Manchester City v Sunderland: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this week’s Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium

Vincent Kompany looks on after Liverpool score the winning goal in the 3-2 Premier League fixture (Getty Images)

Manchester City have the chance to bounce back from their defeat at Anfield on Sunday and put the pressure back on Liverpool and Chelsea in the title race. Although the league is no longer in Manuel Pellegrini’s hands, his side can still get within a point of the Reds if they win their games in hand.

Sunderland, on the other hand, haven’t won since the last time these two teams met, in the Capital One Cup final, and unless they alter that at the Etihad, their Premier League status will be in even graver doubt.

Gus Poyet’s side do have a decent recent record against City, but they have lost five in a row, and even if they take advantage of their games in hand they won’t escape the relegation zone.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Manchester City 3 (Toure, Nasri, Navas) Sunderland 1 (Borini), Capital One Cup, March 2014

Sunderland 1 (Bardsley) Manchester City 0, Premier League, November 2013

Sunderland 1 (Johnson) Manchester City 0, Premier League, December 2012

STATS:

Sunderland have never won at Etihad Stadium, losing six and drawing one of their seven visits – they have however won both of their last meetings in the league.

Manchester City have scored at least three goals in this fixture on each of the last four occasions.

Manchester City have won all but one of their home league games this season – only Chelsea have won at Etihad Stadium

Since losing the Capital One Cup final to Manchester City, Sunderland have picked up one point from six league games, and been knocked out of the FA Cup

Sunderland have won more games in domestic cups this season than they have in the league

More than half of Sunderland’s points this season have come away from home, something they share with only Manchester United and Tottenham

ODDS:

Man City to win: 1.15

Sunderland to win: 19.0

Draw: 7.0

CLASSIC MATCH

City hosted Sunderland knowing that a win would put them top of the table with seven games to go as they sought their first Premier League title. But Sunderland had other ideas, two goals from Sebastian Larsson and one from Niklas Bendtner putting them 3-1 up. City saved themselves with five minutes to go, Mario Balotelli and Aleksandar Kolorov scoring twice in 69 seconds to seal a vital point – they would go on to win the title on goal difference.

TV: Not on TV.