Don Hutchison
Former Sunderland midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

On Lewis Hall's call-up to the England squad:

I genuinely think he's the best left back England have got. I think he's well clear of everyone. I think he's had an excellent season.

Image source, Getty Images

At 18 years and 277 days, Chris Rigg will be the youngest player ever to start in a Premier League match between Sunderland and Newcastle.

Sunderland boss Regis le Bris: "We know in this region that the derby means a lot. We like it, and embrace the challenge.

"We played the first game at home with a young squad with no experience in the Premier League expect Bertrand and Granit [Xhaka].

"We played the game with intensity, togetherness and productivity. It was tight but we won this game, and we want to do it again."

Image source, Getty Images

"Til the end" became the Sunderland mantra, external, external in their amazing 2024-25 promotion season but the Black Cats are currently limping towards to the finish line in this Premier League campaign.

Since reaching 40 points, a mark traditionally associated with Premier League safety, Sunderland have been dumped out of the FA Cup by League One strugglers Port Vale, and lost at home to Brighton, both without scoring.

The Seagulls loss signified a third straight defeat at the Stadium of Light, where they had previously been unbeaten all season. Defeat in the Tyne-Wear derby would mean a third consecutive loss in all competitions for the first time this season.

Head coach Regis Le Bris said his side "lacked desire and fighting spirit" in the FA Cup exit but that surely won't be an issue against their local rivals.

Furthermore, they have a good record against Newcastle – they are unbeaten in their last 10 league games against the Magpies (W7, D3), winning seven of the last eight.

One win in six league games might not be the ideal derby preparation but a win at St James' Park would be the perfect fillip for the season run-in and, as an added bonus, it would also lift Sunderland above Newcastle in the Premier League table.

BBC Sounds

A huge game in the Tyne-Wear derby today, and here’s a reminder that BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend will be landing in Sunderland this May, bringing some of the biggest names in music to the North East.

You can listen to the 2026 line-up mixes or previous sets from the likes of Sam Fender on BBC Sounds. Just search ‘Big Weekend’ on the Sounds app or tap on the link here.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at St James' Park

Image source, Michael Emons

St James' Park is a pretty amazing sight even when empty so it is going to look sensational at kick-off when these seats are filled.

Thousands and thousands of black, white and gold flags have been placed on the seats for the home fans to wave.

Walking to the stadium earlier on, it seems like the whole city has received the memo to be in team colours. This is going to be some occasion later on.

Image source, Michael Emons

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to Sky Sports: "Midweek was such a contrasting day of emotions. We played really well in the first half, a bad 45 minutes and maybe an overreaction to that 45 minutes for us. As soon as that game ended we were focused on this game.

"We have had quite a few things thrown at us this year, a lot of highs and lows. We know the importance of the fixture today, we know the importance of our attitude."

On no Sandro Tonali: "There's a blow because we are running out of central midfielders. We are missing really good players in the deeper position for us. A slight reshuffle today. I still like the team we have picked.

"We are going to need a lot of qualities today. We have to get a lot right."

I was at Nou Camp on Wednesday and although the wheels came off spectacularly in the second half, the story of the tie is that for one-and-a-half legs, Newcastle competed really well against Barcelona.

Even so, that defeat leaves Magpies boss Eddie Howe in a similar situation to Liam Rosenior at Chelsea, where it is important that he is has a strong end to the Premier League season to silence all his doubters.

I still think we have seen enough from Newcastle over the course of this campaign for Howe's job to be safe.

The glaring thing for me against Barca came after the game, watching their unused substitutes doing their running drills.

Two of the subs were their big summer attacking signings, Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade. The fact they had a huge European tie and neither got on the pitch summed up their impact this season.

So, I have massive sympathy for Howe about that, and how much losing top scorer Alexander Isak last summer has affected his team.

This is a massive game for Newcastle, because they have got to pick themselves up and go again, against their biggest rivals.

If they lose this too, you know people are going to hit Howe with that stick that he is is not the right man to take the club forward.

