Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EFL Cup match.
Last year, Huddersfield Town went out in the second round of the EFL Cup, while Sunderland were eliminated right at the start. Both clubs now have the chance to put in a better showing than in that campaign.
Sunderland
Does Sunderland really need the extra workload this season? Survival in the Premier League will be their absolute priority, having just returned to the top flight. Their squad is the second-lowest valued in the league, even after spending more than €150m this summer. Experience at the top level is still limited for many players. The early signs in the Premier League are mixed: three points from two matches, with a home win and an away defeat — typical for a side likely to be battling near the bottom. Sunderland currently sit in 7th place, but expectations remain modest.
Huddersfield Town
The West Yorkshire club failed to bounce straight back to the Championship and remain in League One for another year. So far, they are off to a strong start: four wins in five games, sitting 2nd in the table with an average of two goals per match. But how much does that mean against Premier League opposition? Last season, Huddersfield crashed out of this competition against Walsall from League Two (2:3). That memory will linger.
Sunderland vs Huddersfield Town Prediction
Sunderland players won’t deliberately throw the tie; they will play to win. But rotation is inevitable, and that could lower their overall quality. That opens the door for Huddersfield to keep things competitive. At worst, the margin should stay narrow.
