Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expected to resist the temptation to throw Rodri straight back into his starting XI and instead name an unchanged side for the fourth Premier League game running on New Year’s Day.
The Catalan’s decision to stick with a settled formula comes despite the influential Spaniard returning to the matchday squad as an unused substitute in the 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest, as the Cityzens continue to navigate the mid-season absences of AFCON duo Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Injury absentees John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb all remain sidelined with various muscle and leg injuries, while potential winter signing Antoine Semenyo is not expected to complete his move to the Etihad in time to feature on Wearside.
Consequently, Gianluigi Donnarumma should be protected by a familiar defensive quartet consisting of Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and academy graduate Nico O’Reilly.
Bernardo Silva is set to anchor the midfield alongside Javi Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders, providing the platform for a creative engine room that has been in scintillating form over the festive period.
In this form, Rayan Cherki is a certain starter, having been involved in five goals in his last four Premier League outings, including a brace of assists in the reverse fixture against the Black Cats at the start of December.
Phil Foden will once again occupy a roaming role in support of Erling Haaland, who arrives at the Stadium of Light looking to maintain his extraordinary scoring record on the road.
Having found the net at 23 of the 24 away grounds he has visited in the English top flight, the 19-goal striker will be determined to ensure Sunderland‘s home does not become the second stadium after Anfield to keep him at bay.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Gonzalez, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden; Haaland
> Click here to see how Sunderland could line up for this game
Lawanda Lupo
Read More