English Premier League
Date: Sunday, 5th March 2017
Kick off at 16:00 UK
Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland.
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Sunderland vs Manchester City Preview and Prediction
Manchester City appear back to their scintillating best and should have no problems running out comfortable winners against relegation-haunted Sunderland on Sunday.
The blues are enjoying their best run since they began the season with 10 consecutive wins, the only blot on their record in the last seven matches being a 0-0 draw away to Huddersfield in the FA Cup.
But Pep Guardiola’s side put that right by winning the replay 5-1 despite conceding the opening goal and if they keep producing the same swashbuckling brand of football, it is difficult to see them slipping up before a season-defining spell of four matches, starting in mid-March, against Monaco, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Sunderland have enjoyed some fine victories over City during the last five years, but not at the more recent end of that timescale and the way they are performing at present suggests they are set for another defeat here – and, more than likely, relegation at the end of the campaign.
Whereas other clubs have bit the bullet and changed their manager in a bid to dig themselves out of trouble, the Black Cats are standing steadfastly by David Moyes and it is probably the case that their squad is so weak that they would go down whoever was in charge.
That’s not to say the Wearsiders are not capable of the occasional strong result, e.g. home draws with Liverpool and Tottenham and the 4-0 win at Crystal Palace, and they are still within touching distance of the safety zone.
The Mackems have got out of very sticky situations in the last few years to preserve their top-flight status, but this time it really would take a dramatic improvement that they do not really look capable of.
It needed an 87th-minute goal for City to beat Sunderland on the opening day of the season at the Etihad Stadium, but this time three points should be secured much more comfortably by a team still in with the remotest chance (400/1) of the Treble.
Sunderland vs Manchester City stats
Manchester City have won the last six meetings of these clubs, scoring a total of 18 goals
City have scored the joint highest number of Premier League goals away from home this season
Pep Guardiola’s side have kept four consecutive clean sheets on their travels
Recommended bets
Manchester City to win and over 3.5 goals
