Manchester City v Sunderland team news & stats

Mark Holmes
Vincent Kompany: Back to boost Manchester City against Sunderland

Vincent Kompany: Back to boost Manchester City against Sunderland

Manchester City have a mixed recent record against Sunderland but welcome back Vincent Kompany for the Boxing Day clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Team news

Vincent Kompany is set to make his long-awaited return for Manchester City after an eight-game absence with a calf injury.

Pablo Zabaleta (knee) and Fernando (hamstring) are also available again, leaving Samir Nasri (leg) as the only major absentee for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

Sunderland, meanwhile, are likely to be without Younes Kaboul for several weeks with a hamstring injury, while Jack Rodwell is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season.

Lee Cattermole is closing in on a return from a back problem and Jeremain Lens is included after being left out for disciplinary reasons, but Adam Matthews faces a lengthy spell out after he damaged ankle ligaments in training, while Sebastian Larsson (knee) also remains on the casualty list.

Opta stats

  • Manchester City have won four and lost four of the last 10 Premier League matches against Sunderland, though they won both meetings last season.
  • Manchester City have only lost one of their last eight Premier League fixtures on Boxing Day (W6 D1 L1) and that was to Sunderland.
  • The Black Cats have won only two of their last 10 Premier League Boxing Day matches (D4 L4).
  • Former Manchester City winger Adam Johnson has scored in his last two Premier League appearances on Boxing Day, one of those coming against the Citizens (2014 v Hull, 2012 v Man City).
  • Jermain Defoe has scored six goals in 10 Premier League appearances on Boxing Day.
  • Manchester City have won 15 of their 19 Premier League home games in 2015 so far (D1 L3).
  • The Citizens have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last seven Premier League games at home; their longest run without a clean sheet at the Etihad since December 2009 (also seven).
  • If City concede a goal in this game, it’ll be their longest run without a clean sheet at home in league competition (eight games) since October 1991 (13 games).
  • Sunderland have lost their last three Premier League games – they haven’t lost four in a row in the competition since April 2014 (five defeats in a row).
  • The Black Cats have conceded the most goals (33) and allowed their opponents the most shots on target (106) in the Premier League this season.

Predictions

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