Sunderland vs Manchester City. Premier League.
Stadium of LightAttendance41,107.
Sunday 5 March 2017 14:59, UK
Sunderland will look to trigger their annual great escape act when they host free-scoring Manchester City, live on Nissan Super Sunday.
We are 204 days into the season and Sunderland have spent 189 days in the relegation places (93 per cent) including each of the last 176 days since September. However, last season, Sunderland spent a Premier League high 237 days of the 281-day long season in the bottom three (84 per cent) but still survived.
City are looking to do the double over Sunderland for the fourth straight season and come into the game unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions (W6 D2), having scored 23 goals in that period including 10 in last two games.
Sunderland utility man Jason Denayer will sit out against parent club Manchester City at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Denayer is ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement, although central defender Papy Djilobodji returns to contention after serving a four-match ban.
Keeper Vito Mannone has recovered from illness and Billy Jones is available after having stitches in a head wound, but Jack Rodwell (hamstring) is being assessed and the game will come too soon for midfielders Jan Kirchhoff (knee) and Steven Pienaar (calf). Paddy McNair, Duncan Watmore, Victor Anichebe (all knee) and Lee Cattermole (hip) are still out.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is back in contention for Sunday's Premier League clash.
Defender Aleksandar Kolarov is also fit again after a hamstring injury while Willy Caballero could return in goal after Claudio Bravo featured in the FA Cup in midweek.
Striker Gabriel Jesus (foot) and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (knee) are both long-term casualties.
Coverage of Nissan Super Sunday starts at 12.30pm live on Sky Sports 1 with presenter David Jones joined by Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness and you can also watch all the action in UHD via Sky Q.
Not able to watch the game? Sky Sports still has you covered, with minute-by-minute commentary across all digital platforms as well as in-game clips, half-time and full-time highlights available on the mobile app and in the Football Score Centre with a free Sky iD.
Match stats
Sunderland have lost each of their last five Premier League games against Manchester City since a 2-2 draw at the Etihad in April 2014.
City have won their last two Premier League visits to the Stadium of Light since a run of four consecutive 1-0 defeats between 2010 and 2013.
Of Premier League teams City have played 25 or more times, they have the best win percentage against the Black Cats (68%, 17 wins from 25 games).
Sergio Aguero has been involved in six goals in his last four Premier League appearances against Sunderland (four goals, two assists). In all competitions, the Argentinian striker has scored in each of his last three games at the Stadium of Light (four goals).
David Moyes has only lost two of the 12 home Premier League games he has managed against Manchester City (W7 D3 L2). Indeed, only against Fulham (12) has he won more home Premier League games than against City (7).
Sunderland haven't been any higher than 15th position in the Premier League this season, while Manchester City are one of two teams who haven't been outside the top half (along with Everton).
The Black Cats have lost 17 of their 26 Premier League games this season; the same tally as they had in the entire 2015-16 season (17).
Jermain Defoe has scored a goal in every single month of Premier League action since January 2016 (13 months in a row).
Defoe has scored eight Premier League goals against Manchester City - only versus Wigan Athletic (10) has he netted more in the competition.
Defoe has attempted 64 shots in the Premier League this season; 40 more than any other Sunderland player.
Pep Guardiola has suffered five league defeats as City boss this season - he's never lost six in a single league campaign as a manager.
I've watched Man City a few times in recent weeks and they are playing exceptionally well. They are starting to play with style and swagger of a Pep Guardiola team. He's finally got them playing exactly how he wants them to and that's ominous for Sunderland, and the rest of the Premier League.
They do take chances which will give Sunderland opportunities to score but David Moyes's side will have to be on top form, with City having a dip, for them to have any chance of victory. I'm backing a comfortable City win but they could allow Jermain Defoe to grab a goal.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (9/1 with Sky Bet)
Sunderland are up against odds of 8/1 to beat Manchester City (2/7) despite home advantage, while the draw is priced at 9/2. Pep Guardiola's men headed into the weekend as 10/1 second favourites to win the Premier League, while their hosts are up against odds of 9/2 to stay up.
Aguero heads the first goalscorer betting at 9/2 and is just 11/8 to bag a brace, while Jermain Defoe is considered the hosts' main threat by some distance at 8/1 to net first.
