Premier League preview: Sunderland v Manchester City

With their lead over Manchester United evaporated, Manchester City travel to Sunderland on Sunday hell-bent on grabbing maximum points.

After being held to a goalless draw at West Brom, City manager Roberto Mancini will be pushing his strikers at shooting practice after Mario Balotelli hit the bar from long range and had a goal disallowed for offside.

The burly Italian has been stuck on eight league goals since scoring in City’s 2-1 loss against Chelsea – their only defeat in their past five games.

City demolished Norwich City 5-1 and scored wins over Arsenal 1-0 and Stoke City 3-0 before choking at the Hawthorns.

Right-back Micah Richards sat out against West Brom with a calf injury and is likely to do the same against Sunderland with Pablo Zabaleta continuing to cover.

David Silva has been phenomenal for City this season, racking up five goals and eight assists so far.

Mancini will need his guile and speed to keep City in the title hunt and he will also be expecting Sergio Aguero to add to his 13 league goals so far.

After scoring first, Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Everton on Boxing Day.

With just three points separating 14th-placed Sunderland from 10th-placed Everton, a point earned against City will go a long way towards relegation safety.

“The game against Manchester City is important for us; I’m not concerned with what’s happening with them at the top of the table,” O’Neill told Sunderland’s website.

“We managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over (against Everton) and we’ll look to do the same against them.”

“Manchester City will be exceptionally difficult but we’ll see how we go.”