Confirmed Lineups: Sunderland vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City can extend their winning run to nine games on New Year’s Day as they face Sunderland in their opening fixture of 2026 at the Stadium of Light.

Pep Guardiola’s side remained hot on Arsenal’s heels in the title race by claiming a hard-fought 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the east Midlands at the weekend as Rayan Cherki once again made the difference for the Blues with a late winner.

City are closing in on the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth after the January transfer window opened on Thursday, with personal terms agreed with the 25-year-old forward to activate his £65 million release clause at the Vitality Stadium.

Guardiola is yet to recall John Stones and Oscar Bobb from injury but intimated in a press conference on Wednesday that the trip to Sunderland could see Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and Jeremy Doku return to action.

Rodri has barely kicked a ball since he sustained a hamstring injury in a 1-0 win over Brentford in early October, with Guardiola and his coaching staff hesitant to rush the Spain international back to the pitch after several one step forward, two steps back for the midfielder since his return from a lengthy ACL layoff in May.

Doku has been in flying form for City this season and after establishing himself as a regular starter on the left wing for Guardiola, the 23-year-old has missed his side’s last four wins after suffering a leg injury in the days leading to a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace earlier this month.

With Semenyo close to joining the attacking ranks, Doku needs every chance that he can get to remind Guardiola of his quality as Manchester City challenge for silverware on multiple fronts in the second half of the season.

Ahead of Thursday’s 20:00 UK kick-off between Sunderland and Manchester City, here are the confirmed lineups from both dressing rooms at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland

Starting XI: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin; Xhaka (C), Geertruida; Mayenda, Le Fee, Adingra; Brobbey.

Substitutes: Patterson, Neil, Rigg, Isidor, Mundle, Hjelde, Jones, O’Nien, Tutierov.

Manchester City

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Ake, O’Reilly; Nico, Bernardo (C), Foden; Cherki, Haaland, Savinho.

Substitutes: Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Gvardiol, Rodri, Reijnders, Mukasa, Doku, R. Heskey.