Sunderland v Manchester City: Goalfest on the cards as Guardiola's men make tilt for the title

Sunderland v Manchester City
Sunday 5 March, 16:00
Sky Sports 1

Sunderland

Sunday afternoon's late kick-off sees two sides with very different aspirations. While Manchester City are still just about clinging to Chelsea's coattails at the top of the Premier League, Sunderland are stranded at the foot of the table.

The Black Cats have 12 games remaining and manager David Moyes believes they need to win at least five of those to save themselves from Championship football next season.

Optimistic thinking from the Scot. Sunderland have won just five games so far this season from 26 which represents a paltry win rate of just 19.2%.

The idea that they can pull that up to somewhere north of 40% seems farfetched - particularly when you factor in trips to the Emirates and Stamford Bridge and visits from the two Manchester sides to the Stadium of Light.

A glance at Sunderland's injury list - Jack Rodwell, Lee Cattermole, Victor Anichebe, Jan Kirchoff and Paddy McNair - and the club's position looks terminal.

Jermain Defoe may have scored a goal in every single month of possible Premier League action since January 2016, but saving Sunderland from their perilous position looks beyond even him.

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has never overseen six league defeats in a season in his managerial career. He's lost five already this term, but if he can keep up that record there's every chance Manchester City could go on to win the title.

City have been in free-scoring form of late, with Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling striking up a promising partnership on opposite wings. The pair have linked up for the opening goals in City's last two wins - the 5-1 in midweek against Huddersfield and that pulsating 5-3 over Monaco in the Champions League.

Added to their threat has been the rejuvenation of Sergio Aguero. The Argentine was ousted from City's starting XI by the newly signed Gabriel Jesus but since the Brazilian's injury has scored four goals in three starts.

City travel to Stamford Bridge in a month's time and if they are still within touching distance of the Blues, they could well cause an upset in a title race that many already have down as a foregone conclusion.

Match odds

Guardiola's men will be looking to kick off their title challenge on Sunday where they head to the Stadium of Light - their first league game in 17 days - as heavy favourites.

Hosts Sunderland have lost each of the last five meetings against City and five of their last seven games in league and cup. They can be backed on the exchange at 12.00.

While the visitors have been very inconsistent this season, they come into this one off the back of six wins in seven and look a more formidable force than the side that crumpled against Everton in their last defeat in mid-January.

City are 1.31 for the win, while the draw can be backed at 6.40.

Over/Under 3.5 Goals

While those match odds on a City win are not all that attractive, there are some other markets to pique our interest. Of particular note is Over/Under 3.5 Goals.

City have been scoring goals for fun recently. Their previous two games have yielded 10 goals in favour, with four against, while over 3.5 goals has come in on six of their last eight fixtures.

Over the course of the Premier League season, City's games have seen an average of more than three goals (80 in 26) and, with Sunderland's defence conceding nearly two per game, it would be little surprise to see Guardiola's men get another bagful.

City's obvious problem, of course, is that they can't defend. With their leaky defence and the potent Defoe ready to take any chance that comes his way, Sunderland could well get a consolation as well.

While Both Teams To Score doesn't look particularly enticing at 1.90, over 3.5 goals at 2.20 certainly does.

Ref watch

Martin Atkinson will be the man in the middle for Sunday's game. The 45-year-old has been in charge of three Sunderland games this term, with the Black Cats losing all three, and just one Man City game - their 2-1 win over Arsenal in December.

Atkinson has overseen 28 games in total this season and handed out 102 yellow cards (3.64 per game) and two reds.

Recommended bets

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.20