Manchester City vs Sunderland: Predicted City starting eleven and latest City injury news | OneFootball

Manchester City take on Premier League surprise packets Sunderland today at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side will be confronted with a testing Premier League fixture against Régis Le Bris’ side who have the physicality, athleticism and ability to cause City issues. Sunderland have been impressive this season and are sitting sixth in the Premier League table. Pep Guardiola’s team will have to be at their best to pick up three points today to keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Here is the latest, and familiar, Manchester City injury news and my predicted City starting eleven ahead of today’s match.

Latest Manchester City injury news.

Mateo Kovacic and Rodri will miss today’s match for Manchester City. There is no change to the situation surrounding Kovacic and he will be sidelined until February or March due to a complication that has arisen from the Achilles surgery the Croatian midfielder had at the end of the 24/25 season.

As for Rodri, Pep Guardiola explained yesterday that the Spanish international is once again unavailable for selection. Today’s match will be the seventh consecutive match that City’s midfield general has missed. It was also revealed by Pep Guardiola that he is unsure when Rodri will be available for selection.

Predicted City starting eleven.

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Today’s match could be a test for Donnarumma. Sunderland are a physical side and they will likely attempt to unsettle the Italian international. How he deals with that threat at set pieces could be crucial to the outcome of today’s match.

Abdukodir Khusanov: I think the pace and strength of Khusanov at right-back will be needed against Régis Le Bris’ side.

Ruben Dias: Dias must be at his best today against the physical threat that Sunderland has in their ranks.

Josko Gvardiol: I’ve gone with Gvardiol at centre-back alongside Dias but I wouldn’t be surprised to see John Stones start.

Rayan Ait-Nouri: I can see Nico O’Reilly starting in midfield today and if that occurs it could allow Rayan Ait-Nouri to start at left-back.

Nico: Nico’s a certain starter today in Manchester City’s midfield and if his strong recent play continues it could go a long way in tilting the balance of today’s match in City’s favour.

Nico O’Reilly: Pep Guardiola has spoken of the need to find support for Nico in midfield. Given the physicality that Sunderland possesses in their midfield, I can see Nico O’Reilly starting in midfield today.

Phil Foden: Foden has scored four goals in his past two matches and he is a certain starter today.

Rayan Cherki: Cherki played an important cameo against Fulham, and I expect the French international to start today’s match.

Jeremy Doku: Doku has made the left wing position his own this season and it seems to be highly unlikely that he won’t start against Sunderland.

Erling Haaland: Haaland is a certain starter today at the Etihad.