Analysing Sunderland ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash

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Manchester City F.C.

·18 September 2026

Analysing Sunderland ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash

A closer look at our opponents this weekend…

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We welcome Sunderland to the Etihad Stadium at 14:00 (UK) on Sunday, looking to extend our 100% record in the Premier League to five games.

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Should we win, it will be just the fifth time in our history that we’ve started a top-flight season with five victories on the bounce, following 1921/13, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2023/24.

With the help of Opta data, we found out more about who’s in our way…

Recent form

Sunderland have four points from their first four games in the Premier League, with the sole win coming over Fulham and the draw at Brentford. The defeats were against Ipswich Town and Arsenal.

However, the big moment so far this season for Sunderland came earlier this week when they beat AZ Alkmaar 1-0 to kickstart their Europa League campaign – their first on the continent in 53 years.

Last year was a historic one for Sunderland, claiming 54 points in the Premier League and finishing seventh in their first year back in the top-flight.

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Summer activity

After a very busy summer following their promotion last year, it was much quieter at the Stadium of Light in the most recent window.

Thomas Meunier and Dayann Methalie came in to bolster the full-back areas, while youngsters Jules Ahoka and Juan Riquelme Angulo are seen as prospects for the future.

Deadline day saw them bring in coveted winger Malick Fofana from Lyon, beating competition from the likes of Crystal Palace, and make a loan move for Spurs defender Kevin Danso.

The key thing however will be that they kept the squad of last season largely together, with only backup goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and occasional left-back Arthur Masuaku heading out the door.

Manager

Regis Le Bris was relatively unknown in England when he was appointed in 2024 but he’s become a big name in the Premier League since.

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The 50-year-old Frenchman had a modest club career as a player before going into youth coaching in 2004 and eventually working up to be Lorient boss in 2022.

After guiding Sunderland to promotion in his first year on these shores, he’s since won 15 of his 42 Premier League games – placing him firmly in the middle of the current crop of managers when it comes to points per match.

Preferred formation

Sunderland focus largely on a 4-2-3-1.

Robin Roefs is the undisputed first choice between the sticks, with Nordi Mukiele, Kevin Danso, Dan Ballard and Reinildo seemingly the defence that will protect him more often than not.

Granit Xhaka marshals the midfield, while Noah Sadiki is known for the amount of ground he covers.

Trai Hume and Thomas Meunier have alternated on the right wing, while Enzo Le Fee, Nilson Angulo and Brian Brobbey tend to make up the rest of the attack.

Head-to-head record

We’ve never lost a Premier League home game against Sunderland, winning 12 and drawing twice.

Meanwhile, you have to go back nine games since the Black Cats last beat us – when Gus Poyet was in charge of Sunderland in November 2013.

In total in the Premier League, we’ve won 19 of our 28 meetings, scoring 58 goals and conceding 24.

Sunderland are the only side Erling Haaland has faced in the Premier League and not scored against. If net this Sunday, that will be 25 out of 25 in terms of opponents in the English top-flight.

Last season, City won 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium before a 0-0 in the north east on New Year’s Day.

How they attack

Only Coventry, Spurs and Aston Villa have scored fewer than Sunderland’s three goals so far.

That’s not due to a lack of chance creation though, with a 6.2xG from their four games suggesting they’re getting into good positions. They’ve also hit the woodwork three times already.

All three goals have come from different scorers, with two of them finding the net via set pieces.

They particularly lean on Mukiele’s long throws, so City will have to be cautious with every single dead ball. Even in open play, they send in more crosses than most having sent 50 into the box in their first four games.

With an average of 403 completed passes per match, they’re mid-table when it comes to keeping possession.

How they defend

With only five goals conceded, they’ve got the ninth strongest defence in the early weeks of the new campaign.

None of those have come via headers, from corners or in the last 15 minutes, so City will want to keep the ball on the floor and find a route to goal well before the closing stages.

However, they can be susceptible early on while they have committed more fouls so far than three quarters of the league.

Goalkeeper Roefs was one of the stars in their spectacular season last year, but is currently 20th in the division for save percentage with 50% exactly.

While initially that doesn’t look good the Dutchman, it tells you that Sunderland have allowed very few shots on their goal and are therefore difficult to break down.