City's League Campaign Resumes Against Sunderland
Manchester City are back in Premier League action this weekend, with Sunderland the visitors to the Etihad Stadium. It is a fixture that, on paper at least, looks straightforward. On grass, it rarely is.
Erling Haaland will return to the starting XI after being rested for the Carabao Cup win against Norwich. The Norwegian has six goals already this season and will be looking to add to that tally. He has not scored against Sunderland since the Mackems returned to the top flight, a statistic that will irritate him more than most.
Phil Foden is suspended, which removes a creative option from the middle. Jeremy Doku might be fit to play a part, though his involvement is not guaranteed. The likely wide pairing is Antoine Semenyo on the left and Iliman Ndiaye on the right.
Gianluigi Donnarumma will certainly take up his place between the sticks. In front of him, Matheus Nunes will probably start at right back, though Abdukodir Khusanov will be pushing for that spot. At the heart of the defence will almost certainly be Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi.
With Nico O'Reilly's return, Enzo Maresca may decide to put him in at left back and take Josko Gvardiol out. That would be a bold call. A midfield three of Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and O'Reilly is what I'm expecting, with Cherki on the bench.
Since the Community Shield, the Blues have won every game. That run includes the Manchester derby, where City played with 10 men for 70 minutes. It is the kind of sequence that builds momentum quietly, without the fanfare that usually accompanies a title charge in September.
Last season's corresponding fixture ended in a 3-0 win for City. Sunderland will travel with hope, as they always do, but the champions have not shown much willingness to hand out favours at home.
Predicted lineup: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi, Josko Gvardiol; Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson, Nico O'Reilly; Antoine Semenyo, Iliman Ndiaye, Erling Haaland.