Overview
- Kick-off is 15:00 UK on Saturday, 6 December, at the Etihad Stadium, with no live TV broadcast in the UK due to the 3pm blackout; U.S. viewers can watch on Peacock.
- Manchester City sit five points behind leaders Arsenal and need a result to maintain pressure in the title race.
- City remain without midfielders Rodri and Mateo Kovacic through injury, trimming options in central areas.
- Sunderland, promoted last summer and now sixth under Régis Le Bris, travel with absences that include long-term groin injury for Habib Diarra, while Dennis Cirkin, Leo Hjelde and Aji Alese are expected to miss out.
- City’s recent 3-2 win over Leeds and 5-4 victory at Fulham highlight attacking threat and defensive lapses, with Erling Haaland hitting 100 Premier League goals as Sunderland arrive buoyed by a 1-1 draw at Anfield.