Manchester City heads to Tyne and Wear this evening, aiming to continue their winning streak into 2026.
Currently, Pep Guardiola’s team is behind Arsenal in the Premier League standings. However, they come into the Stadium of Light with eight straight wins. Despite this success, the champions face a challenging January with nine matches in just 31 days.
They will encounter a Sunderland team that has not lost at home, so City will need to use their squad depth to tackle a strong Mackems defense. Guardiola has relied on a consistent lineup during this winning streak, but the hectic festive schedule may lead to changes. Maintaining momentum is crucial as they approach a busy period.
Manchester City Team News
Pep Guardiola received encouraging news on injuries, confirming that Rodri and Jeremy Doku may participate tonight. Rodri was on the bench against Nottingham Forest and could play his first match since early November. Doku also returns after missing four games, though he might start from the bench.
However, City will still be missing four key players. John Stones and Oscar Bobb are sidelined with muscle injuries. Mateo Kovačić is also undergoing recovery from an ankle issue. Additionally, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are unavailable due to the Africa Cup of Nations, likely leading to academy graduate Nico O’Reilly starting at left-back.
Manchester City Predicted Lineup
Manchester City predicted XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Gonzalez, Reijnders; Cherki, Haaland, Foden
When will the match kick off?
The match will be held at the Stadium of Light on Thursday, 1 January 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.
How to watch Sunderland vs Manchester City?
The match will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, starting at 19:45 GMT.
Add Footem.in As your Preferred Source on Google
Follow the latest on Footem WhatsApp Channel