Manchester City welcome high flying Sunderland to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.
The Blues played out a thrilling match against Fulham on Tuesday evening, surviving a late fight back to beat
the Cottagers 5-4 in West London.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have enjoyed a magnificent start to the season under Regis Le Bris. They drew 1-1 against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night and are in sixth place, just five points behind City in the league table.
Here are five things to look out for as City host the Black Cats:
Direct attacking from Sunderland
Fulham posed City no end of problems by getting the ball out to their wingers quickly and working the ball to the end of the penalty area.
Even Leeds United, who have struggled hugely with scoring goals this season, caused problems by playing off a strong, physical front two in Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Blues have a major weakness at the moment defensively (exemplified by the fact they’ve conceded six goals in two games to Leeds and Fulham.)
Sunderland have dangerous wide players in Enzo Le Fee, Bertrand Traore and Simon Adingra, and a decent pool of centre forwards including Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor.
I can see the away side causing a real issue in transitions, and particularly given the collapses in the last two games I don’t think I can feel confident on any scoreline up until the final whistle.
Khusanov at right back…
Matheus Nunes has had a very good season, but had probably his worst game of the campaign on Tuesday evening.
First Samuel Chukwueze then Kevin took the Portuguese international to the cleaners, so I expect there’s a decent chance he’ll miss out on this game.
Abdukodir Khusanov had a run of excellent games at the start of the season on the right of City’s back four. His pace, aggressiveness and reading of the game makes him a good profile to play at full back, certainly in games where City need more defensive security.
He hasn’t played in the Premier League since he went off injured at the end of September against Arsenal, but I’d like to see him start against Sunderland and hopefully look to work his way back into the starting XI.
… which means a wide winger starts on the right
The main negative to starting Khusanov at right back is that he offers very little attacking threat. A centre back by trade, his crossing and decision making in the final third is much inferior to Nunes, who has played most of his career as an attacking midfielder.
That means in order to attack to their full capabilities, City have to start a player who’s comfortable hugging the touchline on the right hand side of the front three.
Savinho is the first name that springs to mind, but he has been in very poor form of late. The same applies to Oscar Bobb, who hasn’t even made the last two matchday squads for City.
Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki have been the two players to operate on that side most often recently, but both are wasted doing touchline shifts and thrive when allowed free reign to drift centrally.
Nunes is potentially an often having lined up there a few times last season, but City skipper Bernardo Silva is probably the most likely option.
The 31-year-old has been good recently and is certainly City’s best option off the right taking all things into consideration.
Xhaka vs Nico in the middle
Two of the most underrated players in the Premier League this season will clash at the Etihad on Saturday, and whichever gets the upper hand will almost certainly have a big effect on the outcome of the match.
Much is being said about the form of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo for Arsenal and Chelsea respectively, but without Granit Xhaka and Nico Gonzalez Sunderland and City wouldn’t be as high in the table as they are.
Xhaka was appointed captain almost upon arrival at the Black Cats. He has revolutionised their midfield and ensured that Sunderland have outperformed even the most optimistic expectations of them heading into the season.
Nico, meanwhile, has had to step up to the plate with Mateo Kovacic out until Easter with another achilles injury and Rodri unable to stay fit after recovering from an ACL injury last season.
Both are pivotal to their sides performing well and it will be a good battle between the two of them in the middle of the park.
Haaland and Foden leading City to victory
Right now, City’s strategy seems to be trying their best to outscore their opponents.
Sunderland have had some remarkable victories this season but also shown vulnerability when teams like City go at them.
In Foden and Erling Haaland, City have two of the most in form players in the Premier League right now, and I expect them to shine again.
The away side will likely score and make it nervous, but I expect the attacking quality of the City supporting duo to carry Pep Guardiola’s side over the line.
