Both sides are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, which sets up a fascinating midfield dogfight. Le Bris will have his double pivot sitting deep, looking to spring the wide runners — Nilson Angulo and Trai Hume can knife through the lines, and with Granit Xhaka pulling the strings, Sunderland have the experience to control the tempo. The absence of Simon Adingra is a blow, but the depth is there. Sunderland will look to press high, force Fulham into mistakes, and feed off the energy of the crowd.

Fulham, under Arbeloa, will try to play out from the back, but that's a risky game at the Stadium of Light. Berge and Iwobi in the double pivot are solid, but they can be bypassed. The wide areas are where this gets interesting: Robinson bombing forward on the left, Bobb cutting in from the right. But Sunderland's full-backs will be disciplined, and the home side's pressing trap could catch Fulham in possession. Set pieces could be a factor too — both teams have height, and with Andersen suspended for Fulham, their aerial solidity takes a hit. This is a game that could be decided by a moment of quality or a defensive lapse.