A look ahead to Sunday's game at The Stadium of Light
Sunderland vs Manchester City
Date: 2.10pm Sunday 10th November 2013
Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Referee: Mike Dean. Assistants: J Collin, I Hussin. Fourth Official: M Atkinson.
Odds: Sunderland 8/1, Draw 13/2, Manchester City 2/5
Tickets: Sold out.
TV: Sky Sports.
Sunderland
Manager: Gus Poyet
Squad (from): Westwood, Mannone, Celustka, Cuellar, O'Shea, Colback, Brown, Diakité, Roberge, Cabral, Larsson, Johnson, Gardner, Ki, Giaccherini, Ba, Fletcher, Altidore, Karlsson, Mavrias, Borini, Ji
Injured: None
Doubtful: Celustka, Giaccherini, Westwood
Suspended: Cattermole, Dossena
Form guide: LWLLLL
Manchester City
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Squad (from): Hart, Pantilimon, Boyata, Clichy, Kolarov, Lescott, Nastasic, Demichelis, Richards, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Garcia, Milner, Nasri, Rodwell, Navas, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko, Negredo
Injured: Kompany, Jovetic, Silva, Wright
Doubtful: Nastasic, Fernandinho
Suspended: None
Form guide: WLWWLW
City will be without David Silva for the trip to the Stadium of Light, after the midfielder suffered a calf injury during the midweek victory aginst CSKA Moscow. The Spaniard's absence represents a major blow to Manuel Pellegrini, amidst fears that he could be out for up to four weeks. Jesus Navas and James Milner will vye to replace him on Sunday. There are also doubts over the fitness of Fernandinho and Matija Nastasic, with Jack Rodwell and Joleon Lescott on standby.
The Blues are in rich goalscoring form at present, with 22 goals in their last six league games and Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo are expected to continue their fruitful attacking partnership. Costel Pantilimon once again retain his place ahead of Joe Hart.
Sunderland have only won one of their last six Premier League games, but will take confidence from the recent derby victory and a midweek League Cup win against Southampton. Lee Cattermole and Andrea Dossena are both suspended following red cards at Hull City last weekend, whilst Keiron Westwood faces a late fitness test after suffering concussion.
City's last away league game against Sunderland ended in a 1-0 defeat, with ex-City player Adam Johnson scoring the only goal. Indeed, the Blues have lost by the same scoreline on their previous three visits to the Stadium of Light. Overall City have won 62 of the 136 games played against Sunderland, with 25 draws and 49 defeats.
Prediction: Sunderland 1 City 2
Read the views of Sunderland fan Sam Lightle here.