On Tuesday, Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini will take charge of his first match since the news that he will be replaced by Pep Guardiola at the end of the current season was officially announced.
The Chilean will want to go out on a high, however, and will see a trip to 19th-placed Sunderland as the perfect chance to close the gap on league leaders Leicester City, who face Liverpool on the same night.
Sunderland
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Sunderland are not in must-win territory, which is the case for basement side Aston Villa, but the Black Cats are still stuck inside the Premier League relegation zone, currently four points behind the safety of 17th place, which is held by Norwich City.
Just five wins have arrived in Sunderland's 23 league games this season, while they have suffered 14 defeats, which is the joint-worst record in the division alongside Aston Villa. As mentioned, however, the situation is not terminal and Sam Allardyce will still be confident that he and indeed his squad have the credentials to pull off an escape in the final months.
For all the doom and gloom surrounding Sunderland's season, the Black Cats have taken seven points from the last 12 available, which has included wins over both Aston Villa and Swansea City. They also held Bournemouth to a 1-1 draw last time out and the fact that they have managed to pick up points against the teams around them is even more vital when considering what they have to come this month.
The fixture list for February has not been kind. After this one, they will travel to Liverpool, before welcoming Manchester United. It does not get any easier, however, as they then face a trip to West Ham United before the end of the month. Those matches are even more worrying when considering that Sunderland have only claimed four points from a possible 33 against teams in the top half of the table.
Sunderland have been boosted by the signings of Lamine Kone and Wahbi Khazri from Lorient and Bordeaux respectively, however, and the pair are both expected to make their debuts in this match. Kone in particular has been signed with the view to improving what has been the worst defence in the league this season, with 46 goals conceded in their 23 fixtures.
Recent form: LLWWLD
Recent form (all competitions): LWLWLD
Man City
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The worst-kept secret in football came out on Monday when it was confirmed that Guardiola would replace Pellegrini as head coach of Man City at the end of season. Pellegrini's toes have been well and truly trodden on, but there is no question that the Chilean will want to deliver another Premier League title before exiting the Etihad.
It looked as if Man City would run away with the league this season after such a strong start, but they have stumbled for periods of the campaign. The inconsistency of the division as a whole has left the club firmly in the title race, however, as the season heads for its latter stages. Man City will enter this match in second spot in the table - three points behind the leaders Leicester.
It does appear that it will be a three-horse race for the title, but Tottenham Hotspur, who are just five points off the summit, will also feel that they are capable of challenging for the crown. Man City appear to have steadied over the last few weeks and they are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, which has also seen them advance to the League Cup final and fifth round of the FA Cup.
In the league, they have not been beaten since losing at Arsenal before Christmas, but they have drawn three of their last five in the top flight and were held to a 2-2 draw at West Ham United last time out. Pellegrini could afford to rest a number of his stars at the weekend, however, and his team were still 4-0 winners at Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Man City will also have fond memories of their last trip to Sunderland in the league, having recorded a 4-1 win, which actually ended a run of four consecutive 1-0 defeats at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League. The Manchester side were also 4-1 victors when the two teams clashed at the Etihad on Boxing Day and will once again be the firm favourites for this match.
Recent form: WDWDWD
Recent form (all competitions): WDWDWW
Team News
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As mentioned, Sunderland will have new signings Kone and Khaziri available for selection, and the pair could be thrown straight into the first XI. Allardyce has no fresh injury concerns, meanwhile, and could name close to the side that drew with Bournemouth last time out.
As for Man City, Fabian Delph will miss out after picking up a calf injury, while Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala, Wilfried Bony and Samir Nasri remain on the sidelines.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored a hat-trick in the win over Villa at the weekend, but the 19-year-old is expected to return to be benched as Sergio Aguero, who has scored 11 times in his last nine league appearances, leads the line.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Mannone; Jones, O'Shea, Kone, Van Aanholt; M'Vila, Cattermole; Khaziri, Lens, Johnson; Defoe
Man City possible starting lineup:
Hart; Sagna, Demichelis, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho; Silva, Toure, Sterling; Aguero
Head To Head
Sunderland have won five Premier League home games against Man City - only versus Stoke City (6) have they won more times.
The Black Cats have also won four of the last five league meetings between the two sides on home soil, but they were thumped 4-1 in the corresponding match last season and also at the Etihad earlier in this campaign. The last three league matches between the two teams, meanwhile, have produced 15 goals.
We say: Sunderland 0-2 Man City
Sunderland will be boosted by a couple of new signings, but it is difficult to back them upsetting this Man City team, which has shown signs of hitting top form over the last couple of weeks.
Aguero just cannot stop scoring at the moment and we are backing the Argentine to once again net in a routine victory for the visitors.
Matt Law
