Manchester City vs Sunderland prediction & probabilities (2026-09-20)

Manchester City vs Sunderland: model prediction

Premier League
Manchester City

LWWWW

Sun, 20 Sep 202614:00UK16°C · Cloudy
Sunderland

WLWDL

Model’s top convictions

88%

Manchester City or draw

76%

Over 1.5 goals

60%

Over 8.5 corners

Our priceNo bookmaker price published for this match yet.

Model pick

Manchester City66.5%

Win probability · fair 1.50

Top signals

Manchester City or drawVery likely88.1%Fair 1.14
Over 1.5 goalsVery likely76.0%Fair 1.32
Over 8.5 cornersClose call59.5%Fair 1.68

Model read

"66% on Manchester City is a measurement, not a promise." The numbers leave little room for romance here: Manchester City at 66% against Sunderland, Premier League, 20 September 2026. Totals sit close to the fence: 51% for Over 2.5 with both teams to score at 48%. On the availability front, Manchester City have Alleyne ruled out, Foden suspended, Doku ruled out, Rodrigo ruled out. The run in: Manchester City arrive W4 D1 L1, Sunderland W3 D1 L2. Erling Haaland drives the home shot volume, 1.7 on target per 90. Head to head, the last 5 meetings gave 4 wins for Manchester City, 1 draws and 0 for Sunderland, averaging 1.8 goals a game. The engine passes on this one (no bookmaker price published for this match yet).

Value & higher-risk angles

High risk

Over 10.5 corners39.7%@ 2.52
Draw or Sunderland33.5%@ 2.98
Over 11.5 corners31.0%@ 3.23
Medium risk

Not both teams to score52.2%@ 1.92
Over 2.5 goals51.2%@ 1.95
Over 9.5 corners49.3%@ 2.03
Random finds

1-0 correct score12.1%@ 8.29
2-0 correct score12.0%@ 8.33
1-1 correct score10.7%@ 9.37

Lower-probability calls our model rates above the obvious price; random finds are high-return scorelines that can happen. Higher risk, not a tip; we never beat the sharp market.

Model vs market

Man City

66.5%

Draw

21.6%

Sunderland

11.9%

Model

no bookmaker price published for this match yet

Goals

Over 1.5Strongest read · Very likely76.0%Fair 1.32
Over 2.5Close call51.2%Fair 1.95
BTTS · YesClose call47.8%Fair 2.09

Corners

Over 8.5 cornersClose call59.5%Fair 1.68
Over 9.5 cornersClose call49.3%Fair 2.03
Over 10.5 cornersUnlikely39.7%Fair 2.52
Over 11.5 cornersUnlikely31.0%Fair 3.23
Most cornersManchester City59.1%Sunderland30.9%

Shots

Over 22.5 shotsLikely61.7%Fair 1.62
Over 24.5 shotsClose call50.0%Fair 2.00
Over 26.5 shotsUnlikely38.6%Fair 2.59
Over 28.5 shotsLong shot28.2%Fair 3.54

Recent shot volume

Manchester City13.7 taken10.7 faced
Sunderland12.7 taken10.7 faced

Shots taken and faced per game over each side’s last 6 matches, from real match data.

First half / second half shots

Manchester City (4 games)

6.8 / 6.5

Sunderland (4 games)

5.2 / 7.0

Shots taken before and after half-time, per game, over the games in brackets. The bar is the share taken in the first half. This is Understat shot data with the half-time split verified against the half-time score, counted separately from the match shot totals above, so the two can differ. A match where the split could not be verified is left out rather than guessed.

Totals line guide

0.5·1.576.0%2.551.2%3.5·4.5·
Recommended focusOver 1.576.0%

Discipline: Our price. No bookmaker price published for this match yet.

Form & head-to-head

Manchester CityLWWWW
SunderlandWLWDL

Last 5 meetings: Manchester City 4 · 1 draws · Sunderland 0 · 1.8 goals/game.

