Sunderland vs Manchester City Betting Odds, Tips, Predictions, Preview 1st January 2026

When Manchester City come to Stadium of Light for the Premier League match this coming Thursday, Sunderland will be hoping to use their home advantage to their advantage.

While Manchester City are chasing the lead in the Premier League after collecting 40 points in 18 rounds, Sunderland trail by 28 points after 18 rounds, leaving them as number 7 in the table.

Sunderland are out to avenge a disappointing loss against Manchester City in their most recent meeting. According to the bookmakers, the home side could be in for another tough ride, though as it looks like an fairly unequal pairing at Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are relatively average in the art of goal-scoring these days. They scored a steady 11 goals in their previous ten matches, for an average of 1.1 per game. They simultaneously allowed their opponents 12 goals, or an average of 1.2 a game. Furthermore, they fought their way to two clean sheets in this run.

Manchester City are currently decent goalscorers, as they managed a bearable 26 goals in the past ten outings for an average of 2.6 goals a game. Their opponents scored a total of 11 goals, and while The Citizens claimed four clean sheets, they conceded an average of 1.1 goals per match.

The Sky Blues got the better of Sunderland in the last two h2h meetings, winning by 3-0 and 2-0, respectively.

Sunderland vs Manchester City Prediction

Sunderland Form

Sunderland look in good shape before their upcoming match, as they seek to remain unbeaten. They started by taking out Newcastle in a 1-0 win, before a 0-0 draw followed against Brighton. Their most recent outing resulted in a 1-1 draw in a hard fought encounter with Leeds. Sunderland won three of their previous six matches at Stadium of Light in the Premier League. They drew three as well, but suffered no defeats, scoring ten goals to six against.

Manchester City Form

Manchester City look fabulous with three wins on the trot, starting off against Brentford, who were defeated by 2-0. Then, West Ham got outclassed in a 3-0 win, before beating Nottingham Forest by 1-2. Manchester City claimed a remarkable four wins from six away matches in the Premier League, as well as no draw but two defeats. They also banged in 12 goals, whilst conceding eight.

We expect Manchester City to come home from the away trip to Stadium of Light with a win, but Sunderland have enough resistance in them to avoid getting hammered. Value lies with the away win in a combination fewer than 3.5 goals.

Sunderland have taken ten points from their last nine games against teams from the top half of the Premier League table. They won two of these matches with a scoreline of eight goals to 12. Manchester City won six games, picked up 19 points, scored 19 and conceded six goals in their last nine games against teams from the top half of the Premier League table. Sunderland are looking at a record of seven wins, seven draws and four defeats in the Premier League this season. Manchester City enjoy a record of 13 wins, one draw and four defeats in the Premier League.

Sunderland vs Manchester City Squads

Sunderland Squad

The 50-year-old coach of the home team, Regis Le Bris, will select the lineup against Manchester City from the squad below. The information in the brackets refers to goals scored and matches played in the Premier League this season:

Anthony Patterson (0/0), Blondy Nna Noukeu (0/0), Robin Roefs (0/18), Simon Moore (0/0), Ajibola Alese (0/0), Arthur Masuaku (0/3), Daniel Ballard (2/15), Dennis Cirkin (0/1), Joseph Anderson (0/0), Leo Hjelde (0/0), Luke O'Nien (0/2), Lutsharel Geertruida (0/14), Nordi Mukiele (1/16), Omar Alderete (1/14), Reinildo (0/12), Timothee Pembele (0/0), Trai Hume (0/18), Abdoullah Ba (0/0), Chris Rigg (0/8), Daniel Neil (0/0), Enzo Le Fee (2/17), Granit Xhaka (1/18), Habib Diarra (0/5), Jay Matete (0/0), Noah Sadiki (0/16), Ahmed Abdullahi (0/0), Bertrand Traore (1/10), Brian Brobbey (2/13), Chemsdine Talbi (2/16), Eliezer Mayenda (1/9), Ian Poveda (0/0), Romaine Mundle (0/5), Simon Adingra (1/11), Wilson Isidor (4/18).

Manchester City Squad

Here is the full team squad of Manchester City. The 54 year-old Pep Guardiola will select his starting lineup from the following players:

Gianluigi Donnarumma (0/15), James Trafford (0/3), Marcus Bettinelli (0/0), Stefan Ortega (0/0), Abdukodir Khusanov (0/5), John Stones (0/7), Josko Gvardiol (2/14), Nathan Ake (0/8), Rayan Ait Nouri (0/5), Rico Lewis (0/8), Ruben Dias (2/18), Bernardo Silva (0/18), Jeremy Doku (1/15), Kalvin Phillips (0/0), Mateo Kovacic (0/1), Matheus Nunes (1/16), Nico Gonzalez (1/17), Nico O'Reilly (1/17), Oscar Bobb (0/9), Phil Foden (7/16), Rayan Cherki (2/13), Rodri (0/6), Savinho (0/14), Tijjani Reijnders (4/17), Divine Mukasa (0/1), Erling Haaland (19/18), Omar Marmoush (0/10).

Sunderland vs Manchester City Team News

Sunderland are as close to having an entire squad available as they can, with only one playerout for the side which faces Manchester City.

Sidelined with an injury, Sunderland can't field Daniel Ballard on Thursday against Manchester City.

At the time of writing, Manchester City just have two players on the injured and absent list, as they prepare for their match this coming Thursday.

Names like Rodri and Oscar Bobb most likely won't be deemed fit enough to play Sunderland.

Sunderland vs Manchester City Lineups

Sunderland vs Manchester City H2H

Manchester City got the better of Sunderland in the last two h2h meetings, winning by 3-0 and 2-0, respectively. In total, they have played one match in past seasons with The Citizens running away with most of the points. They won one encounter, with Sunderland stealing all 3 points in zero matches. Naturally, the last zero games ended all square. The bookies have Manchester City to win this match at best price odds of 5/12.

Sunderland vs Manchester City Results

In the last ten matches between Sunderland and Manchester City over 2.5 goals came out four times. Odds on at least three goals are at 2/3 with bookies.

Sunderland vs Manchester City Betting Tips

Having scored just once lately in the Premier League, Bertrand Traore will be eager to hit the target again, and the upcoming game presents an opportunity to step up. Manchester City hope Phil Foden can inflict some damage on their upcoming opponents by adding to his tally of six Premier League goals in his last six Premier League games.

Sunderland won five of their last 10 matches on home soil, drew five and lost none. Manchester City won seven games, drew one and lost two in their last 10 away games across all tournaments. Goals are usually flowing for Sunderland on home soil these days, and at both ends of pitch. Both teams found the back of the net in seven of their last 10 matches here. In contrast, both teams to score happened six times for Manchester City in their last 10 league games away from home.

Over 2.5 goals came out six times in the last ten encounters between these two teams. Sunderland managed an average of 0.9 goals, with Manchester City averaging 2.1 goals in these. Both teams to score was a winning bet five times in this run of matches. Over 2.5 goals happened in four of Sunderland’s last ten matches across all tournaments. They pulled off an average of 1.1 goals during this run. Over 2.5 goals happened in eight of the last ten games for Manchester City, who managed to hit the net 2.4 times on average in these games.