Manchester City vs Sunderland predictions: Black Cats will not go down without a fight
Matthew Ireland
Manchester City are unbeaten in 14 home league meetings with Sunderland (W12 D2)
City have lost only two of their last 30 league outings
Recommended bet: Under 2.5 goals, Erling Haaland to score at any time & Granit Xhaka to be shown a card at 19/1 with LiveScore Bet
Any ideas that Manchester City would enter a period of transition following Pep Guardiola's departure are being firmly dispelled by Enzo Maresca and his new-look team.
City's 3-0 Community Shield hiding from Arsenal has been followed by six straight wins and they will be looking to make that seven on the spin against a Sunderland side who made a memorable return to European football in midweek with a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar.
Team news
Manchester City boss Maresca made wholesale changes for Thursday's 5-0 Carabao Cup rout of Norwich and is expected to revert to the majority of the side who beat city rivals Manchester United 1-0 last week.
Phil Foden is suspended following his red card in the Manchester derby but Jeremy Doku could make the bench, having not featured since the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal with a calf injury.
Sunderland pair Habib Diarra (hamstring) and Romaine Mundle (knee) are still sidelined and Omar Alderete will be assessed after coming off early in the second half against Alkmaar on Wednesday.
The latest Manchester City vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
The stats
Manchester City have won 12 and drawn two of their last 14 home Premier League meetings with Sunderland.
City have lost only two of their last 30 league outings, winning 20 times in that period.
Only three teams have scored fewer Premier League goals this season than Sunderland's three.
Sunderland are the only Premier League side Erling Haaland has failed to score against since he joined City.
Sunderland failed to win any of their 10 league matches against the top five in 2025-26.
The latest Manchester City vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
The Premier League title fight is already looking like another two-horse race between Arsenal and Manchester City, who have both made a perfect start to the league season.
City are a short price to make it five league wins on the spin at home to Sunderland, but the Black Cats have proved themselves stubborn opponents since returning to the big time last season.
Sunderland are extremely well-drilled by Regis le Bris and only three sides conceded fewer goals in the top flight last season than their 48 against.
Sunderland have already kept three clean sheets in six matches this season and there have been fewer than three goals in their last five outings.
City's last two wins, against new boys Coventry and in last weekend's Manchester derby, both ended 1-0, and Erling Haaland provided the winner in each.
After a brilliant World Cup, Haaland has already scored four league goals in as many appearances and is clearly the biggest threat to Sunderland's resolute rearguard.
Complete a three-leg Bet Builder with a bet on Granit Xhaka to be shown a card.
As well as being the beating heart of Sunderland's midfield, Xhaka is never afraid to get physical and will see plenty of action in the engine room.
Score prediction: Man City 2-0 Sunderland
The latest Manchester City vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
