Sunderland FPL Guide GW9 2026/27

• DEFCON: centre-backs and full-backs who rack up tackles, blocks, clearances and interceptions now have a second scoring route beyond clean sheets.
• Fixtures: check Sunderland's opening run on the FPL fixture list and the GW9 preview above before locking premiums.
• Prices: every Sunderland price is on FPL prices : then play free on Gameweek Fantasy.
• Differentials: looking for a low-owned Sunderland pick? Check FPL Differentials.

Sunderland are 20th on 4 points after 7 games (DLLLL). Last time out they lost to AFC Bournemouth 0–2 away in GW7. GW9 brings a trip to Coventry City (Sat 31 Oct, 15:00 GMT), rated 2/5 for difficulty. Top FPL scorers so far: Granit Xhaka (£5.4m, 25 pts), Enzo Le Fée (£5.7m, 24 pts), Brian Brobbey (£5.7m, 24 pts). On the injury list: Brian Brobbey (hamstring injury: 75% chance of playing); Daniel Ballard (hamstring injury: Unknown return date). Open predicted XI → · GW9 preview →

Sunderland have built a squad with far more Premier League and European pedigree than you'd expect from a newly-promoted side, and it shows in the pricing. Xhaka and Le Fée give the midfield real control, Brobbey and Isidor lead the line, and the recruitment of Mukiele, Reinildo and Meunier means the back line is stocked with names who've actually defended at this level before. For fantasy purposes, this is the rare promoted team whose players are worth owning on merit, not just as cheap filler.

There's no true premium bracket here — the squad tops out around £6.0m, which is genuinely the appeal. Le Fée and Brobbey (both £5.9m) are the headline picks: Le Fée the creative hub who dictates tempo and takes set pieces, Brobbey the physical focal point who occupies centre-backs and finishes crosses. Xhaka at £5.4m is the safest minutes bet in the whole squad, full stop.

This is where Sunderland actually earn a place in your team.

Not a captaincy side in most gameweeks — their ceiling sits below the sides above them, and the armband belongs on someone capable of a double-digit haul. The exception is a home fixture against a bottom-six side, where Brobbey or Le Fée become defensible punts if you're chasing differentials. Otherwise, keep the armband on a premium attacker elsewhere.

Rigg at £4.8m is the young midfielder worth tracking, and Diarra and Sadiki offer minutes-based value if either locks down a starting role. All of them sit at genuinely low single-digit ownership.

I'd avoid stacking Sunderland assets through away fixtures against the top six — clean sheets dry up fast and the attacking returns follow them down. And don't pay a premium here for returns you could get more reliably from a mid-table side with better fixtures.