Manchester City Vs Sunderland : Waiting For The 300th Defeat Of The Black Cats

Jemi Doku, a threat from Manchester Citty's left saayaap (photo: x @ManCity)

JAKARTA - Manchester City returned to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 6 December on a mission to improve the reputation of the defense that was leaked this week, when Sunderland came with a small but confident momentum.

This is the first meeting between the two clubs since 2017 when Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane were still the motorcycles of City's attack and Sunderland were not used to living up and down divisions.

City have just gone through two games that feel like a wild rollercoaster: let go of a two-goal lead before narrow lead over Leeds, then almost replayed the disaster at Craven Cottage when Fulham hit back from 1-5 to 4-5. Josko Gvardiol, who might not have thought he would go viral because the goal line cleared to cover the drama of seven goals in the second half.

Pep Guardiola doesn't cover his concerns: one mistake could see Arsenal's hunt at the top of the table. The Gunners have the potential to shift the gap to eight points further before City kickoff.

On paper, City has big capital. They have won 24 of the last 26 matches against the promotional team and have become the most productive team at home this season. But the statistics only feel safe if the back lines stop playing the cats and cats.

Sunderland came not as spectators. They came home from Anfield with one point after Nodi Mukiele was unlucky to be listed as an own goal scorer, but their collective game impressed. Three days earlier they turned two goals behind to beat Bournemouth 3-2.

Regis Le Bris celebrates his 50th birthday at Manchester. There was no expectation of a gift from Guardiola, but the French coach assured his squad that they could fight against any club after a quick adaptation in the highest caste.

For history, Sunderland has lost 299 times in the Premier League. If City wins according to the majority prediction, the 300th record comes at the Etihad.

City is still without Rodri and Mateo Kovacic. Nico Gonzalez is likely to remain a center anchor even though he was pulled faster in the match against Fulham. Guardiola can rotate the back line ahead of his trip to Madrid in the Champions League "names like John Stones, Nathan Ake, or Rico Lewis can enter."

Phil Foden is on, while Erling Haaland has just broken the record for Premier League's 100th fastest goal. The combination of the two remains a priority.

In the Sunderland camp, the long-injury list has not changed: Habib Diarra is absent for a long time, while Dennis Cirkin, Leo Hjelde, and Aji Alese are still adrift of fitness. The three-back system that makes Liverpool troublesome is expected to be reused, with Chemsdine Talbi and Enzo Le F way guarding the flow of attack.

Sunderland is tough enough to steal one goal from City's backline which often loses concentration. But City in Etihad is another species more intense, more efficient, and usually cruel in locking wins. The thin margin feels the most logical.

Estimated line-up

Manchester City (4-2-3-1)Donnarumma; Khusanov, Stones, Gvardiol, O'Reliance; Gonzalez, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden, Doku; Haaland.

Sunderland (5-2-3)Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Marijuana, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Isidor, Le F jurisprudence.

Score prediction: Manchester City 2'1 Sunderland