Expect Le Bris to set his side up in a familiar 4-2-3-1, with Xhaka and Sadiki sitting in the double pivot, giving the back four real protection. The full-backs, Hume and Alderete, will push high, looking to pin Fulham's wide men back. The key battle will be in the half-spaces, where Angulo and the attacking midfielder will try to knife between Fulham's lines. Sunderland's press is coordinated and aggressive — they will look to force Berge and Iwobi into mistakes high up the pitch. At home, they will not sit back; they will come at Fulham from the first whistle.

Fulham, under Arbeloa, are expected to stick with a 4-2-3-1, but they look more cautious. They will likely sit in a mid-block, letting Sunderland have the ball, and try to hit on the break through Bobb's pace and García's movement. The problem? Their back line — Castagne, Cuenca, Bassey, Robinson — has not played together much, and Sunderland's set-piece threat, with Alderete and Mukiele in the box, will test them. If Fulham concede early, they will have to open up, and that plays straight into Sunderland's hands. The game state is everything here: Sunderland will smell blood if they get the first goal.