Sunderland vs Man City – Match preview and team news
Sunderland entertain Man City in their opening home game of the New Year in the Premier League.
The Black Cats’ impressive unbeaten record at the Stadium of Light this season will come under huge scrutiny from a rampant City challenging for the title this evening.
City, who are on an eight-game winning streak, have not lost to Sunderland since 2013, winning nine of their last ten meetings in all competitions.
Sunderland vs Man City – Match preview and team news
- Date: Thursday, 1 January 2026
- Kick-off: 8pm BST
- Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
- Referee: Jarred Gillett
- VAR: Peter Bankes
- Last meeting: Man City 3-0 Sunderland, Premier League, 6 December 2025
Sunderland team news
Dan Ballard has been ruled out after missing Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United through injury. Le Bris said the defender is progressing well in his recovery, though. “He is getting better but he won’t be available for tomorrow,” he said. “We hope he is available for the next fixture but it is not serious.”
Luke O’Nien will return from a three-match suspension. Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Bertrand Traoré and Reinildo are still away with their national teams at the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Man City team news
Guardiola revealed that Rodri might “play a few minutes” after returning from a two-month injury layoff to make the matchday against Nottingham Forest last weekend. Jeremy Doku may also make an appearance, his last outing coming against Real Madrid in December.
John Stones and Mateo Kovacic remain unavailable for selection, while Oscar Bobb is sidelined by a suspected hamstring issue he sustained against Brentford in the League Cup a fortnight ago. Rayan Ait Nouri and Omar Marmoush are away at AFCON.
“We had seven or eight injured players and two at the AFCON,” Guardiola explained at his pre-match press conference.
“Five players injured are coming back a little bit, so in terms of squad we are not in our best right now but in terms of points we are better than last season.”
Form
Sunderland: DLWDD
Le Bris’ side have lost just one of their last five games, but they have also won just one of them. Incidentally, that sole defeat was at the hands of City last month, while their only victory came against bitter rivals Newcastle United. They come into this tie of the back of two draws against Brighton and Burnley.
Man City: WWWWW
City are in exceptional form of late, winning each of their last eight matches in all competitions stretching back to November. Following a leaky few weeks from the end of that month into December, their defence has been rock solid, conceding just two goals in their last six outings.
Predicted lineups
Possible Sunderland starting XI: Roefs; Cirkin, Mukiele, Hume; Le Fee, Geertruida, Xhaka, Rigg; Mayenda, Isidor.
Possible Man City XI: Donnarumma; O’Reilly, Gvardiol, Dias, Nunes; Reijnders, Gonzalez; Foden, Silva, Cherki; Haaland.
How to watch Sunderland vs Man City on TV?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK and Republic of Ireland on Sky Sports Main Event.
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