Photo via BBC Sport

'Maybe we became arrogant' - Sunderland struggles continue

Sunderland’s Premier League resurgence took a sharp turn for the worse after a dismal start to the season, with the Black Cats now facing a potential relegation battle. Following a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth—part of a four-game losing streak—they sit second-bottom in the table with just four points from seven matches, a stark contrast to their ninth-place finish at the same stage last term when they secured Europa League qualification.

Defender Nordi Mukiele admitted the team may have fallen victim to overconfidence, calling their recent form a reflection of deeper issues, while manager Régis Le Bris acknowledged the club’s performance has fallen well short of expectations. Despite a perfect 100% record in their Europa League campaign, including wins over AZ Alkmaar and Torreense, Sunderland’s league struggles persist, with back-to-back defeats following their continental successes—most notably an eight-goal thriller against league leaders Manchester City.

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given suggested the squad may lack the depth to handle the added demands of European competition alongside Premier League fixtures, though he remains cautiously optimistic about their long-term prospects under Le Bris.

Up nextFootball· 4h ago

Bournemouth beat 10-man Sunderland to pick up first league win of season