Head-to-Head Summary
Manchester City have dominated the recent H2H with Sunderland. Across the last 10 competitive meetings, City have eight victories, Sunderland have none and two matches have finished level.
The numbers across those games are:
Manchester City wins: 8
Sunderland wins: 0
Draws: 2
Manchester City goals: 25
Sunderland goals: 8
Sunderland's last competitive victory over City came before this 10-match sequence. Since then, City have repeatedly controlled the fixture both home and away.
The most relevant evidence comes from last season. City won 3-0 at the Etihad through goals from Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol and Phil Foden, but the return fixture was completely different as Sunderland defended with discipline and earned a goalless draw.
That contrast provides Sunderland with a useful tactical reference. They know they can frustrate City, but repeating that performance away from home will be considerably harder.
Last 10 Meetings
January 1, 2026 — Premier League: Sunderland 0-0 Manchester City
December 6, 2025 — Premier League: Manchester City 3-0 Sunderland
March 5, 2017 — Premier League: Sunderland 0-2 Manchester City
August 13, 2016 — Premier League: Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland
February 2, 2016 — Premier League: Sunderland 0-1 Manchester City
December 26, 2015 — Premier League: Manchester City 4-1 Sunderland
September 22, 2015 — League Cup: Sunderland 1-4 Manchester City
January 1, 2015 — Premier League: Manchester City 3-2 Sunderland
December 3, 2014 — Premier League: Sunderland 1-4 Manchester City
April 16, 2014 — Premier League: Manchester City 2-2 Sunderland
City's home record is particularly strong. They have won each of Sunderland's last four competitive visits to the Etihad, scoring 12 goals across those matches.
Sunderland have nevertheless shown that they can make the matchup uncomfortable when their defensive distances remain compact. The 0-0 draw in January interrupted a long run of City victories and showed that possession alone does not guarantee control of the scoreline.
Manchester City Current Form
Manchester City have won all five of their completed competitive matches this season.
Their most recent results before Thursday's Carabao Cup game against Norwich are:
September 13 — Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City
September 8 — Porto 0-2 Manchester City
September 5 — Manchester City 1-0 Coventry City
August 28 — Crystal Palace 1-4 Manchester City
August 23 — Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth
City have scored 10 goals and conceded only two across those matches. Their Premier League record stands at four wins from four, with eight goals scored and two conceded.
The derby victory at Old Trafford was particularly significant. City played with 10 men from the 23rd minute after Foden was sent off but still won through Erling Haaland's second-half goal. Maresca's team restricted United to very few clear chances despite playing most of the match at a numerical disadvantage.
That performance highlighted something beyond City's usual possession quality. They demonstrated that they can defend deeper, manage difficult periods and win without controlling the ball in their normal way.
City still have one more match before Sunderland. Maresca is expected to rotate against Norwich in the Carabao Cup, but any fitness issue from that game would naturally affect the final team news for Sunday.
Sunderland Current Form
Sunderland's last five competitive matches have produced three wins, one draw and one defeat.
September 16 — Sunderland 1-0 AZ Alkmaar
September 12 — Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal
September 8 — Sunderland 1-0 Hull City
September 5 — Brentford 1-1 Sunderland
August 30 — Sunderland 1-0 Fulham
That is a respectable sequence, particularly defensively. Sunderland have kept three clean sheets in those five matches and conceded only three goals.
The Arsenal defeat showed the difficulty they can have against elite opposition. Le Bris' team remained organised for long periods but eventually lost 2-0 as Arsenal's superior depth and quality became decisive.
Their response against AZ was positive. Enzo Le Fée's second-half penalty secured a 1-0 victory and gave Sunderland their first European win of the campaign.
The challenge now is recovery. Sunderland played on Wednesday and City play on Thursday, so neither side enters Sunday with a completely free week.
Manchester City Team News and Injuries
Phil Foden will not be available against Sunderland after his red card in the Manchester derby. The Premier League's suspension list confirms that he is banned for Matchweeks 5 and 6.
His absence removes one of City's most flexible attacking options. Maresca can still choose from Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, Iliman Ndiaye and other players around Haaland.
Jérémy Doku missed the Manchester derby because he was still recovering from a calf problem. Maresca said before that match that the winger needed additional time, so his availability for Sunderland will depend on his progress during the week.
Nico O'Reilly returned to availability before the derby after a back issue. City also had Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernández, Marc Guéhi, Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol and Gianluigi Donnarumma available in the win at Old Trafford.
The Carabao Cup match with Norwich remains important. City's final injury picture should be reassessed after Thursday rather than assuming everyone who is currently available will automatically be ready for Sunday.
Sunderland Team News and Injuries
Sunderland will be without Reinildo for the trip to Manchester because of suspension. The Premier League lists the defender as banned for Matchweek 5.
That is a meaningful defensive absence against a City attack that can stretch the pitch and repeatedly create one-on-one situations.
