Man City v Sunderland Betting

Manchester City host Sunderland this Sunday afternoon as they look to consolidate their top four aspirations by taking all three points.

City have some defensive problems with Micah Richards and Jerome Boateng picking up injuries while on international duty last week. Carlos Tevez, however, is expected to return and Pablo Zabaleta will return from compassionate leave.

Sunderland’s injury list has eased slightly in recent weeks and Kieran Richardson, Anton Ferdinand, Sulley Muntari and Danny Welbeck are all likely to be available. Defender Nedum Onuoha is ineligible as he cannot play against his parent club due to the terms of his laon agreement.

Sunderland salvaged a last gasp victory in the reverse of this fixture at the Stadium of Light earlier this season. The man who scored that winner, Darren Bent, has now moved on to pastures new and the striker who scored a late equaliser against England in midweek, Asamoah Gyan, now leads Sunderland’s attack.

But despite that win over Roberto Mancini’s side Sunderland have a poor record against the Citizens. City have won six out of six Premier League home games against the Black Cats and 10 out of 13 both home and away.

Add into the mix Sunderland’s recent record of picking up just one point from a possible 18 and it is no surprise to see the home team as strong betting favourites to pick up maximum points from this one.

The bookmakers have City priced at odds of 1/2 to add another three points to their tally, it is 3/1 that the game ends all square and 6/1 that Steve Bruce’s side can record an unlikely double over the Premier League’s big spenders.

Troublesome striker Mario Balotelli is believed to be in contention for a starting place again following internal disciplinary action. He is priced at odds of 11/10 to get on the score sheet, as is the man he would likely replace, Edin Dzeko.

Carlos Tevez currently trails Dimitar Berbatov by two goals in the Premier League top goalscorers list and is just 8/11 to get on the scoresheet this weekend. Sunderland’s most likely threats come in the shape of Gyan at 5/2 and Welbeck at 11/4.

If City are to be playing Champions League football next season then this is the sort of game that they simply must win, but Sunderland will be no pushovers as they look to establish themselves as a top half team.