Sunderland made an impressive start to their Championship campaign under new manager Régis Le Bris, winning their first four matches and becoming the only EFL team to maintain a 100% record after four games. However, the international break seemed to disrupt their momentum, as they fell to a 3-2 defeat against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
This victory marked Wayne Rooney’s first win as Argyle boss, and he will hope it signals a turning point for his team. Meanwhile, Sunderland will be keen to bounce back and ensure the loss doesn’t derail their strong start to the season.
Despite the setback, Sunderland remains second in the Championship table and holds the joint-best goal difference in the league, thanks to their attacking play and solid defense. Goalkeeper Anthony Patterson has been a standout performer, starting the season with three consecutive clean sheets against Cardiff City, Sheffield Wednesday, and Burnley. Patterson’s impressive form has drawn interest from Premier League clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal.
If Patterson doesn’t get promoted, he might decide to leave the Black Cats.
Despite interest from Champions League clubs, Anthony Patterson chose to stay at Sunderland during the summer transfer window, reinforcing his importance to a team with strong promotion aspirations. The 24-year-old’s loyalty to the Black Cats has been clear, but should Sunderland fail to secure promotion, the situation could change next summer.
Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool may look to swoop in for Patterson. Arsenal could be in the market for a goalkeeper after Aaron Ramsdale’s departure to Southampton, with David Raya now the clear first choice under Mikel Arteta. Similarly, Liverpool’s back-up goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher, has expressed a desire for more playing time, and new Reds manager Arne Slot might view Patterson as a potential successor to Alisson Becker, whose contract runs until 2026.
Patterson could initially serve as a back-up at Liverpool, but there’s potential for him to eventually take over as their number one goalkeeper. Sunderland’s best hope of keeping their talented shot-stopper would be securing promotion to the Premier League, allowing Patterson to remain a first-choice keeper in the top flight.
Though Patterson stayed put over the summer, Everton has shown interest in signing him as a back-up option, according to *HITC* in mid-September. However, Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris may not be too concerned about this, given Everton’s struggles and potential relegation threat, compared to Sunderland’s promotion hopes. Still, the Black Cats may need to reach the Premier League to fend off interest from top-tier clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool.