Manchester City will look to start 2026 as they ended 2025 with a win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Pep Guardiola's men have kicked into gear of late with eight wins in a row across all competitions and are hot on the heels of Premier League leaders Arsenal as we reach the halfway point of the season.
They beat Sunderland 3-0 just over three weeks ago but it will likely be a tougher clash in the North-East where the Black Cats have yet to lose this season.
Will City keep rolling or can Sunderland pull off another huge result? AllSportsPeople brings you our latest football tips for the match.
Sunderland vs. Manchester City Prediction: Who Will Win?
Outside of Aston Villa, City are the form side in the country right now with eight wins on the bounce since back-to-back losses to Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen.
They are the top scorers in the league by a margin with 43 so far and they should have enough to become the first side to win at the Stadium of Light this season.
We don't think it will be easy though.
Score Prediction: Sunderland 1-2 Man City (8.30 with Dafabet)
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Head-to-Head: Sunderland vs. Man City
- The sides played just over three weeks ago with City easily beating Sunderland 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
- It was the 128th game between the pair and City's 65th win to Sunderland's 43.
- This is the third New Year's Day Premier League clash between the clubs with City winning 3-2 at the Etihad in 2015 and the Black Cats famously snatching a 1-0 in the last minute at the Stadium of Light three years before.
Sunderland vs. Man City: Form Guide
Sunderland – Last 5 matches (All competitions)
- Sunderland 1-1 Leeds (Premier League)
- Brighton 0-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
- Sunderland 1-0 Newcastle (Premier League)
- Man City 3-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
- Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Man City – Last 5 matches (All competitions)
- Nottingham Forest 1-2 Man City (Premier League)
- Man City 3-0 West Ham (Premier League)
- Man City 2-0 Brentford (League Cup)
- Crystal Palace 0-3 Man City (Premier League)
- Real Madrid 1-2 Man City (UEFA Champions League)
Sunderland vs. Man City Betting Tips
Sunderland have been brilliant at home all season and will give City a scare or two so both teams to score is a good pick.
Erling Haaland failed to score in the 3-0 win over the Black Cats at the Etihad in December despite accumulating 0.43 expected goals (xG). His total xG is 16.2 from 18 matches so any game he doesn't score in is a big surprise. He is ready to notch his 20th league goal of the season tonight.
Sunderland vs. Man City Team News
Sunderland Team News
- Regis le Bris continues to be without his six Africa Cup of Nations stars and Dan Ballard is likely to miss out again with an ankle injury.
- With his options limited, the Sunderland boss is set to stick to the same XI that drew with Leeds.
- Wilson Isidor coming in for Brian Brobbey is the only possible change.
Man City Team News
- City are also likely to be unchanged due to a combination of form, injuries and AFCON participation.
- Outside of Rodri and Jeremy Doku (an outside chance for a bench role tonight), this is quickly becoming Guardiola's established first choice side.
- Rodri could make his latest injury return off the bench here having made the squad at Forest.
Sunderland vs. Man City Lineups: Predicted Starting XI’s
This is how we think the two teams will lineup at the Stadium of Light tonight with both sides unchanged from their previous games.
Sunderland predicted lineup to play Man City
Roefs (GK) – Mukiele, Cirkin, Alderete, Hume – Xhaka, Geertruida – Rigg, le Fee, Adingra – Brobbey
- Out: Ballard (ankle injury), Traore, Talbi, Masuaka, Mandava, Sadiki, Diarra (AFCON)
- Doubtful: N/A
- Suspension: N/A
Man City predicted lineup to play Sunderland
Donnarumma (GK) – Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly – Reijnders, Gonzalez, Silva – Foden, Cherki – Haaland
- Out: Bobb, Stones, Kovacic, Marmoush, Ait-Nouri (both AFCON)
- Doubtful: Doku
- Suspension: N/A
Sunderland vs. Man City Odds
- Sunderland to win: 7.26 with Dafabet
- Man City to win: 1.44
- Draw: 4.85
How to watch: Sunderland vs. Man City Live Stream, TV Channel
- Date: Friday, January 2
- Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
- Time: 1:30 a.m IST
- TV/Stream: JioHotstar