Sunderland vs Man City Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Sunderland have been the surprise package in the Premier League and the Black Cats now take on title challenging Manchester City at the Stadium of Light on Wearside.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Cannot be streamed
Sunderland preview: Finding a way
Sunderland haven’t been at their best in the last couple of games over the festive period with a goalless draw against Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium before a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Leeds United at the Stadium of Light.
Regis Le Bris’ side have been brilliant following their promotion to the Premier League via the Championship playoffs last season, due to a lot of spending, but they are dealing with several absentees due to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
Man City preview: Finding fluency
Manchester City come into this one on the back of a topsy turvy encounter against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground at the weekend with the brilliant and in-form Rayan Cherki scoring a potentially pivotal winner for the Cityzens in that game.
Pep Guardiola’s side still have the ability to throw in something of a dud performance but that victory at the City Ground does now mean that City have now enjoyed eight successive victories across all competitions.
Sunderland team news: O'Nien returns but Ballard a doubt
Key centre-back Dan Ballard missed the clash with Leeds due to injury and he remains a doubt but they are able to welcome back Luke O'Nien from his suspension.
The hosts have plenty of absentees due to AFCON, with Arthur Masuaku, Reinildo, club-record signing Habib Diarra, key man Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi and Bertrand Traore all away at the tournament.
Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Roefs; Mukiele, O'Nien, Alderete; Geertruida, Xhaka, Neil, Hume; Le Fee; Isidor, Brobbey
Unavailable: Alese (Injured), O'Nien (Suspended), Masuaku (International duty), Reinildo (International duty), Diarra (International duty), Sadiki (International duty), Talbi (International duty), Traore (International duty)
Questionable: Ballard (Injured)
Man City team news: Rodri back
2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri has returned to full fitness but, given how tough this game is and the fact that Guardiola may want to edge him back to match sharpness, it is still unlikely that he'll start.
They have a few key injury issues, such as John Stones and Mateo Kovacic, while Rayan Ait-Nouri and potentially departing Omar Marmoush are away at AFCON.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Gonzalez, Reijnders; Silva, Foden, Cherki; Haaland
Unavailable: Stones (Injured), Ait-Nouri (International duty), Kovacic (Injured), Marmoush (International duty), Doku (Injured), Bobb (Injured)
Questionable:
Sunderland vs Man City prediction
With home advantage, Sunderland will still seek to use the hostile atmosphere of Wearside under the lights to rattle City and make things difficult for the still occasionally fragile visitors. However, the expectation is that they still put ten men behind the ball, especially with the limitations in terms of their personnel, and City have so many options, as well as a newfound tactical variety, that manage to edge themselves to another victory as they chase another Premier League title.
Sunderland vs Man City tip: Man City to win & under 3.5 goals
