Sunderland vs Manchester City predictions and betting tips – Big test for Guardiola’s side

Manchester City are continuing to apply pressure to Arsenal in the Premier League title race, but they will be in for a tricky test when they travel to the northeast on Thursday.

Sunderland are having a magnificent season and they will see this game as a free hit. Will the Black Cats upset the apple cart once again?

• Manchester City to win by one goal – 5/2 with BetVictor
• draw at half-time – 6/4 with BetMGM
• Rayan Cherki to score any time – 19/10 with 247Bet

Sunderland vs Manchester City odds

Find the latest Sunderland vs Manchester City betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Sunderland vs Manchester City predictions

Manchester City will be watching Arsenal vs Aston Villa on Tuesday with interest. That match pits first against third in the Premier League, with City sandwiched in between the pair.

Pep Guardiola’s side briefly rose to the summit of the standings at the weekend after a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal responded by beating Brighton & Hove Albion by the same scoreline, before Aston Villa also ran out 2-1 winners against Chelsea.

An Arsenal triumph on the penultimate day of 2025 would guarantee them top spot until the weekend at least. 

However, a draw or a Villa victory at the Emirates Stadium would give City the opportunity to seize first place at the end of a Premier League gameweek for the first since the opening weekend. 

City did not have everything their own way last time out. Nottingham Forest held their own for long periods of the game, and as the clock ticked towards 90 the score was locked at 1-1.

City came on strong in the closing stages, though, and they were duly rewarded when Rayan Cherki struck the winner in the 83rd minute.

Not for the first time this season, City produced a moment when it mattered most to turn a tight match in their favour. 

This team is not as imperious as some of its predecessors, which frequently controlled games from minute one to 90. In previous campaigns, City’s opponents often barely got a sniff.

But for all their imperfections, this side does not want for star quality. Whether it is Cherki, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden or Jeremy Doku, City are blessed with multiple match-winners in the final third.

Arsenal look like the more coherent, dominant team right now, but City and their manager know what it takes to win the title. That experience and knowhow could count for a lot in the second half of the season.

In recent weeks, Guardiola has given the impression that he does not mind his team being chasers rather than leaders at this point. After three consecutive runners-up finishes, the pressure is on Arsenal. City will look to use that to their advantage.

“We know a lot of clubs suffer here,” Guardiola said at the City Ground. “From what I heard Nottingham Forest at home is always difficult, and yes, I felt it as well. It’s a very important win and we are on the hunt.”

Sunderland vs Manchester City betting tips

Can Manchester City extend their winning run at the Stadium of Light?

Man City to eke out win

Sunderland fans could not have asked for a better 2025. As well as winning promotion to the Premier League, the Black Cats have done much more than merely make up the numbers at the top table.

At the time of writing, Regis Le Bris’s side sit seventh in the standings. They could drop down a couple of places after Tuesday’s games, but they would then have the chance to return to seventh – or perhaps even higher – on New Year’s Day.

However, Sunderland are obvious underdogs against a Manchester City side that has won six games in a row. 

The Black Cats have won only one of their last five encounters, and they remain without some key players due to the Africa Cup of Nations. Sunderland will battle hard, but City should edge this one.

Tip Manchester City to win by one goal at 5/2 with BetVictor

Honours even at break

Sunderland will focus on making life difficult for Manchester City as their first objective on Thursday.

Guardiola’s team have the best first-half record in the Premier League, so it will not be easy for the hosts to make it to the break with the score level.

But if they are as defensively disciplined as they can be, Sunderland have the potential to frustrate City in the opening 45 minutes.

Le Bris’s charges have gone in level at the interval in almost half of their nine home games this term (four out of nine). City will have to be patient at the Stadium of Light.

Go for a draw at half-time at 6/4 with BetMGM

Cherki on mark again

Rayan Cherki took a while to find his feet in the Premier League and in a Guardiola team, but he is thriving at the moment.

The Manchester City boss has admitted that the France international sometimes frustrates him, but City fans are enjoying watching a maverick at work.

Crucially, Cherki is helping to decide games rather than merely decorating them: he has seven goals and assists to his name in his last eight appearances.

Haaland was quiet against Nottingham Forest, and while the Norwegian is still the likeliest goalscorer on New Year’s Day, it is worth a punt on the in-form Cherki instead.

Back Rayan Cherki to score any time at 19/10 with 247Bet

Sunderland vs Manchester City predicted lineups

• Sunderland expected lineup: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Aldrete, Cirkin; Xhaka, Geertruida; Rigg, Le Fee, Adringra; Brobbey.
• Manchester City expected lineup: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Reijnders, Gonzalez, Silva; Cherki, Haaland, Foden.

Where to watch Sunderland vs Manchester City

• Location: Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England.
• Date and time: Thursday 1st January, 8pm.
• How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event.

More Premier League predictions

We have plenty more Premier League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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