, a 5-0 victory for the Tractor Boys. Ipswich also did the double over Sunderland in the 2023-24 Championship campaign, but have never won three consecutive league games against the Black Cats.

Ipswich have lost their opening game in each of their last four Premier League campaigns (1994-95, 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2024-25) since a 3-0 win over Oldham Athletic in 1993-94. Sunderland, meanwhile, have won their opening league game in each of the last two seasons, beating Cardiff in 2024-25 and West Ham in 2025-26.

Opta win probability: Ipswich Town 45.5%, Draw 26.9%, Sunderland 27.6%.