Sunderland vs. Man City: Teams, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info, Ticket News
If Manchester City win their next two Premier league games—against Sunderland and Leicester City—they will more than likely return to the top of the table. With Manuel Pellegrini’s men going well in both domestic cup competitions, six points from six over the next week would complete a wonderful start to 2016.
Sunderland, managed by Sam Allardyce, sit 19th in the table and are four points from safety. However, two wins and a draw in their last four league games represents an upturn in form.
City have already won at the Stadium of Light this season—a 4-1 victory in the League Cup back in September—and will confident they can do the same this week.
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Their League Cup semi-final win over Everton has provided them with a huge boost in confidence. They haven’t won back-to-back league matches for over three months and need to buck that trend this week to reassert their quality in the title race.
"The conclusion to Manuel Pellegrini's #safcvcity press conference. Watch in full on #mcfc.co.uk shortly... https://t.co/0F38jNJiWX
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) February 1, 2016"
Date: Tuesday, 2 February
Kick-off: 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET
TV Listings: n/a
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (US)
"Global City... 🌎
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) February 1, 2016"
Find out how you can watch #safcvcity around the world: https://t.co/8UhfGAFZem #mcfc pic.twitter.com/BcvpPL7330
Form Guide
Sunderland
Sunderland 1-1 Bournemouth
Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Sunderland
Swansea City 2-4 Sunderland
Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland (FA Cup)
Sunderland 3-1 Aston Villa
"Big match against City tomorrow. 3 points would be amazing. Let's show our fighting spirit! #safc pic.twitter.com/OEoDwNAL6T
— Patrick van Aanholt (@_PvA_official) February 1, 2016"
Manchester City
Aston Villa 0-4 Manchester City (FA Cup)
Manchester City 3-1 Everton (League Cup)
West Ham United 2-2 Manchester City
Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace
Everton 0-0 Manchester City
Predicted Formations
Sunderland
Allardyce may hand debuts to new recruits Lamine Kone and Wahbi Khazri.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Manone; Jones, O’Shea, Brown, Van Aanholt; Cattermole, M’Vila; Johnson, Lens, Borini; Defoe.
"New boys @LamineKone_2 + Wahbi Khazri both eligible to play when @MCFC arrive on Wearside: https://t.co/bE7k2TiAek pic.twitter.com/qVvjTx7JLO
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) February 1, 2016"
Manchester City
City will be without Vincent Kompany again as he looks to recover from a calf problem. Fabian Delph has a knock and won't be available. Samir Nasri and Wilfired Bony remain out, but Aleksandar Kolarov and Martin Demichelis are back.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Hart; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Demichelis, Clichy; Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva; Iheanacho, Aguero.
Players To Watch
Sunderland: Adam Johnson
Adam Johnson, ultimately, proved he wasn’t capable of life as a City player, but he remains a winger with quality and the ability to cause problems.
His mentality was in question during his time at the Etihad. Was he prepared to do the defensive side of the game? Did he listen to the manager’s instructions? Was his behaviour off the field as it should have been?
The fact remains Johnson can beat players and, perhaps more than any other player in the Sunderland side, he is prepared to try the audacious.
City need to ensure he is nullified.
Manchester City: Kelechi Iheanacho
After his display against Aston Villa on Saturday, where he scored three and looked super throughout, how can Pellegrini leave Kelechi Iheanacho out of the starting XI on Tuesday?
His desire to keep his young players hungry means Pellegrini is often reluctant to overuse them, but in the 19-year-old's case, it’s becoming impossible to do so.
This is a young player with absolutely everything needed to reach the top of the game. Not just the skill and technical quality, but the confidence and determination. No challenge is too big for him.
In an exclusive interview earlier in the season with Bleacher Report, Iheanacho was asked if his last-gasp winner against Crystal Palace in September was the best moment of his career. He said: “It was a great moment, but it wasn’t the best moment, because the best moments are yet to come.”
That response sums the Nigerian up. He knows how good he is and knows he’s destined for the top.
Key Battle
John O’Shea vs. Sergio Aguero
After his rest against Villa at the weekend, Sergio Aguero will come back into the starting XI for this game and Sunderland should be wary.
He’s been in absolutely sensational form since the turn of the year. He bagged seven goals in eight games in January, including winners against Watford and Everton in the League cup semi-final.
But it wasn’t just his goals last month that impressed—his all-round game is returning to its optimum level. His movement, pace, sharpness and touch are all back where he wants them.
John O’Shea, 34, is an experienced defender who perhaps lacks the mobility he once had. Aguero will look to exploit any lack of pace in the Sunderland back line.
Ticket Information
For ticket information on all Premier League games visit the official site or go to the ticket page on the home club's official website.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Sunderland: 6-1
Manchester City: 25-52
Draw: 16-5
"Which of four #safcvcity clashes did you choose to be featured?
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) February 1, 2016"
Fans' favourite: https://t.co/wOdhJ7Ed5N pic.twitter.com/3bOEJuAcK8
Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.
