Sunderland – Manchester City

Sunderland host Manchester City in what promises to be a stark contrast of form, with the Black Cats sitting 14th on four points after a solitary win, a draw and two defeats, and a modest 3‑5 goal record. City, meanwhile, sit second with a perfect four‑game winning streak, twelve points and an impressive 8‑2 tally. The gap in both points and goal difference underscores the challenge for Sunderland, who will need to tighten up at the back and find a spark to trouble a side that has yet to drop a point. If the two teams meet again, City’s recent dominance will loom large, but a resilient Sunderland could still make it a test of character.