Le Bris otherwise had many of his main options involved against AZ, including Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, Dan Ballard, Granit Xhaka, Le Fée, Brian Brobbey, Wilson Isidor and Nilson Angulo. Sunderland did not immediately confirm a major fresh injury from the European victory.
Their recovery and training sessions before Sunday will therefore be important. Sunderland cannot afford to lose additional defensive depth before facing Haaland and one of the league's most productive attacks.
Tactical Match Analysis
Manchester City should dominate possession, but last season's 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light shows why possession alone will not settle this fixture.
Sunderland defended that game with compact distances and limited the spaces around Haaland. City still created opportunities, but goalkeeper Robin Roefs and the defensive structure prevented those chances from becoming goals.
Le Bris is likely to use a similar principle at the Etihad. Sunderland can allow City to have the ball in safer areas while protecting the middle and forcing attacks toward wider positions.
The difficulty is sustaining that plan for 90 minutes.
Maresca now has a different midfield from the team Sunderland faced last season. Anderson and Enzo Fernández provide energy, ball progression and counter-pressing, while Cherki can operate between the lines and create from tight spaces.
Semenyo adds another direct threat. His willingness to attack defenders gives City a way to accelerate games when patient possession is not enough.
Haaland remains the central problem. Sunderland's centre-backs must defend his movement without becoming so focused on him that space opens for midfield runners.
At the other end, Sunderland should look to attack quickly once possession is recovered. Brobbey can provide a physical outlet, while Angulo and Isidor offer more direct running around him.
Xhaka and Le Fée are crucial to that approach. Simply clearing the ball will invite another City attack, so Sunderland need their midfielders to retain possession long enough for the team to move up the pitch.
Set pieces may also provide Sunderland with useful opportunities. City are likely to control open play, which increases the importance of corners and free-kicks for the visitors.
Key Players to Watch
Erling Haaland
Haaland decided the Manchester derby with the only goal and remains City's most important penalty-area threat.
Sunderland kept him quiet in January, but doing so again at the Etihad requires excellent concentration. If City's wide players begin creating regular crosses and cutbacks, Haaland's movement becomes extremely difficult to contain.
Elliot Anderson
Anderson was named Player of the Match in City's derby victory after an influential midfield performance. His energy and ability to carry possession give Maresca another way to progress through pressure.
Against Sunderland, his counter-pressing could be equally important. Preventing the visitors from turning defensive recoveries into counterattacks would allow City to sustain pressure around the penalty area.
Granit Xhaka
Xhaka remains central to Sunderland's structure because he can defend, organise and progress possession.
His experience against elite opponents will be valuable at the Etihad. Sunderland need him to remain composed when City press rather than allowing every recovery to become an immediate turnover.
Enzo Le Fée
Le Fée scored the winner against AZ and also converted Sunderland's late equaliser against Brentford earlier in the season.
His creativity could be particularly valuable on transitions. If Sunderland can find him before City's defensive shape resets, he has the passing quality to release the forwards into space.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Manchester City have won all four Premier League matches this season.
City have scored eight league goals and conceded only two.
Sunderland have four points from four matches, with three goals scored and five conceded.
City have won eight of the last 10 competitive H2Hs.
Sunderland have not won any of those 10 meetings.
City have outscored Sunderland 25-8 across that sequence.
Sunderland did hold City to a 0-0 draw in the most recent meeting.
The overall evidence strongly favours City, but the most recent H2H explains why Maresca's side cannot expect an effortless afternoon.
Sunderland have also kept three clean sheets across their last five competitive matches. Their best chance is turning the contest into a patient, low-event game rather than trying to exchange attacks with City.
Who Has the Statistical Edge?
Manchester City have the clear statistical advantage.
They have won every Premier League match, possess home advantage and have conceded only twice. Their eight victories from the last 10 H2Hs add another strong layer of evidence.
Sunderland's argument comes from defensive organisation. They stopped City scoring in January and have already recorded several clean sheets this season.
A draw is possible if Sunderland reproduce that level of discipline. However, the Etihad is a more difficult environment, Reinildo's suspension weakens their defensive options and City's current midfield offers different problems from the side Sunderland frustrated last season.
City therefore enter with the stronger statistical position. Sunderland's best route is to keep the score level for as long as possible and use transitions or set pieces to create the few chances they are likely to receive.
Conclusion
Manchester City enter Sunday's match with one of the strongest records in the Premier League. Four league games have produced four wins, while victories over Porto and Manchester United have further strengthened the early impression of Maresca's new-look team.
Sunderland are more competitive than their four-point league total may suggest. They have won three of their last five matches in all competitions, kept three clean sheets and already showed last season that they can frustrate City when their defensive structure works.
The tactical challenge is sustaining that resistance at the Etihad. Sunderland must defend compactly without becoming completely passive, while Xhaka and Le Fée need to give them enough control to escape City's counter-press.
City's current form, home advantage and dominant recent H2H give them the clear statistical edge. Sunderland's defensive discipline makes another difficult afternoon possible for the hosts, but the evidence strongly favours Manchester City over the full 90 minutes.