Newcastle are winless in their last five home league games against Sunderland (D2 L3), with this their first such meeting at St James’ Park since a 1-1 draw in March 2016.
Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Newcastle (W7 D3), winning seven of the last eight. It’s the joint-longest run either side has had without defeat in the history of the fixture (Newcastle also 10 between 1985 and 1997).
Newcastle have scored just one goal in their last six league games against Sunderland, while their last league clean sheet against the Black Cats was in August 2011 with Tim Krul in goal.
The reverse fixture between Newcastle and Sunderland in December had a combined xG of 0.54 (Sunderland 0.30, Newcastle 0.24), the second-lowest on record (from 2012-13) in a Premier League game, ahead of only Bournemouth v Burnley in December 2019 (0.30). The 11 shots in that game (5 Sunderland, 6 Newcastle) were also the lowest of any Premier League match since the start of 2023-24.
Newcastle have won both of their Premier League games in March, beating Manchester United 2-1 and Chelsea 1-0. They last had a 100% winning month in the league (minimum 3 games) in November 2018 (3/3).
Sunderland won 1-0 at Leeds in their last Premier League away game. They last won consecutively on the road in May 2014, while they last did so without conceding in October 1999.
Only Brighton (8 – W3 D5) have avoided defeat in more different Premier League games when conceding the first goal this season than Sunderland (7 – W4 D3). Meanwhile, the Black Cats are also one of three teams not to lose when scoring first this term (W6 D4) along with Manchester United (W12 D6) and Nottingham Forest (W5 D2).
Only Aston Villa (19) have won more points from losing positions than Sunderland (16) in the Premier League this season, while only West Ham (20) have dropped more points from winning positions than Newcastle (19).
Following their 1-0 loss in the reverse fixture, Eddie Howe could become the first ever Newcastle manager to lose both of his first two league games against Sunderland. Meanwhile, Régis Le Bris could be only the second Sunderland manager to win both of his first two league Tyne-Wear derbies in charge, after Gus Poyet in 2013-14.
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon has scored in back-to-back Premier League games, and could score in three consecutive appearances for the very first time, with his next match his 175th in the top-flight.