Liam Duckstein
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Manchester City host Sunderland in the English Premier League on Sunday 20 September 2026, and these predicted lineups lean heavily on how each side has actually set up in recent weeks rather than any official confirmation. The two squads arrive with contrasting rhythms: one side has been chopping and changing, the other has barely touched its starting shape. That contrast in settledness is the main story of this preview, well before either manager names a team.
Predicted Manchester City Line-up
Manchester City’s projection sits in a 4-2-3-1, which lines up with Enzo Maresca’s own preferred formation. The bigger takeaway is just how much the side has shifted from game to game: this is a rotating side, and only 3 of the projected XI started their last match. Rayan Cherki stands out inside that flux, having started all three of the most recent matches used here, while Ayyoub Bouaddi’s case is more of a rotation story – just two starts in the sample, yet he was in the side last time out. Erling Haaland remains the focal point up front regardless of the changes elsewhere.
Manchester City predicted XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Marc Guehi, Rúben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov; Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, Enzo Fernández, Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi; Erling Haaland
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Gianluigi Donnarumma | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 6 | Marc Guehi | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 3 | Rúben Dias | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 24 | Josko Gvardiol | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 45 | Abdukodir Khusanov | 4/6 | 1/3 |
| M | 10 | Rayan Cherki | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 42 | Antoine Semenyo | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 17 | Enzo Fernández | 3/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 5 | Elliot Anderson | 4/6 | 1/3 |
| M | 32 | Ayyoub Bouaddi | 2/6 | 2/3 |
| F | 9 | Erling Haaland | 5/6 | 2/3 |
Predicted Sunderland Line-up
Sunderland’s expected XI is also built around a 4-2-3-1, matching Régis Le Bris’s stated preference. Unlike their opponents, this is a largely settled side, with 8 of the projected XI starting their last match. Omar Alderete is the one name in that XI with limited overall minutes – just two starts in the sample despite featuring last time out – while Noah Sadiki has been one of the more consistent picks, starting five of the six matches used for this projection. That stability across midfield and defence gives this predicted lineup more confidence than most.
Sunderland predicted XI: Robin Roefs; Nordi Mukiele, Kevin Danso, Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete; Noah Sadiki, Enzo Le Fée, Granit Xhaka, Trai Hume, Thomas Meunier; Brian Brobbey
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 22 | Robin Roefs | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 20 | Nordi Mukiele | 4/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 4 | Kevin Danso | 3/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 5 | Dan Ballard | 4/6 | 1/3 |
| D | 15 | Omar Alderete | 2/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 27 | Noah Sadiki | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 28 | Enzo Le Fée | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 34 | Granit Xhaka | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 32 | Trai Hume | 4/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 12 | Thomas Meunier | 4/6 | 1/3 |
| F | 9 | Brian Brobbey | 4/6 | 1/3 |
Team News: Who Is Out
Phil Foden is unavailable through suspension, a blow that thins Manchester City’s options in the number 10 role behind Haaland. Of the players on the bench, Nico O’Reilly has the most starts in the sample and looks best placed to provide cover in that part of the pitch if Maresca needs to reshuffle.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Foden | M | suspended | Red card suspension |
Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle are out injured, while Reinildo Isnard Mandava is unavailable through suspension, leaving Sunderland short in midfield, attack and at full-back all at once. Nilson Angulo, who has the highest start count among the available bench options, appears the likeliest to step into a more prominent role given those absences.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reinildo Isnard Mandava | D | suspended | Red card suspension |
| Habib Diarra | M | injured | Hamstring Injury |
| Romaine Mundle | F | injured | Jumpers knee |
How We Predict These XIs
Each predicted lineup here is built from that team’s last six matches, with more recent games weighted more heavily than older ones so current form and fitness carry more influence than a result from a month ago. Anyone confirmed injured or suspended is removed from consideration entirely before the projection is drawn up. This is not an official team news release – it is our best read of the pattern, and it can and will change once the actual team sheet is published.
Read also: Manchester City vs Sunderland Prediction: 20.09.2026 Premier League
Read also: Manchester City vs Sunderland Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form
FAQ
What formation are Manchester City and Sunderland expected to use?
Both sides are projected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, which matches the preferred shape of both Enzo Maresca and Régis Le Bris based on recent matches.
Who is predicted to start in goal for Manchester City vs Sunderland?
Gianluigi Donnarumma is the projected starter for Manchester City, while Robin Roefs is expected to start for Sunderland, based on their recent appearance patterns.
Who is unavailable for Manchester City vs Sunderland?
Phil Foden is unavailable through suspension for Manchester City. For Sunderland, Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle are out injured, and Reinildo Isnard Mandava is unavailable through suspension.
When do Manchester City and Sunderland kick off?
The match is scheduled for Sunday 20 September 2026 in the English Premier League.