Saturday 6th December 2025
Manchester City v Sunderland - Premier League
Etihad Stadium ***Kick-Off:***15:00
Tickets & Match Coverage
Tickets: Tickets are sold out.
TV/Stream: Full live match coverage is unavailable in the UK.
Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online)
Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of the game on the Roker Report Twitter feed (@RokerReport) and check out the player ratings after the full-time whistle atwww.RokerReport.sbnation.com!
The build-up...
Sunderland AFC has been a confusing place for a long time, but this week we left Anfield scratching our heads in a confused state as we tried to decide if we were pleased with the draw or not.
The sense of pride we took away from Merseyside was palpable, and a frustration that we didn’t take all three points was maybe felt more for the players than ourselves, as we want this current crop of players to get everything they deserve from games based on the sheer amount of effort they put into it.
Even when we were crap and languishing in League One, we’d always have a sense of pride supporting Sunderland, but this is different, we’re proud of every single one of those players because they show to anyone who wishes to look, that they want success at this club just as much as the fans - and it’s not often we can say that.
Anyway, as soon as the fixtures were released, we had our eyes on this set of three fixtures, and after the first went as well as we could have hoped, we now head to the Etihad to take on Pep’s City in the second act in the trilogy, and we are wondering what Regis Le Bris has up his sleeve next.
Just when we thought we had it nailed down in that he would have to go five at the back at Anfield, he puts out a 4-4-2 with Trai Hume wide on the right, and we look threatening going forward. If the manager keeps us fans guessing that watch the Lads every week, imagine how opposition managers are second-guessing what we’re going to do next - and it’s now down to Pep to work it out today.
One thing hanging over the team selection, however, is the fact Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki remain one yellow card away from a one-game ban, which today would mean they miss the derby. It would be a surprise if it came into the manager’s thinking, but the players are only human, and they will know what’s around the corner.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Regis Le Bris, Manager of Sunderland, reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on December 03, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Regis Le Bris, Manager of Sunderland, reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on December 03, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Last time we went to the Etihad was the beginning of the David Moyes season, and probably days before he completely gave up any hope of keeping us in the Premier League, but although things have changed dramatically for ourselves, City and Pep continue to challenge for anything going.
As true as this is, they did have a relative shocker last season. After winning six league titles in seven, City had a proper wobble and lost silly amounts of games in a short period and ended up finishing third. We can only imagine how awful that must have been for City fans - our thoughts go out to you.
They had a summer where they could reset on the pitch, while off the pitch, there was an expectation that someone might make a call regarding the 115 charges that allege breaches of financial regulations - a decision that was said to be “imminent” as recent as a week ago.
But on the pitch it didn’t look great after five games as they had won just two, which raises the alarm at a club as successful as Manchester City. Seven wins out of nine that followed however silenced any of the panic and now means they are in a prime position, just five points behind Arsenal as we enter the busy festive period.
The take-home point is that City don’t have that aura that they had 12-18 months ago. The last two games against Leeds and Fulham showed that at some point, the opposition realised they could get at City and in the end Pep’s side just simply scored more. This gives us that glimmer of hope that if we can keep them out for long enough, we might just have that one chance to take advantage.
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage on December 02, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage on December 02, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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The betting...
The bookies have the Lads at 10/1 to win the game, while Man City are priced at 1/5, and the draw is 5/1.
Head to head... in Manchester
(All competitions)
Sunderland wins: 12
Draws: 14
Manchester City wins: 48
Sunderland goals: 90
Manchester City goals: 152
Last time we met... at the Etihad Stadium
Saturday 13th August 2016
Premier League
Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland
[Aguero (pen) 4’, McNair (OG) 87’ - Defoe 71’]
Sunderland: Mannone, Love, O’Shea, Kone, Kaboul, van Aanholt, Rodwell, Gooch (Khazri), Watmore (Januzaj), Borini, Defoe (McNair) Substitutes not used: Pickford, Djilobodji, Lens, Asoro
Manchester City: Boruc, A. Smith, Daniels, L. Cook, Francis, S. Cook, Pugh (Mousset), Arter, Afobe (Stanislas), Fraser (Gradel), King Substitutes not used: Hart, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Fernando
***Attendance:***54,362
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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Prediction…
Manchester City 2-0 Sunderland
I want to believe, but it could be a step too far. My heart says a goalless draw, but my head says we’ll play well but not quite have enough.