They lost at Stadium of Light before Christmas, when Woltemade scored an own goal, so they simply cannot let the Black Cats do the double over them.

Sunderland's form has dropped off in the past few weeks and it does look like they are fizzling out, but the question is whether Newcastle can find the energy to see them off. I think they will.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at St James' Park

Image source, Michael Emons

Newcastle's European adventure came to an abrupt and painful end on Wednesday with a 7-2 thrashing at Barcelona to lose their Champions League last-16 tie 8-3 on aggregate.

Boss Eddie Howe, writing in the matchday programme, has said his thoughts are now on getting the club immediately back to European football.

"In my opinion it ended with a scoreline that didn't fully tell the story of the match or reflect just how closely we had pushed and threatened a team of Barcelona's quality over two legs," wrote Howe.

"But across the entire Champions League campaign, the players have been a credit to the club. We've broken new ground in terms of qualifying for the knockout phase in this new format, learned so much and created memories that will stay with us.

"Our ambition is to use that experience to keep growing and return stronger."

Depending on who wins the FA Cup, eighth in the Premier League may be enough to secure European football - a position Newcastle are only four points away from with eight league games to go.

Here's how the table looks going into today's games.

A win for either Newcastle or Sunderland will keep them in the hunt for securing European football next season while any one of West Ham, Nottingham Forest or Tottenham could find themselves in the bottom three by close of play.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, will look to take advantage of Liverpool's loss yesterday and strengthen their place in the top four.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at St James' Park

Image source, Michael Emons

In 158 matches between Newcastle and Sunderland, both sides are sitting on 54 victories apiece, with 50 draws.

An own goal from Nick Woltemade gave the Black Cats a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light in December in the first league meeting between the sides since March 2016.

Newcastle won 3-0 at Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup in 2024, but have not recorded a league win over their near rivals in 12 attempts. You have to go back to 31 October, 2010 for Newcastle's last home win over Sunderland and their last league victory over them. Newcastle won 5-1 on that occasion, thanks to a Kevin Nolan hat-trick with Shola Ameobi scoring the other two.

"I haven't had the privilege of leading the team into this fixture at St James' Park before, but I know the atmosphere you generate on occasions like this is unique and we'll feel that energy when we emerge from the tunnel," said Magpies boss Eddie Howe.

Image source, Michael Emons

Image source, Reuters

Sandro Tonali is at St James' Park, looking pretty cool, but he's not in the squad after Eddie Howe made a late call on him after picking up an injury.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at St James' Park

Newcastle make two changes from the side that began the 7-2 loss at Barcelona in midweek as Sven Botman comes in for Malick Thiaw, while midfielder Sandro Tonali misses out after going off injured early in the second half at the Nou Camp.

Nick Woltemade, who scored an own goal to give Sunderland a 1-0 win earlier this season, comes in to replace Tonali.

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale, Hall, Burn, Botman, Trippier, Joelinton, Ramsey, Barnes, Gordon, Elanga, Woltemade.

Subs: Pope, Thiaw, A Murphy, Livramento, Willock, J Murphy, Neave, Osula, Wissa.

Just the one change for Sunderland from the side that began the 1-0 defeat by Brighton eight days ago as Luke O'Nien starts with Dan Ballard not in the matchday squad.

Sunderland XI: Ellborg, Hume, Alderete, O'Nien, Geertruida, Xhaka, Sadiki, Talbi, Diarra, Rigg, Brobbey.

Subs: Moore, Cirkin, Jenson Jones, Mandava, H Jones, Mukiele, Le Fee, Mayenda, Isidor.

Good morning!

Yes there's plenty of potential for drama and intrigue today with three Premier League games and the League Cup final taking place.

First up rivals Newcastle host Sunderland at 12:00 GMT before Aston Villa play West Ham and Tottenham are at home Nottingham Forest (both 14:15) in a huge clash at the bottom end of the table.

And in the League Cup final Premier League leaders Arsenal take on Manchester City at 16:30.

Image source, Getty Images

A big local derby, a cup final between two title rivals and a relegation six pointer - as Sundays go for a football fan, they don't get much better than today.