Sunderland are racing against time to escape relegation. With just 12 games to go, the Black Cats have an uphill task at their hands to leapfrog the teams above them. And their job gets even more difficult when they host a star-studded Manchester City side next.
Manchester City have won their last three league and cup games at the Stadium of Light although prior to that, they had lost four consecutive games on Wearside. Sunderland’s record of late isn’t very positive as they have won just one of their last nine league games.
Team News
Sunderland
Sunderland manager David Moyes’ concerns with the long injury list continues as the boss will be without Jack Rodwell, Victor Anichebe, Lee Cattermole, Jan Kirchhoff and Paddy McNair, who are all sidelined with injuries. And Sunderland haven’t been able to successfully replace them during the winter transfer window owing to their financial crisis.
Adnan Januzaj has been in decent form for the Wearside club and is expected to provide support to lone striker Jermain Defoe. Wahbi Khazri and Joleon Lescott will once again be in contention for the game although we expect them to start on the bench for the relegation-battling team.
Manchester City
Some changes are expected in the squad that played in the midfield in their FA Cup replay with Huddersfield Town. Goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero is expected to return to the squad after he sat out the game. David Silva should also return to the starting eleven as he was rested against the Championship side.
Though Gael Clichy is fit to start on the left defensive flank, we expect Fernandinho to continue in that position as it leaves the experienced Yaya Toure as the holding midfielder behind an attacking four of Leroy Sane, Kevin De Bruyne, Silva and Raheem Sterling, a setup that has worked quite well for City of late.
Predicted Line-up
Sunderland (4-3-3)– Pickford; Jones, Kone, O’Shea, Oviedo; Gibson, Larsson, Ndong; Januzaj, Defoe, Borini
Manchester City (4-1-4-1)– Caballero; Zabaleta, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho; Toure; Sane, Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling; Aguero
Key Players
Sunderland
Moyes will be banking primarily on their highest scorer Jermain Defoe to do what he does best. The former Everton and Manchester United knows every well that a win is a distant expectation from this fixture and we expect to see the Black Cats defend in numbers against a high attacking side. Januzaj and Borini have stabilised Sunderland’s attack to a huge extent although their poor midfield has always held them back.
Manchester City
Sergio Aguero will be hungry for goals. The Argentine bagged a brace against Huddersfield Town in the midweek and is the club’s highest scorer with 11 goals in the league. Guardiola is expected his attack to brush aside Sunderland.
Odds
Sunderland @ 11.00
Draw @ 6.00
Manchester City @ 1.30
