Manchester City remain firmly in the title chase, sitting second and five points behind the leaders. Their last few matches have been wild and full of goals. The dramatic 5-4 away win at Fulham once again exposed both their attacking potential and their defensive lapses, especially considering they led 5-1 before nearly collapsing. Prior to that, they defeated Leeds 3-2 at the Etihad, extending their Premier League home streak to six consecutive victories, each with at least two goals scored. City are entertaining, unstable at times, but always dangerous.
Sunderland remain competitive
Sunderland continue to impress for a team expected to struggle. The 1-1 draw away at Liverpool was another sign of their resilience. With only three defeats in 14 rounds - fewer than Manchester City - they are proving difficult to beat. All losses, however, came away from home, and their away matches tend to be far more controlled in tempo. Not a single Sunderland visit so far has produced more than three goals, and six of their seven away fixtures have ended with under 2.5 goals. Their compact structure and disciplined defensive block tend to limit chaos.
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals
City’s matches at the Etihad rarely stay quiet, and their attacking strength should push the game beyond Sunderland’s usual low-scoring pattern. Even if the visitors remain organised, the pressure from Guardiola’s side almost always forces an open match.