2026-01-01Sunderland 0-0 Manchester City
2025-12-06Manchester City 3-0 Sunderland
2017-03-05Sunderland 0-2 Manchester City
2016-08-13Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland
2016-02-02Sunderland 0-1 Manchester City

Season stats

Season 2026/27, real results only

Manchester CitySunderland
League position#2 of 20#14 of 20
Record W-D-L4-0-01-1-2
Current streakW4L1
Record, home vs away2-0-00-1-1
Red cards this season11

League averages this season: 2.85 goals per match · Over 2.5 in 53% · BTTS in 53%. Full league tables & stats →

Players to watch

Top 3 per side by recent form, this season’s squad only, a watch list, not a confirmed lineup

Erling HaalandManchester City · key player
To score48.6%2.06
1+ on target81.1%1.23
2+ shots86.2%1.16
Shots/90 3.61SoT/90 1.73Goals/90 0.69
Wilson IsidorSunderland · key player
To score17.5%5.71
1+ on target39.3%2.54
2+ shots38.5%2.60
Shots/90 3.53SoT/90 1.32Goals/90 0.51
Antoine SemenyoManchester City · in form
To score29.4%3.40
1+ on target65.5%1.53
2+ shots73.6%1.36
Shots/90 2.71SoT/90 1.1Goals/90 0.36
Malick FofanaSunderland · in form
To score18.0%5.56
1+ on target44.5%2.25
2+ shots36.2%2.76
Shots/90 2.05SoT/90 0.95Goals/90 0.32
Mathis CherkiManchester City · in form
To score18.9%5.29
1+ on target40.5%2.47
2+ shots47.4%2.11
Shots/90 2.37SoT/90 0.77Goals/90 0.31
Brian BrobbeySunderland · in form
To score18.2%5.49
1+ on target38.6%2.59
2+ shots33.6%2.98
Shots/90 1.67SoT/90 0.68Goals/90 0.28

Model fair odds

Our calibrated probability as a decimal price (1 divided by probability). A fair model price, not a bookmaker quote.

Match result

Manchester City win1.60
Draw4.45
Sunderland win6.74
Both teams to score2.09

Goals

Over 0.5 goals1.08
Over 1.5 goals1.32
Over 2.5 goals1.95
Over 3.5 goals3.44
Manchester City most1.60
Sunderland most6.74

Corners

Over 7.5 corners1.35
Over 8.5 corners1.59
Over 9.5 corners1.96
Over 10.5 corners2.52
Manchester City most1.69
Sunderland most3.22

Cards

Over 2.5 cards1.33
Over 3.5 cards1.81
Over 4.5 cards2.81
Over 5.5 cards4.92
Manchester City most3.79
Sunderland most1.86

Shots on target

Over 6.5 SoT1.39
Over 7.5 SoT1.66
Over 8.5 SoT2.07
Over 9.5 SoT2.69
Manchester City most1.66
Sunderland most3.54

Shots

Over 22.5 shots1.62
Over 24.5 shots2.00
Over 26.5 shots2.59
Over 28.5 shots3.54
Manchester City most1.48
Sunderland most3.65

Fouls

Over 20.5 fouls1.66
Over 22.5 fouls2.27
Over 24.5 fouls3.42

Team news

Most likely availability, voted across independent sources. A model input, not a confirmed lineup.

  • AlleyneManchester CityOut0% to play
  • FodenManchester CitySuspended0% to play
  • DokuManchester CityOut0% to play
  • RodrigoManchester CityOut0% to play
  • ReijndersManchester CityOut0% to play
  • EcheverriManchester CityOut0% to play
  • PhillipsManchester CityOut0% to play
  • MukasaManchester CityOut0% to play
  • MongaManchester CityOut0% to play
  • PattersonSunderlandOut0% to play
  • ReinildoSunderlandSuspended0% to play
  • SeeltSunderlandOut0% to play
  • HjeldeSunderlandOut0% to play
  • MasuakuSunderlandOut0% to play

What the absences carry

  • Phil FodenManchester City9.0%27.2 xG+xA in 4,034 min
  • Habib DiarraSunderland11.3%13.0 xG+xA in 3,493 min
  • ReinildoSunderland0.6%0.7 xG+xA in 3,056 min
  • Romaine MundleSunderlandnot enough minutes to weigh1.0 xG+xA in 371 min

Share of the squad’s total expected goal involvement (xG + xA) this season. It is a measure of what the team is missing, not a prediction of the result: we do not publish a re-run win probability, because estimating who replaces him is a model change that has to be validated first.

