Sunderland vs Tottenham live: Kolo Muani accused of ‘looking for’ penalty as VAR denies Spurs

Tottenham were denied the chance to score their first goal under Roberto De Zerbi from a penalty when referee Rob Jones was sent to the pitchside monitor midway through the first half of their Premier League match at Sunderland on Sunday.

Randal Kolo Muani went down in a challenge inside the Sunderland penalty area with markers Omar Alderete and Luke O’Nien, leading to consternation among the home players when Jones initially awarded a spot kick.

Jones reversed his decision via Video Assistant Referee technology, telling fans that Alderete had played the ball first before any subsequent contact.

Spurs must win in the league for the first time since December 28 if they are to escape the relegation zone in De Zerbi’s first match in charge, while Sunderland are seeking a victory that would send them 10th and keep the Black Cats firmly in contention for a potential European qualification position.

Sunderland vs Tottenham: Should Spurs penalty have stood?

Tottenham’s bright start to the game would have been all the better for receiving their first penalty of the season.

“If I was refereeing it, I wouldn’t give a penalty for that,” former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin told BBC Sport. “Kolo Muani throws his right leg out and initiates the challenge.

“If Kolo Muani hadn’t gone looking for it, he would have been fouled anyway by the Sunderland player sliding in. Instead, he actually fouls Alderete. He throws the leg out.”

Sunderland confirmed starting team vs Tottenham

Robin Roefs replaced Melker Ellborg in goal in one of four Sunderland changes from their 2-1 top-flight win at Newcastle on March 22, with defenders Nordi Mukiele and Reinildo and playmaker Enzo Le Fee in for Lutsharel Geetruida, Trai Hume and Chemsidine Talbi.

Defender Dan Ballard and wingers Nilson Angulo and Romaine Mundle had hamstring injuries.

Goalkeeper Simon Moore (arm), winger Jocelin Ta Bi (ankle) and forward Bertrand Traore (knee) were also sidelined.

Sunderland starting XI: Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, Luke O’Nien, Omar Alderete, Reinildo Mandava, Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki, Ibrahim Diarra, Chris Rigg, Enzo Le Fee, Brian Brobbey

Sunderland substitutes: Viktor Ellborg, Trai Hume, Lutsharel Geertruida, Dennis Cirkin, Jenson Jones, Harrison Jones, Montassar Talbi, Eliezer Mayenda, Wilson Isidor

Tottenham full line up vs Sunderland

Tottenham made five alterations from their 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on March 22.

Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky deputised for Guglielmo Vicario, who has had a hernia operation.

Defender Destiny Udogie, midfielders Conor Gallagher and Lucas Bergvall and forward Kolo Muani replaced Djed Spence, Kevin Danso, Pape Matar Sarr and Mathys Tel.

Midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Mohammed Kudus (both hamstring) and defender Ben Davies (ankle) were sidelined.

Wingers Wilson Odobert and Dejan Kulusevski and midfielder James Maddison had knee injuries.

Sarr (shoulder) and Tel (knock) had been doubts, as was midfielder Yves Bissouma (muscle), who joined them on the bench.

Tottenham starting XI: Antonin Kinsky, Richarlison, Destiny Udogie, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Cristian Romero, Dominic Solanke, Conor Gallagher, Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven, Randal Kolo Muani

Tottenham substitutes: Brandon Austin, Radu Dragusin, Kevin Danso, João Palhinha, Xavi Simons, Yves Bissouma, Mathys Tel, Djed Spence, Pape Matar Sarr

Where to watch Sunderland vs Spurs: TV channel, live online stream

Kick-off on Sunday was at 14:00 GMT (09:00 ET / 06:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and and Sky Sports Ultra.

Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.

Sky Sports memberships include access to all 12 live Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports+, which offers live streams and a dedicated channel.

Sunderland vs Tottenham stats

• Following their 1-1 draw in January, Sunderland could avoid defeat in both Premier League meetings with Spurs in a season for the first time since 2008/09 (W1 D1)
• They have lost each of their last three Premier League home games, last being beaten in more league games in a row at the Stadium of Light in September 2017 in the Championship (4), and last did so in the top flight in October 2013 (4)
• With two victories in their last three Premier League games (L1), Sunderland have wom as many as in their previous 12 beforehand (W2 D5 L5), and could win back-to-back league matches for the second time this season, last doing so in October
• Chemsdine Talbi has four Premier League goals this season; the only player to score more while aged 20 or younger in a single campaign in the competition for Sunderland is Danny Welbeck in 2010/11 (6)
• The Mackems have gone more than 288 minutes without a home goal from open play since Chemsdine Talbi scored in the 3-0 win over Burnley on February 2
• Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games against Sunderland (W10 D5) since a 3-1 loss in April 2010
• They are winless in 13 Premier League games (D5 L8); only once in their league history have they had a longer run without victory, going 16 matches from December 1934 to April 1935
• Exactly two-thirds of Tottenham Hotspur’s points in the Premier League this season have come away from home (20/30); only Ipswich Town in 2024/25 have ever had a higher proportion of their points in a season in the competition come on their travels (68% – 15/22)
• Only Leeds (35.1%) have scored a higher proportion of their Premier League goals this season from non-penalty set-plays than Tottenham Hotspur (35.0% – 14/40), while only Wolves (11%) and Brentford (16.7%) have seen a lower share of their goals conceded come from non-penalty set-pieces than Spurs (18.0% – 9/50)
• Only one of the last 10 Tottenham managers have lost their first Premier League game in charge of the club (W6 D3), although that was Igor Tudor (4-1 vs Arsenal in February)
• De Zerbi has won his first league game at three of the last four clubs he’s been in charge of (Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk and Marseille), the only exception coming in the Premier League with Brighton (3-3 away to Liverpool), failing to win any of his first five league encounters with the Seagulls (D2 L3)
• Richarlison has scored nine Premier League goals for Spurs this season and could hit double figures for the fifth time in the competition, after 2018/19 (13), 2019/20 (13), 2021/22 (10), and 2023/24 (11). He would be the second Brazilian to score at least 10 goals five times in the Premier League, after Roberto Firmino