- 1 Manchester City vs Sunderland : twelve from twelve and four straight clean sheets
- 2 Manchester City: a machine in tune and a back line that refuses to crack
- 3 Sunderland: European joy meets a brick wall of numbers
- 4 Premier League prediction Manchester City vs Sunderland
- 5 First, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes fast
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Manchester City vs Sunderland : twelve from twelve and four straight clean sheets 
Manchester City have taken all 12 points available after four Premier League games. They sit top of the table alongside Arsenal.
Sunderland face a real test of nerve this Sunday 20 September at 15:00 in the Premier League’s fifth round. Enzo Maresca’s side are on a complete roll: six wins in a row in all competitions, 15 goals along the way and four matches without conceding.
The key points:
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Rock solid at the back, ruthless up front: After smashing Norwich 5-0 in the EFL Cup on Thursday, the Cityzens head into this one with a defence that has not been breached for four games and an attack full of confidence.
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Sunderland’s European buzz: Despite a mixed league record – four points, no away wins – the Black Cats arrive buoyed by their 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday, their big return to Europe after 53 years away.
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The Etihad fortress: 14 Premier League home games against Sunderland, 12 wins and two draws. The record is heavily in City’s favour, and they have no intention of slipping up on home turf.
The Citizens’ last home defeat to this opponent came in January 1998, at Maine Road. That was nearly 29 years ago.
Manchester City: a machine in tune and a back line that refuses to crack 
Six wins in a row across three different competitions, 15 goals scored: Maresca’s start has been spotless. No other stat sums up City’s momentum quite as neatly.
The defensive run is even more eye-catching. Four clean sheets on the spin, including the 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the Manchester derby.
That result came in unusual circumstances, with City down to 10 men for more than an hour after Phil Foden’s red card. To keep the lead in that situation says plenty about the group’s resilience.
Foden is serving the second game of his three-match ban this Sunday. Jeremy Doku could also return to the squad after missing six matches with a calf injury.
Erling Haaland has four goals from 16 shots so far this season. One detail stands out: among the 25 Premier League opponents he has faced, Sunderland are the only ones he has never scored against.
Thursday also brought a bonus for the academy, with 17-year-old Floyd Samba netting twice on his first start against Norwich. Even so, Maresca is likely to go back to his strongest XI this weekend.
A win for his City side on Sunday would move the manager into a very exclusive club. Only Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, Craig Shakespeare, Maurizio Sarri and Ole Gunnar Solskjær have won their first five Premier League matches in charge of a club.
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Sunderland: European joy meets a brick wall of numbers 
Four points from four matches, no wins away from the Stadium of Light: Regis Le Bris’ league record is still modest. They are sitting in the bottom half.
Last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal left a mark beyond the scoreline. Reinildo Mandava was sent off and now serves his suspension on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Enzo Le Fee made up for his missed penalty against the Gunners by converting from the spot in the 66th minute against AZ Alkmaar. That was enough to launch the club’s European campaign.
It was Sunderland’s third 1-0 home win of the season in all competitions, after Fulham in the league and Hull City in the EFL Cup. The pattern is clear: not many goals, but a side that holds its shape.
The injury room is still busy ahead of the trip to Manchester. Habib Diarra (thigh) and Romaine Mundle (knee) are out, while Omar Alderete needs a late check after picking up a muscle issue in midweek.
Daniel Ballard should step in for Alderete at centre-back, while summer signing Dayann Methalie is in the frame for a first Premier League start at left-back. Brian Brobbey is also expected to lead the line instead of Wilson Isidor.
The most telling stat is the scale of the task. The Black Cats have now gone 17 Premier League matches without beating a side in the top two at kick-off, with four draws and 13 defeats. City should be fine, shouldn’t they?
Probable Manchester City XI: Donnarumma ; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol ; Anderson, Fernandez ; Ndiaye, Cherki, Semenyo ; Haaland
Probable Sunderland XI: Roefs ; Mukiele, Danso, Ballard, Methalie ; Xhaka, Sadiki ; Meunier, Le Fee, Angulo ; Brobbey
Premier League prediction Manchester City vs Sunderland
Our pick: Manchester City to win to nil
Four clean sheets in a row are the main reason to back City here. This defence has not conceded for a month, including that hour at Old Trafford when they were down to 10.
At the other end, Sunderland have scored only once in their last three Premier League games, and that goal came from the spot. Their attack has needed set pieces just to stay alive.
The injury list only tilts things further. Reinildo suspended, Diarra and Mundle injured, Alderete doubtful: Le Bris has to rebuild both the back line and part of the attack against the league’s best unit.
The call is simple: City win and keep a clean sheet. The price is much better than a straight home win, and the defensive numbers from both sides back it up.
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