AFC Bournemouth host Sunderland at Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth in Gameweek 7 on Sun 18 Oct, 14:00 BST. AFC Bournemouth are 18th on 3 points from 6 games (form DDDLL), Sunderland are 17th on 4 (form WDLLL). The FPL deadline is Saturday 17 October 2026, 11:00 BST, so check team news before you lock your squad.
AFC Bournemouth: form check
AFC Bournemouth have scored 7 and conceded 13 in 6 league games, and last time out it was L 1–5 at Chelsea in GW6. At home they have 2 points from 3 games. Official FPL list, 2026-10-14: Scott (thigh injury: Unknown return date); Kluivert (unspecified injury: Unknown return date). Expected shape: 4-5-1.
AFC Bournemouth Predicted Starting XI & Lineup · 4-5-1
Official lineups confirmed 1 hour before kick-off.
Sunderland: the story so far
Sunderland have scored 6 and conceded 12 in 6 league games, and last time out it was L 0–2 v Brighton & Hove Albion in GW6. Away from home they have 1 points from 3 games. Official FPL list, 2026-10-14: Brobbey (hamstring injury: Expected back 25 Oct); Ballard (hamstring injury: Unknown return date); Meunier (groin injury: 75% chance of playing). Expected shape: 5-4-1.
Facts to know
- AFC Bournemouth: D 2–2 v Brentford, L 0–1 v Liverpool, L 1–5 at Chelsea.
- Sunderland: L 0–2 v Arsenal, L 3–5 at Manchester City, L 0–2 v Brighton & Hove Albion.
- Table before this round: AFC Bournemouth 18th (3 pts, GD -6), Sunderland 17th (4 pts, GD -6).
Where it turns
Marcus Tavernier against Sunderland's defence is the matchup to watch: Sunderland have conceded 12 in 6. In the other direction, Granit Xhaka faces the AFC Bournemouth defence that has conceded 13 in 6. FPL rates this fixture 3/5 for AFC Bournemouth and 3/5 for Sunderland, where 5 is hardest.
FPL picks to watch
- Marcus Tavernier (AFC Bournemouth, £6.1m): averaging 5.3 points a game (32 in total), FPL projects 1.5 for this round, 7.3% owned.
- Granit Xhaka (Sunderland, £5.4m): averaging 3.8 points a game (23 in total), FPL projects 2.0 for this round, 3.3% owned.
- Francisco Evanilson (AFC Bournemouth, £6.0m): averaging 4.2 points a game (25 in total), FPL projects 4.5 for this round, 3.6% owned.
- Clean-sheet angle: James Hill (AFC Bournemouth, £5.5m) at home, with AFC Bournemouth the side our model rates less likely to concede (1.4 expected goals against).
- Differential: Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland, £5.7m) is owned by just 3.1% and averages 3.3 points a game.
Our call
Our model, built on 2026/27 goals scored and conceded, gives AFC Bournemouth a 45% win chance, a draw 23% and Sunderland 31%, with 1–1 the single most likely scoreline. Expected goals: 1.7 for AFC Bournemouth, 1.4 for Sunderland. AFC Bournemouth are the lean on the numbers, but only 6 games have been played, so treat it as a guide rather than a certainty.