Manchester Metropolis search well timed reinforcements at Sunderland
Manchester Metropolis journey to the Stadium of Mild on New 12 months’s Day with momentum to rebuild and a title race tightening by the week. The go to to Sunderland arrives at a pivotal second within the Premier League season, with Pep Guardiola cautiously optimistic over the return of key personnel as Metropolis try to reel in Arsenal on the summit.
Commercial
Jeremy Doku edging nearer to return
Jeremy Doku might make his lengthy awaited comeback after lacking Manchester Metropolis’s final 4 matches in all competitions with a leg damage. The Belgian winger has been sidelined since early December however is again in competition, albeit doubtless from the bench. Guardiola is anticipated to handle his minutes rigorously, notably with Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden thriving in superior roles both facet of Erling Haaland.
Picture: IMAGO
Doku’s explosiveness affords Metropolis a special attacking dynamic, particularly towards a Sunderland facet anticipated to defend deep and counter shortly. His doable involvement provides intrigue, even when warning stays the watchword.
Commercial
Rodri enhance amid title strain
Rodri’s return to the matchday squad at Nottingham Forest final weekend was a major step, and the Ballon d’Or winner might now see restricted motion on Wearside. His absence since early November has been keenly felt, notably with Arsenal 5 factors clear after a commanding 4-1 win over Aston Villa.
“Possibly Rodri can play a couple of minutes,” stated Guardiola forward of the Sunderland sport. “We’d like it desperately. Doku, possibly. John and Oscar, no.”
The Metropolis supervisor’s phrases underline each urgency and restraint as fixtures accumulate.
Squad absences and choice stability
John Stones and Oscar Bobb stay unavailable, whereas Mateo Kovacic continues his rehabilitation from an ankle drawback. Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are nonetheless away on the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Guardiola has largely trusted a settled Manchester Metropolis lineup in latest weeks, although rotation stays doable.
Commercial
Metropolis are additionally closing in on a deal for Antoine Semenyo, however the Bournemouth winger is not going to function towards Sunderland.
Match particulars and prediction context
Predicted Man Metropolis XI, Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, Gonzalez, Reijnders; Cherki, Haaland, Foden. Kick off is 8pm GMT on Thursday January 1, 2026, reside on Sky Sports activities, with Sunderland aiming to check Metropolis’s depth and resolve.
