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For fans of Sunderland and Newcastle this will surely have been one of the first games they will have looked for when the fixture list was first announced.
How exciting it must have been to see that the two would be going head-to-head so early on in the season.
Ironically, the two sides that Sunderland and Newcastle played on the opening weekend – Liverpool and Arsenal, are also meeting in the second round of matches.
Both of these sides opened their accounts for the season with draws against arguably better sides, so will have been happy with their work, no doubt.
Games between Sunderland and Newcastle always make for good viewing, and last season it was no different.
Although it was a draw back in January at the Stadium of Light, the meeting at St James’ Park was a whole different affair as Newcastle romped to a 5-1 victory.
But the fact that on Saturday, the Black Cats will be at home, coupled with the fact that their defensive options have been strengthened significantly, such a result is unlikely to repeat itself.
Furthermore, Newcastle’s side has been weakened considerably since then, with the losses of Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique.
If anything it means Sunderland should go into this game as favourites – and that is exactly how bookmakers see it, offering odds of 6/5 on a home win.
Newcastle are available at 5/2 with many bookies, while the draw can be bet on at a price of 9/4.
Overall, Newcastle have had the upper hand in games between the two teams, winning 52, drawing 47 and losing 44.
However, on Sunderland territory, that is not the case, with the home side winning 23, drawing 27 and losing 20.
The fact that the draw has been the most common result in games played at Sunderland’s ground, would indicate that it is likely to happen again.
Many bookmakers are offering odds of 5/1 for there to be a repeat of the 1-1 draw that was played out last season.
Asamoah Gyan is the favourite with many to open the scoring, and he can be backed at 9/2 while Dong-Wong Ji is 7/1 alongside Connor Wickham.
Newcastle’s summer signing from West Ham, Demba Ba is 13/2 to be first goal scorer while Shola Ameobi is priced at 8/1.
The game will be the first Premier League match of the weekend, with proceedings due to kick-off at 12pm on Saturday.
