PREVIEW: Title-chasing Manchester City host surprise package Sunderland | OneFootball

If Manchester City’s last two games are anything to go by, Saturday’s visit of Sunderland will be big challenge for Pep Guardiola’s side, as they look to keep pressure on league leaders Arsenal who are five points clear of second place City.

Following a 3-2 win over Leeds and a dramatic 5-4 win over Fulham in midweek, Manchester City will be looking for a slightly less chaotic matchup as they host Régis Le Bris’ Sunderland. City have conceded more goals than anyone else in the current top six and survived what would have been a remarkable comeback by Fulham on Tuesday night as they clawed back from 5-1 to make the game remarkably close; if not for a Joško Gvardiol clearance off the line in the dying embers of the game, the points would have been shared.

Erling Haaland bagged his 100th Premier League goal in West London and will be looking to add to his already impressive tally of 15 goals in 14 league outings this season. Alongside him, Phil Foden has been in fine form, with four goals in his last two league games.

Their visitors have proven to be very tricky customers this season. Sunderland will travel to the Etihad Stadium disappointed they couldn’t take all three points at Anfield on Wednesday night; Wilson Isidor was denied the winner in the last minute by Federico Chiesa after the Frenchman rounded Alisson. Sunderland were good value for their point however, and if fine margins had fallen their way, this matchup could have been second against fourth. The Black Cats have had to settle for sixth place heading into Saturday’s game.

Following defeat away at Fulham, Sunderland responded to that setback in impressive fashion, taking four points from Bournemouth and Liverpool. It’s no secret that the Wearsiders have adapted to life in the Premier League fantastically so far.

Manchester City are still without midfield duo Rodri and Mateo Kovačić, with the former still needing time to recover from a hamstring injury and the latter still recovering from a ankle problem. Nico González has started in the base of midfield in their absence for City’s last five matches in the league.

With a Champions League grudge match against Real Madrid in midweek, Guardiola may be keen to ring in some changes as we enter the infamously chaotic Christmas schedule. Abdukodir Khusanov, Rico Lewis, Rayan Aït-Nouri, John Stones and Nathan Aké are all vying for starts after a weeks out. The partnership of in-form Foden and Haaland will likely continue.

As for Sunderland, record signing Habib Diarra remains sidelined with a groin injury he sustained all the way back in September. Winger Romaine Mundle made a substitute appearance following his return to injury in the sides victory over Bournemouth last weekend but didn’t feature against Liverpool. Fullback Dennis Cirkin is making strides in his recovery from injury but it is unlikely he will feature against City.

The game, which kicks off at 15:00 GMT at the Etihad Stadium, will not be broadcast live on UK TV.

Predicted line-ups