Tottenham vs Sunderland - Betting Tips & Predictions.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 04 January - 15:00

Tottenham

Sunderland

Recommended tip Draw

1: 1.87 X: 3.45 2: 4.30

1: 1.80 X: 3.40 2: 4.40

1: 1.83 X: 3.50 2: 4.50

#AD, 18+ T&C apply!

There’s a proper winter slice of drama coming to the capital as Tottenham welcome Sunderland to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, 4 January. If you like a game with a bit riding on it — European qualification, bragging rights and a festive hangover cure — this one ticks a lot of boxes. Spurs will want to steady the ship after indifferent home form, while Sunderland arrive with momentum and a reputation for grinding results out.

Form, injuries and a dash of history make this a match worth watching. The headlines read that Tottenham have failed to win seven of their nine home league matches — a stat that invites the odd eyebrow raise — and Sunderland sit pretty in seventh, ready to pounce. For readers shopping for value, our football betting sites round-up is a decent place to start before you commit.

There’s rivalry in the sense of northern visitors taking on a London heavyweight and the Premier League stakes mean both sides will be at it. Expect a tactical chess match, rather than a six-goal thriller: recent meetings, injury lists and set-piece strengths will be decisive. If you enjoy Predictions with a bit of banter, stick around — I’ve got Tips, analysis and a straight-talking take on the odds.

Odds and Predictions

The bookmakers have Spurs as favourites, but the market is far from screaming certainty. Ladbrokes lists the pre-game odds as:

HOME: 5/6 (1.83) – 54.5%
DRAW: 13/5 (3.60) – 27.8%
AWAY: 16/5 (4.20) – 23.8%

Those odds suggest Tottenham are the marginal pick, yet the probabilities show room for a surprise. As any seasoned punter knows, odds are just a snapshot of market sentiment — they don’t account for missing players or tactical tweaks. Given Spurs’ shaky home record and Sunderland’s run of draws and tight wins, the smart money here is on a low-scoring, cagey affair.

My Predictions lean towards a draw or a narrow away result — don’t be shocked to see Sunderland nick something. For punters who like a correct-score punt, 1-1 is a tidy pick: it reflects both teams’ recent trend for conservative games and the fact fewer than three goals have been scored in Sunderland’s last four.

So, the tip? I’m siding with the market’s underdog story rather than blindly backing the home chalk. The Odds favour Spurs, but logic and form tip the balance. Back with your head, not your heart.

Comparison and Statistics

Head-to-head history between these two is thin in the Premier League era — this is the first top-flight meeting since 2016/17. That nine-year gap means H2H numbers are largely irrelevant from a personnel perspective, but they do add spice to the narrative. Both squads have been rebuilt since that last run-in.

Breaking down recent form: Sunderland have lost only once in their last seven Premier League fixtures — that defeat coming at the Etihad — and have become specialists at taking draws in tight encounters. Tottenham, conversely, have won just one of their last eight home league matches, which raises concerns about their ability to assert themselves at home.

Goals data backs a cautious approach. Sunderland’s last four matches have produced under three goals each time; Spurs have been hit-and-miss offensively with a lack of consistent cutting edge, especially with the forward line thinned by recent departures and absences. Momentum sits slightly with the visitors; solidity and organisation have been their watchwords.

Expected Line-ups

Squad availability will shape how both managers set up. Tottenham are light at the top after the sale of Brennan Johnson and several absentees: Xavi Simons is suspended and Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke are injured, which forces a pragmatic selection. Expect Vicario in goal with a back four of Porro, Romero, Van de Ven and Spence. The midfield will likely be anchored by Palhinha and Bentancur, with Gray and Kudus providing width and mobility. Up front, Richarlison or Kolo Muani will lead the line in a more direct Spurs shape.

Sunderland are missing a handful due to AFCON commitments — no quick fixes there — and they’ve got defensive doubts too with Dan Ballard sidelined and Brian Brobbey a doubt. Anticipate Roefs between the sticks with a backline of Hume, Mukiele, Alderete and Cirkin. Midfield should feature Geertruida and Xhaka to add steel, while attacking options like Mayenda, Le Fee, Adingra and Isidor will be tasked with causing problems on the break.

Tactically both managers might err on the conservative side: Spurs will need to control possession and probe for openings without overcommitting, whereas Sunderland will look to sit compact and counter — the classic away game blueprint that has served them well.

How Will the Season Pan Out

This fixture is about more than three points — it’s a barometer for the rest of the campaign. Tottenham cannot afford to slip further at home or their hopes of a top-four push will be dented. European places are up for grabs and every dropped point matters. A home loss here would spark serious debate about recruitment and tactics for Spurs.

For Sunderland, a positive result cements their place in the conversation for European qualification. Seventh is not a fluke; it’s a product of smart recruitment and a pragmatic system. If they can maintain this form through January, they’ll be a real nuisance in the top half and could push for continental football come May.

In short, a draw keeps both trajectories intact — Spurs can regroup and Sunderland can keep climbing. A Sunderland win, however, would be a statement that their project is more than a one-season wonder. Either way, this is a fixture to watch for anyone tracking the title and European markets.

Key Stats: Sunderland have lost just one of their last seven league matches; Tottenham have won once in eight home league games; recent matches involving Sunderland have been low-scoring. Predictions and Tips point to a tight game and a likely draw, but value exists if you fancy an away nudge.

Written by:

Mark Brown

Chief Statistician

Bio:

Football bores me to tears! I’m not interested in the Rooney’s and Ronaldo’s of the world, but I am interested in betting. With that in mind, I spend hours trawling through the statistics of the football markets and can usually come up with an angle which presents a viable betting opportunity.

Key contributions:

Chief statistician or Stato, as my colleagues like to call me

Personnel betting philosophy or quotes:

“Risk wisely, gain greatly”