Sunderland vs Manchester City: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

Explore Coral's detailed preview for Sunderland vs Manchester City in the Premier League. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 20:00 GMT match.

• Fixture: Sunderland vs Manchester City
• Date: Thursday, 01 January 2026
• Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
• Venue: Stadium of Light

Sunderland will be looking to recover from their heavy defeat against Manchester City in their last encounter. With a solid defensive record in their recent games, they might aim to frustrate City's attack and look for opportunities on the counter. The midfield battle will be crucial, with Xhaka and Geertruida needing to control the tempo against City's dynamic midfield.

Manchester City, on the other hand, will be confident after a string of convincing victories. Their attacking prowess, led by Haaland, could pose a significant threat to Sunderland's defence. However, they will need to be wary of Sunderland's ability to grind out results, as seen in their recent draws against strong teams.

Match Prediction: Sunderland 1-3 Manchester City

Sunderland's recent form has been a mixed bag, with three draws, one win, and one loss in their last five games. Their ability to secure points against strong teams like Liverpool and Brighton suggests a resilient side capable of frustrating opponents. However, the heavy defeat against Manchester City might still linger in their minds, potentially affecting their confidence going into this match.

Recent Premier League Results:

• Draw: 1-1 vs Leeds (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Brighton (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Newcastle (H)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Manchester City (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Liverpool (A)

Manchester City are in scintillating form, having won all of their last five matches. Their ability to score freely, as evidenced by their 5-4 win against Fulham and three consecutive 3-0 victories, showcases their attacking prowess. This run of form will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they face Sunderland again.

Recent Premier League Results:

• Win: 2-1 vs Nottingham Forest (A)
• Win: 3-0 vs West Ham (H)
• Win: 3-0 vs Crystal Palace (A)
• Win: 3-0 vs Sunderland (H)
• Win: 5-4 vs Fulham (A)

The head-to-head record between Sunderland and Manchester City shows a clear dominance by City, with five wins in their last five encounters. The most recent match saw Manchester City triumph 3-0, continuing their trend of scoring multiple goals against Sunderland. This pattern suggests that Manchester City have consistently found ways to break down Sunderland's defence.

Recent Premier League Results

• Manchester City 3-0 Sunderland (06 Dec 2025)

• Sunderland 0-2 Manchester City (05 Mar 2017)

• Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland (13 Aug 2016)

• Sunderland 0-1 Manchester City (02 Feb 2016)

• Manchester City 4-1 Sunderland (26 Dec 2015)

• Reinildo (International Duty) – Out

• Bertrand Traore (International Duty) – Out

• Chemsdine Talbi (International Duty) - Out

• Habib Diarra (International Duty) – Out

• Noah Sadiki (International Duty) – Out

• Arthur Masuaku (International Duty) - Out

• Ajibola Alese (Shoulder) – Doubt

• Rayan Ait-Nouri (International Duty) – Out

• Omar Marmoush (International Duty) - Out

• Jeremy Doku (Leg) – Doubt

• John Stones (Muscle) - Doubt

• Mateo Kovacic (Ankle) – Out

• Oscar Bobb (Muscle) - Doubt

• Predicted lineup: Roefs (GK), Hume (DF), Mukiele (DF), Alderete (DF), Cirkin (DF), Xhaka (MF), Geertruida (MF), Rigg (MF), Le Fee (MF), Adingra (MF), Brobbey (AT)

Sunderland are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Xhaka and Geertruida anchoring the midfield to provide stability and control. The attacking quartet of Rigg, Le Fee, Adingra, and Brobbey will look to exploit any gaps left by Manchester City's high defensive line.

• Predicted lineup: Donnarumma (GK), Nunes (DF), Dias (DF), Gvardiol (DF), O'Reilly (DF), Silva (MF), Nico (MF), Reijnders (MF), Cherki (MF), Foden (MF), Haaland (AT)

Manchester City's predicted 4-3-2-1 formation will see Silva, Nico, and Reijnders controlling the midfield, allowing Cherki and Foden to support Haaland up front. This setup should enable City to dominate possession and create numerous scoring opportunities.

• Brobbey vs Gvardiol: Brobbey's pace and strength will be tested against Gvardiol's defensive nous.

• Le Fee vs Foden: Le Fee's creativity in midfield will be crucial in countering Foden's flair and goal threat.

• Xhaka (Sunderland): Xhaka's experience and control in midfield will be vital for Sunderland's chances.

• Cherki (Manchester City): Cherki's ability to unlock defences with his vision and passing could be key for Manchester City.

Sunderland vs Manchester City at 20:00 GMT on Thursday, 01 January 2026 is being broadcast live for viewers in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Ultra HDR

Coral is predicting that the score will be Sunderland 1-3 Manchester City in this match

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