Premier League: Teams of the Season Are High Flying

Brentford vs Sunderland

We’ve just reached the halfway stage of the 2025-26 Premier League and these two clubs are the teams of the season so far for me.

For no-one, and I mean no-one, could have realistically told this SBOTOP observer back in August that Brentford and Sunderland would sit in seventh and eighth places respectively on January 5.

In fact, I’d have respectfully laughed if they had.

Instead, I am acknowledging a truly terrific achievement by both clubs, led by their respective managers.

 

Talking Points

I feared for the Bees last summer after they lost a number of key players, including two strikers who grabbed a combined 39 goals between them last term.

Furthermore, I felt their biggest loss would be the influential manager Thomas Frank, who not only guided a seemingly unfashionable club into the top flight for the first time in 74 years but then kept them there and claimed the scalp of virtually every other big hitter in the English game along the way.

Yet his successor, rookie manager Keith Andrews, is defying the doubters, exceeding all expectations on a shoestring, upsetting some of the big boys along the way and generally being a tough nut to crack with limited resources.

Their latest success on Sunday was another such triumph as they reached 30 points.

Top scorer Thiago had been without a goal since late November when he was only three behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot.

But the Brazilian returned to form on the blue half of Merseyside with a hat-trick in a 4-2 win at Everton.

The 24 year-old striker continues to make a strong case to be included in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad during a World Cup year, having never won a cap at any age level of international football so far.

If Brentford have impressed me immensely, Sunderland have even more so and they are also on 30 points, 20 games in.

They were the pre-season favourites for the drop but the reality is quite different.

In fact, it is impossible not to admire the work of manager Régis Le Bris.

A victory at Chelsea, a stirring comeback to earn a point at home to leaders Arsenal and a draw at Liverpool were results no-one predicted.

And the turn of the year has seen them continue in that vein with early Premier League 2026 highlights in recent days.

To draw at home to Manchester City, another club which has spent more on one player than the entire Sunderland squad Le Bris has assembled, was no mean feat but they achieved it despite missing six players who are on duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Then, less than 72 hours later, they went and repeated the feat at Spurs thanks to a late Brian Brobbey strike to consolidate their upper mid-table position.

This is very much a team effort, led by captain and former Arsenal man Granit Xhaka who is proving an influential figure at the heart of midfield.

Sure, survival may still be the ultimate aim, but to have 30 points from their opening 20 games far exceeds that.

So, as these two prepare to lock horns on Wednesday evening in west London, I have only one word: respect.

 

History

This will only be the 21^st meeting between the two clubs.

Their very first clash was in Division One in November 1935, a match the Wearsiders won 5-1.

Brentford then won the return game 3-1 at Roker Park four months later.

Their most recent meeting on Brentford turf was in the Championship in October 2017 when the sides shared six goals.

A double from Lewis Grabban (one penalty) and an own goal had Sunderland 3-1 in front at the break.

But the home side hit back to draw with goals from Florian Jozefzoon and Neal Maupay to add to Nico Yennaris’ opener.

Their first top flight meeting since 1947 came in August when it became the 940^th different fixture to be played in Premier League history.

Thiago had put Brentford ahead with 13 minutes remaining but Enzo Le Fee – who is growing in stature with each passing week – netted a quick equaliser from the penalty spot and Wilson Isodor grabbed the winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time to spark delight amongst the home faithful.

 

Betting Tip

If you fancy another 3-3, then you are in for a very tidy pay day indeed as Correct Score will pay out at a whopping @ 115.00 with our Premier League 2026 betting odds.

Or how about a league double for Sunderland by the same 2-1 scoreline which is on offer @ 15.00?

These two sides are no slackers in front of goal and bets include over 2.75 Goals @ 2.38, Total Goal 0-1 @ 2.86, 2-3 @ 1.97 and 4-6 @ 3.65.

I expect a close game which is why I’m surprised the Bees are so clear favourites, priced 1X2 @ 1.85 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.09 in comparison to Sunderland 1X2 @ 3.94 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.44.

The Draw is on offer @ 3.25 and that is my *** tip for what should be an entertaining contest between the two teams of the season to date.

   

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