Coventry City host Sunderland at Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry in Gameweek 9 on Sat 31 Oct, 15:00 GMT. Coventry City are 17th on 6 points from 7 games after Gameweek 7 (form LLWWL), Sunderland are 20th on 4 (form DLLLL). The FPL deadline is Saturday 31 October 2026, 11:00 GMT, so check team news before you lock your squad.
Coventry City: form check
Coventry City have scored 6 and conceded 14 in 7 league games, and in GW7 it finished L 1โ3 at Tottenham Hotspur. At home they have 3 points from 3 games. Official FPL list, 2026-10-24: Amenda (calf injury: Unknown return date). Expected shape: 4-4-2.
Coventry City Predicted Starting XI & Lineup ยท 4-4-2
Official lineups confirmed 1 hour before kick-off.
Sunderland: the story so far
Sunderland have scored 6 and conceded 14 in 7 league games, and in GW7 it finished L 0โ2 at AFC Bournemouth. Away from home they have 1 points from 4 games. Official FPL list, 2026-10-24: Brobbey (hamstring injury: 75% chance of playing); Ballard (hamstring injury: Unknown return date); Isidor (knock: 50% chance of playing); Meunier (groin injury: 75% chance of playing); Danso (suspended until 31 Oct). Expected shape: 4-5-1.
Season snapshot
- Coventry City: W 1โ0 at Nottingham Forest, W 4โ1 v Newcastle United, L 1โ3 at Tottenham Hotspur.
- Sunderland: L 3โ5 at Manchester City, L 0โ2 v Brighton & Hove Albion, L 0โ2 at AFC Bournemouth.
- Table after GW7: Coventry City 17th (6 pts, GD -8), Sunderland 20th (4 pts, GD -8).
Key battle
Sidiki Cherif against Sunderland's defence is the matchup to watch: Sunderland have conceded 14 in 7. In the other direction, Granit Xhaka faces the Coventry City defence that has conceded 14 in 7. FPL rates this fixture 3/5 for Coventry City and 2/5 for Sunderland, where 5 is hardest.
Fantasy angle
- Sidiki Cherif (Coventry City, ยฃ5.0m): averaging 4.7 points a game (14 in total), FPL projects 4.3 for this round, 0.4% owned.
- Granit Xhaka (Sunderland, ยฃ5.4m): averaging 3.6 points a game (25 in total), FPL projects 1.3 for this round, 3.1% owned.
- Enzo Le Fรฉe (Sunderland, ยฃ5.7m): averaging 3.4 points a game (24 in total), FPL projects 2.0 for this round, 2.9% owned.
- Clean-sheet angle: Bobby Thomas (Coventry City, ยฃ4.0m) at home, with Coventry City the side our model rates less likely to concede (1.2 expected goals against).
- Differential: Bobby Thomas (Coventry City, ยฃ4.0m) is owned by just 9.8% and averages 4.4 points a game.
Verdict
Our model, built on 2026/27 goals scored and conceded, gives Coventry City a 43% win chance, a draw 26% and Sunderland 32%, with 1โ1 the single most likely scoreline. Expected goals: 1.4 for Coventry City, 1.2 for Sunderland. Coventry City are the lean on the numbers, but only 7 games have been played, so treat it as a guide rather than a certainty.