Premier League preview and odds: Manchester City vs Sunderland

Published on: 22/12/2015

Premier League preview and odds: Manchester City vs Sunderland

December 26, 2015 15:00pm - Etihad Stadium

Premier League

Manchester City will be looking to get their Barclays Premier League title challenge back on track on Boxing Day when they face struggling Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep`s shadow looming over Pellgrini

After losing to Arsenal on Monday, Manchester City are now six points off the pace in the Barclays Premier League title race. Anything other than a win against Sunderland would be disastrous for a side that has won seven out their nine home games this season.

With rumours suggesting that Pep Guardiola will be taking over in the summer, the next few months could be difficult and distracting for current City boss Manuel Pellegrini.

City have won just three of their last eight Premier League matches. Their cause has not been helped by the continued absence of talismanic captain Vincent Kompany, who is still at least a week away from fitness.

Sunderland losing touch with safety

It has been a story of false dawns ever since Sam Allardyce arrived at the Stadium of Light with the brief of keeping Sunderland in the top flight. Each time the Black Cats have flirted with the safety zone, they have fallen straight back down, and they now find themselves in danger of losing touch with the teams above them.

A run of three straight defeats has left the northeast club five points from safety with the second worst goal difference in the league. They now face a trip to Manchester to face one of the pre-season title favourites.

Team news

The home side are without the injured group of Fernando, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany and Samir Nasri.

Meanwhile, Sunderland will be without Seb Larsson, who is suffering from a knee injury.

Recent form (League)

Manchester City: WLWLD

Sunderland: LLLWW

Betting odds and tips

Despite their recent form, City will be clear favourites for this game against a Sunderland side that have been poor all season and look destined to be involved in a relegation scrap.

Both teams have scored in Citys last seven home games and Sunderland have netted in their last four away games. You can back Both Teams to Score at evens with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 22/12/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (22/12/2015 10:40:11) but are subject to change.