Nonetheless unbeaten on the Stadium of Gentle this season, Sunderland welcome Manchester City to Wearside for a Premier League assembly on Thursday evening, with the guests arriving on a six-match league successful run.
Sunderland enter Thursday’s contest figuring out alternatives to hassle Manchester Metropolis are few and much between, however their residence kind this season provides real encouragement.
The Black Cats are unbeaten in 9 Premier League matches on the Stadium of Gentle, accumulating factors in opposition to a number of sides at present competing close to the highest of the desk.
Regis Le Bris’s workforce are on a three-match unbeaten run, retaining clear sheets in two of these fixtures regardless of quite a few absences by way of harm and worldwide responsibility.
Attracts in opposition to Aston Villa and Arsenal earlier within the marketing campaign have bolstered Sunderland’s perception that they will frustrate elite opposition on Wearside.
Nevertheless, their latest report in opposition to Metropolis is bleak. Sunderland have misplaced their final eight conferences with the Manchester membership in all competitions and haven’t crushed them since November 2013. Their final residence victory on this fixture got here in December 2012.
Manchester Metropolis arrive in formidable kind. A 2-1 win away at Nottingham Forest final weekend prolonged their league successful streak to 6 matches, their longest run because the closing phases of the 2023-24 season.
Group information for Sunderland v Manchester Metropolis
Sunderland are with out a number of first-team gamers as a consequence of harm and Africa Cup of Nations commitments. Ajibola Alese and Daniel Ballard stay sidelined, whereas Habib Diarra, Bertrand Traore, Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku and Reinildo Mandava are away on worldwide responsibility.
Wilson Isidor is anticipated to characteristic from the bench, with three of his 4 league targets this season having come at residence.
Manchester Metropolis have fewer absences however will nonetheless be lacking John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb by way of harm. Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait Nouri are unavailable as a consequence of AFCON involvement.
Anticipated line-ups for Sunderland v Manchester Metropolis
Sunderland: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin; Xhaka, Geertruida; Rigg, Le Price, Adingra; Brobbey
Manchester Metropolis: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Gonzalez, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden; Haaland
Tips on how to watch Sunderland v Manchester Metropolis: TV channel, on-line stream
Kick-off on Thursday is at 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with stay protection within the UK on Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion.
By way of Now TV, Sky Sports activities prices £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Sky Sports activities memberships embody entry to all 12 stay Sky Sports activities channels and Sky Sports activities+, which provides stay streams and a devoted channel.
Streaming is accessible on an unlimited number of gadgets by way of the Sky GO app.
The stats for Sunderland v Manchester Metropolis
• Sunderland are unbeaten in 9 Premier League residence matches this season
• Sunderland have misplaced their final eight matches in opposition to Manchester Metropolis in all competitions
• The Black Cats haven’t crushed Metropolis since November 2013
• Manchester Metropolis have gained six consecutive Premier League matches
• Metropolis have scored a minimum of twice in 5 of their final six league video games
• Rayan Cherki has been concerned in 5 targets in his final 4 Premier League begins
• Erling Haaland has scored at 23 of the 24 away grounds he has performed at within the Premier League
Prediction
Sunderland
1
–
3
Manchester Metropolis
Sunderland have scored in each residence league match this season and are able to testing Manchester Metropolis, notably given their confidence on Wearside.
Nevertheless, Metropolis’s present kind and attacking high quality ought to ultimately inform, even when the hosts stay aggressive for lengthy durations.
