Manchester City welcome Sunderland to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon with both sides coming off excellent midweek results.
City have made a perfect start to their Premier League campaign. Enzo Maresca’s side have won all four games and sit second heading into Matchweek 5.
They have also won six consecutive matches in all competitions. Thursday brought a 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Norwich, with 17-year-old Floyd Samba scoring twice on his senior debut.
Sunderland have had a more mixed league start. However, their performances have generally been better than their results.
They gave Arsenal a real game last weekend before losing 2-0. Enzo Le Fée even had a penalty saved with the score still goalless.
The Black Cats then made history on Wednesday. Le Fée scored from the spot as Sunderland beat AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in their first European game for 53 years.
Now comes another rather sizeable test for Regis Le Bris and the Black Cats.
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What are the best betting tips for Manchester City vs Sunderland?
Sunderland +2 handicap
City have started the season perfectly.
However, that does not mean they have been blowing teams away every week.
Their last two Premier League victories have both come by a single goal. City beat Coventry 1-0 before edging Manchester United by the same scoreline at Old Trafford.
Sunderland have also shown that they can frustrate stronger opposition.
They lost 2-0 against Arsenal last weekend, but the performance deserved more. Le Fée even had a penalty saved while the game was still goalless.
Maresca was certainly impressed.
The City boss said Sunderland were unfortunate to lose and described them as “very strong” and “very well coached”.
Their defensive numbers offer further encouragement.
Sunderland have conceded five league goals this season. They have also allowed very few shots on target, despite Robin Roefs currently having a save percentage of only 50%.
Of course, this fixture was difficult last season.
City beat Sunderland 3-0 at the Etihad through goals from Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol and Phil Foden.
However, Sunderland responded in the reverse fixture.
Le Bris’ side held City to a 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day.
City should control possession on Sunday.
However, Sunderland have enough defensive organisation to keep the score respectable.
The +2 handicap also gives us some breathing room.
Enzo Le Fée 1+ shot on target
Le Fée continues to find himself at the heart of Sunderland’s attacking play.
The Frenchman scored the winner against AZ Alkmaar in midweek.
He also had a huge opportunity against Arsenal last weekend. His penalty was saved at 0-0 before the Gunners eventually took control.
That makes this market interesting.
Sunderland have created 6.2 xG in four league matches. Only three goals have followed, but the chances are there.
Le Fée is one of the players most likely to benefit.
He plays behind Brian Brobbey and regularly finds space around the edge of the box. He also has licence to make late runs into dangerous areas.
Set pieces provide another route.
Two of Sunderland’s three Premier League goals this season have come from dead-ball situations.
The Black Cats will not dominate the ball at the Etihad.
Fortunately, we don’t need them to.
One Le Fée effort on target will do the job.
Erling Haaland under 1.5 shots on target
Taking on Haaland is rarely comfortable.
However, there is an interesting Sunderland angle here.
The Black Cats are the only Premier League side Haaland has faced without scoring against. He played in both meetings last season and drew a blank each time.
City won the first meeting 3-0 at the Etihad.
However, Dias, Gvardiol and Foden scored the goals. Haaland did not.
He was then kept quiet again during the goalless draw on Wearside.
That does not suddenly make Sunderland Haaland-proof.
The Norwegian already has four league goals this season and remains City’s leading scorer.
However, Le Bris knows how important limiting his service will be.
Sunderland’s defensive structure should also help. They have allowed relatively few efforts on goal during the opening weeks of the season.
We are not asking Haaland to go another 90 minutes without scoring.
Instead, we are backing Sunderland to restrict him to one or fewer shots on target.
It is certainly the riskiest of our three selections.
However, there is enough behind it to make the market interesting.
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Where can I watch Manchester City vs Sunderland?
Manchester City vs Sunderland kicks off at 2pm BST on Sunday, September 20 at the Etihad Stadium.
The game will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League.
What have the managers said?
Enzo Maresca
Maresca is expecting a serious test from Sunderland.
The City boss watched their defeat against Arsenal and believes the 2-0 scoreline was harsh.
“I think, personally, they didn’t deserve to lose that game.”
He also praised the work Le Bris has done on Wearside.
“They are very strong, very well coached by their manager.”
Maresca went even further when discussing Sunday’s challenge.
“My feeling, watching them, is that it will be the toughest game since we started the season.”
Jeremy Doku could also return from his calf injury.
“Probably he can be available for Sunderland.”
Régis Le Bris
Le Bris wants Sunderland to embrace another major test after facing Arsenal and AZ Alkmaar over the last week.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, he said:
“We have to embrace the challenge. It’s a new one and a really exciting one.”
The Sunderland boss also believes the recent schedule can help his side rather than hinder them.
“We are learning through these experiences. Arsenal, Europe and now Manchester City – these are the games we want to play.”
Le Bris expects City to dominate possession. However, he wants Sunderland to remain brave and take their opportunities when they arrive.
“We know they will have the ball, but we have to be ourselves. We have to be brave when we have the opportunity.”
That has been a consistent theme from Le Bris against the Premier League’s strongest sides. Sunderland will respect City, but they will not travel to the Etihad simply to sit on the edge of their own box.
What is Manchester City’s predicted team?
(4-2-3-1) Donnarumma; Nunes, Guéhi, Dias, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernández; Ndiaye, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.
Suspended: Phil Foden.
Doubt: Jeremy Doku.
Foden serves the second game of his three-match suspension.
Meanwhile, Doku is close to returning from a calf problem. Maresca believes the winger could be available on Sunday.
City were also able to rotate heavily against Norwich on Thursday.
What is Sunderland’s predicted team?
(4-2-3-1) Roefs; Meunier, Ballard, Alderete, Methalie; Sadiki, Xhaka; Angulo, Le Fée, Fofana; Brobbey.
Injured: Habib Diarra, Romaine Mundle.
Suspended: Reinildo.
Reinildo misses the game after his red card against Arsenal.
That should open the door for summer signing Dayann Methalie at left-back.
Meanwhile, Diarra remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Mundle is out with a knee problem.
Manchester City vs Sunderland prediction
Manchester City’s start has been difficult to argue with.
Four games. Four wins.
However, Sunderland should not arrive at the Etihad simply hoping to keep the score down.
Le Bris’ side finished seventh last season and qualified for Europe. Their underlying attacking numbers this season are also better than the results suggest.
They were beaten 3-0 on their last visit to the Etihad.
However, the 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture showed they can frustrate City’s attack. Haaland also failed to score in either meeting.
City should have most of the possession.
Sunderland should still get moments of their own, particularly from set pieces and transitions.
We expect City to find a way through eventually.
However, this could be much tighter than their 3-0 win in the same fixture last season.
Score prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland
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