Sunderland vs Man City takes place in Round 19 of the 2025–26 Premier League, with kick-off scheduled for 01:30 am on Friday, 2 January 2026. Played under cold winter conditions (around 3°C) on a grass surface, this fixture presents a classic challenge: Sunderland’s defensive resilience against Manchester City’s relentless attacking machine.
Sunderland have proven difficult to beat at home, recording several draws against top opposition, including Liverpool and Brighton. However, Manchester City arrive in outstanding form, riding a long winning streak across domestic and European competitions and having already defeated Sunderland 3–0 earlier this month.
Match Overview – Sunderland vs Man City
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Sunderland vs Man City |
| Competition | Premier League |
| Matchweek | Round 19 |
| Date & Kick-Off | 2 January 2026 – 01:30 am |
| Venue | Stadium of Light |
| Surface | Grass |
| Weather | 3°C – Cold |
Sunderland are expected to sit compact and counter, while City will dominate possession and press high from the opening whistle.
Recent Form Guide – Sunderland vs Man City
Sunderland – Last 5 Matches
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 28/12 | Leeds United | Draw 1–1 |
| 20/12 | Brighton | Draw 0–0 |
| 14/12 | Newcastle United | Win 1–0 |
| 06/12 | Man City | Loss 0–3 |
| 03/12 | Liverpool | Draw 1–1 |
Form Summary: 1 Win – 3 Draws – 1 Loss
Sunderland are well-organized defensively but struggle to score consistently against elite sides.
Manchester City – Last 5 Matches
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 27/12 | Nottingham Forest | Win 2–1 |
| 20/12 | West Ham | Win 3–0 |
| 17/12 | Brentford | Win 2–0 |
| 14/12 | Crystal Palace | Win 3–0 |
| 10/12 | Real Madrid | Win 2–1 |
Form Summary: 5 Wins – 0 Draws – 0 Losses
Manchester City are in ruthless form, combining defensive solidity with elite attacking efficiency.
Head-to-Head – Sunderland vs Man City
Overall Premier League Record (27 Meetings)
| Team | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | 5 | 3 | 19 |
| Manchester City | 19 | 3 | 5 |
Last 5 Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06 Dec 2025 | Man City | 3–0 | Sunderland |
| 05 Mar 2017 | Sunderland | 0–2 | Man City |
| 13 Aug 2016 | Man City | 2–1 | Sunderland |
| 02 Feb 2016 | Sunderland | 0–1 | Man City |
| 26 Dec 2015 | Man City | 4–1 | Sunderland |
Manchester City have won four of the last five meetings, keeping clean sheets in three of them.
Top Scorers
- Sunderland: Wilson Isidor – 4 goals (18 matches)
- Manchester City: Erling Haaland – 19 goals, 4 assists (18 matches)
Haaland remains the league’s most feared striker and a constant threat inside the penalty area.
Predicted Lineups – Sunderland vs Man City
Sunderland (4-2-3-1)
Robin Roefs – Trai Hume, Nordi Mukiele, Omar Alderete, Dennis Cirkin – Granit Xhaka, Lutsharel Geertruida – Chris Rigg, Enzo Le Fée, Simon Adingra – Brian Brobbey
Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, Nico O’Reilly – Nico González, Tijjani Reijnders – Rayan Cherki, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden – Erling Haaland
Final lineups will be confirmed one hour before kick-off.
Unavailable Players
| Team | Missing Players | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | Habib Diarra, Bertrand Traoré, Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Reinildo | International duty |
| Ajibola Alese | Injury | |
| Man City | Omar Marmoush, Rayan Aït-Nouri | International duty |
| John Stones, Mateo Kovačić, Jérémy Doku, Oscar Bobb | Injury |
Sunderland are heavily affected by international absences, while City still retain strong squad depth.
Prediction Summary – Sunderland vs Man City
Why Sunderland Could Compete
- Compact defensive shape at home
- Midfield experience with Granit Xhaka
- Strong crowd support in cold conditions
Why Manchester City Are Favorites
- Exceptional recent form
- Dominant head-to-head record
- Haaland’s elite finishing ability
Sunderland may resist early pressure, but City’s quality and depth should eventually tell.
Final Score Prediction: Sunderland 0–3 Manchester City
Likely Scorers: Erling Haaland (2), Phil Foden
Confidence Levels
- Sunderland Win – 8%
- Draw – 17%
- Manchester City Win – 75%
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Betting Insight by E2bet
Manchester City’s form and Sunderland’s attacking limitations point strongly toward a comfortable away win.
Bet Tips:
- Manchester City to Win
- Manchester City Clean Sheet
- Anytime Scorer: Erling Haaland
⚠️ All predictions are for informational purposes only. Betting involves risk—please play responsibly.
FAQs – Sunderland vs Man City
1.What time is Sunderland vs Man City?
Kick-off is at 01:30 am on Friday, 2 January 2026.
2.What is Sunderland’s recent form?
Sunderland have one win, three draws, and one loss in their last five matches.
3.What is the predicted score for Sunderland vs Man City?
The most likely result is a 0–3 win for Manchester City.