Manchester City and Sunderland will be eager to continue their recent unbeaten runs when they clash at the Etihad on Saturday.
The 2025/26 Premier League season resumes with Gameweek 15 this weekend. The action on Saturday will start with the game between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park before continuing with five simultaneous matches, including Manchester City vs Sunderland at the Etihad.
Competing for the 2025/26 Premier League title may be beyond Manchester City’s means this season, even though they are only five points behind Arsenal. However, unprecedented defensive shortcomings have caused considerable damage to the Citizens’ push to return to the summit of English football. But Phil Foden’s exceptional form promises the prospect of a turnaround in the coming weeks.
On the other hand, Sunderland’s Cinderella Story has continued, with the latest resolute display coming in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool. The Black Cats have troubled most bigwigs, and they are sixth in the Premier League standings, only one point outside the top four. However, Regis Le Bris will be concerned that his charges have won only one of their last five matches, and the task gets no easier this weekend.
The most recent Premier League clash between Manchester City and Sunderland ended in a 2-1 win for the Citizens in August 2016 as Pep Guardiola took charge of a Premier League clash for the first time. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester City manager will be bereft of the services of only two first-team players vs Sunderland on Saturday.
Rodri is the most notable absentee as he continues his recovery from a thigh injury. However, the Spanish international is closing in on returning from his layoff. However, Mateo Kovacic (ankle) will remain in the treatment room for a few more months.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester City lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Sunderland on Saturday. The backline will feature Rayan Ait-Nouri, Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, and Abdukodir Khusanov. So, Ruben Dias, Nico O’Reilly, and Matheus Nunes will get some rest this weekend.
As for the midfield unit, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez will pair up in the double pivot, with Phil Foden reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Erling Haaland will lead the line for Manchester City against Sunderland, with Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki completing the numbers in the offensive third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Khusanov, Stones, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Nico Gonzalez, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden, Doku; Haaland
Sunderland
Like his counterpart in the Manchester City dugout, Regis Le Bris has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Etihad. The Sunderland manager will be without two first-team players on Saturday.
Habib Diarra is the most notable absentee due to a groin injury. The summer arrival should be fit and available by next weekend after stepping up his rehabilitation. Aji Alese (shoulder) is the only other absentee, and he should also be back next week.
Robin Roefs will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Sunderland lining up in a 3-4-3 formation in front of him vs Manchester City on Saturday. The central defensive unit will feature Nordi Mukiele, Dan Ballard, and Omar Alderete, with Trai Hume and Reinildo Mandava being the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will protect the centre-backs and provide width in the final third. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki in the middle of the park. Finally, Wilson Isidor will spearhead the Sunderland attack against Manchester City, with Enzo Le Fee and Chemsdine Talbi being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete; Hume, Xhaka, Sadiki, Reinildo; Talbi, Isidor, Le Fee
Key Stats
- Manchester City have won their six most recent Premier League games vs Sunderland, with Saturday’s clash the first meeting since a 2-0 away win in March 2017. The Black Cats have never won away in 13 attempts against Manchester City in the Premier League (D2 L11). Their last away top-flight win there was in December 1981 at Maine Road.
- Manchester City have won 24 of their 26 most recent Premier League games against promoted sides (D2), with their most recent defeat to such a team coming at home to Leeds United in April 2021.
- Manchester City have won 11 of their last 12 Premier League home games, including the six most recent outings. They are the third team in Premier League history to lose their opening home match of a campaign then win the next six after Tottenham Hotspur in 2011/12 and Arsenal in 2013/14, both of whom drew their next outing.
- No team has won more points from losing positions in the Premier League this term than Sunderland (12, level with Aston Villa). Only in 1999/00 (15) and 2000/01 (13) did the Black Cats win more points from behind in a single campaign.
- Manchester City have conceded eight goals in their last three Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 12 combined. Their 5-4 win over Fulham earlier this week was the first time they had won a league game in which they conceded four or more goals since December 1957 (5-4 vs Sheffield Wednesday).
Player to Watch
Phil Foden
While Erling Haaland, Granit Xhaka, and Robin Roefs were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Phil Foden as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Manchester City and Sunderland at the Etihad.
The English international has been exceptional in recent outings, scoring four goals in his last two Premier League matches, having netted only once in his previous 20 appearances. The only Manchester City player to score two or more goals in three consecutive Premier League games is Erling Haaland (September 2024).
Meanwhile, the last English player to score two or more goals in three consecutive Premier League games (all clubs) was Tammy Abraham (September 2019). With Foden taking some load off Haaland’s shoulder, he will be eager to continue his excellent run of form this weekend.
Prediction
Manchester City 1-1 Sunderland
Sunderland will feel Saturday’s match provides the perfect opportunity for them to end their Premier League duck at the Etihad. Despite Manchester City’s recent winning run, the home side’s dreadful defensive displays create a window of opportunity.
However, the Citizens have never lost a Premier League game at the Etihad against Sunderland in 11 meetings (W9 D2). Only Newcastle United (20) and West Bromwich Albion (12) have played more games there without winning than the Black Cats.
The away side will take the game to Manchester City while producing a resolute defensive display this weekend. That will ensure there may not be much to separate the two sides. So, while Phil Foden will continue his solid run of form, the spirited Sunderland will hold another high-profile club to a draw. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 stalemate for Saturday’s Premier League clash at the Etihad.
