Sunderland have lost only one of their last six league games and only two of the last 11
Manchester City are enjoying an eight-match winning streak in all competitions
Recommended bet: Erling Haaland to score first
Sunderland’s fine season continued as they maintained their unbeaten home record in the Premier League with a draw against Leeds on Sunday to make it three games unbeaten in the top flight.
The Black Cats enter 2026 sitting pretty in seventh position in the table, 15 points clear of the relegation places and only four behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
Manchester City are currently on an eight-game winning streak in all competitions and will be looking to extend their hot streak when they travel to the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day.
Pep Guardiola's men are five points behind Arsenal but with this their game in hand, they will be desperate to close the gap to keep the pressure on the leaders.
The latest Sunderland vs Manchester City odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Team news
Sunderland's squad has been stretched by the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations with Reinildo, Noah Sadiki, Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi, Bertrand Traore and Arthur Masuaku all on international duty.
Regis Le Bris also has a couple of injury-enforced absences too with Dan Ballard (ankle) and Ajibola Alese (shoulder) both sidelined for the visit of City.
Pep Guardiola also has to deal with international absentees with Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush representing Algeria and Egypt, respectively.
Jeremy Doky, John Stones, Oscar Bobb and Mateo Kovavic are also expected to miss Thursday's clash through injury.
The latest Sunderland vs Manchester City odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
The stats
The last meeting between these two clubs on December 6 with City securing a straightforward 3-0 win at the Etihad.
City have won their last eight matches against the Black Cats in all competitions dating back to April 2014.
This will be the third time these sides have met on New Year’s Day in the Premier League with Sunderland winning1-0 in 2012 before City triumphed 3-2 at home in 2015.
Erling Haaland was kept off the scoresheet in the reverse fixture, one of only seven matches out of 29 for club and country this season in which he has failed to find the back of the net.
The striker has scored 25 goals across just 23 games in all competitions this term for City, while he has scored four in the five games since the December blank at the Stadium of Light.
Across the 17 games in which he has scored for City this season, Haaland has opened the scoring in the match on 13 occasions.
The latest Sunderland vs Manchester City odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Prediction
Sunderland enter 2026 with a real chance of sealing a top-half finish at the very least in their first Premier League campaign since 2016-17.
City will be looking to keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the league table and come into this clash having not lost domestically since November 22.
With Haaland in superb form this season, he will be keen to make up for not scoring during the last matchup between the sides and with City expected to dominate much of this contest, he can put the visitors on their way to another three points.
Back Erling Haaland to score first at 43/20 with LiveScore Bet.
The latest Sunderland vs Manchester City odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