All model outcomes · full market spectrum & player markets

Shots

Over 22.5 61.7% Over 24.5 50.0% Over 26.5 38.6% Over 28.5 28.2%
Most: Manchester City 67.4% Most: Sunderland 27.4%
Manchester City Over 13.2 52.9% Sunderland Over 13.2 24.3%

Shots on target

Over 6.5 72.0% Over 7.5 60.4% Over 8.5 48.4% Over 9.5 37.1%
Most: Manchester City 60.4% Most: Sunderland 28.2%
Manchester City Over 4.2 53.8% Sunderland Over 4.2 30.3%

Cards

Over 2.5 75.1% Over 3.5 55.2% Over 4.5 35.6%
Most: Manchester City 26.4% Most: Sunderland 53.8%
Manchester City Over 1.8 47.7% Sunderland Over 1.8 67.4%

Manchester City: players to watch (recent-form projection)

O/U = Poisson on per-90 rates scaled to the player’s expected minutes · this season’s squad, a recent-form projection, not a confirmed lineup.

Player Shots/90 SoT/90 Goals/90 1+ SoT 2+ shots To score
Erling Haaland 3.61 1.73 0.69 81.1% 86.2% 48.6%
Antoine Semenyo 2.71 1.1 0.36 65.5% 73.6% 29.4%
Mathis Cherki 2.37 0.77 0.31 40.5% 47.4% 18.9%
Enzo Fernández 1.89 0.76 0.24 50.5% 52.2% 19.9%
Iliman Ndiaye 1.36 0.67 0.25 45.9% 35.5% 20.5%

Sunderland: players to watch (recent-form projection)

O/U = Poisson on per-90 rates scaled to the player’s expected minutes · this season’s squad, a recent-form projection, not a confirmed lineup.

Player Shots/90 SoT/90 Goals/90 1+ SoT 2+ shots To score
Wilson Isidor 3.53 1.32 0.51 39.3% 38.5% 17.5%
Malick Fofana 2.05 0.95 0.32 44.5% 36.2% 18.0%
Brian Brobbey 1.67 0.68 0.28 38.6% 33.6% 18.2%
Nilson Angulo 1.18 0.53 0.13 28.5% 17.3% 7.9%
Chemsdine Talbi 1.42 0.51 0.23 26.6% 21.4% 13.0%

Clean sheet & win to nil

Manchester City clean sheet 43.9%
Sunderland clean sheet 14.8%
Manchester City win to nil 36.7%
Sunderland win to nil 7.7%

Derived from the model score matrix above: a clean sheet is every scoreline where the opponent is on zero. Calibration-graded, not a tip.

Full market spectrum · model probabilities

Calibration-graded model %, no odds attached. Niche markets are transparency/coverage, not a claimed edge. Colour = measured out-of-sample calibration.

Match result & goals calibrated
1×2
home 62.7% draw 22.5% away 14.8%
double_chance
1X 85.2% 12 77.5% X2 37.3%
dnb
home 80.9% away 19.1%
btts
yes 47.8% no 52.2%
clean_sheet
home 44.5% away 14.8%
win_to_nil
home 37.4% away 7.7%
winning_margin
home_by_1 24.6% home_by_2 19.5% home_by_3plus 18.6%
away_by_1 10.2% away_by_2 3.6% away_by_3plus 1.1%
correct_score
0-0 7.1% 0-1 4.8% 0-2 2.2%
0-3 0.6% 0-4 0.1% 0-5 0.0%
1-0 12.1% 1-1 10.7% 1-2 4.1%
1-3 1.1% 1-4 0.2% 1-5 0.0%
2-0 12.0% 2-1 9.7% 2-2 4.0%
2-3 1.1% 2-4 0.2% 2-5 0.0%
3-0 7.6% 3-1 6.2% 3-2 2.5%
3-3 0.7% 3-4 0.1% 3-5 0.0%
4-0 3.7% 4-1 2.9% 4-2 1.2%
4-3 0.3% 4-4 0.1% 4-5 0.0%
5-0 1.4% 5-1 1.1% 5-2 0.5%
5-3 0.1% 5-4 0.0% 5-5 0.0%
other 1.4%
likeliest_score
h 100.0% a 0.0% p 12.1%
Goals: totals / handicap / exact calibrated
total
over_0.5 92.9% under_0.5 7.1% over_1.5 76.0%
under_1.5 24.0% over_2.5 51.2% under_2.5 48.8%
over_3.5 29.1% under_3.5 70.9% over_4.5 14.1%
under_4.5 85.9% over_5.5 5.9% under_5.5 94.1%
odd_even
odd 48.8% even 51.2%
team_home
over_0.5 85.2% under_0.5 14.8% over_1.5 56.9%
under_1.5 43.1% over_2.5 29.9% under_2.5 70.1%
team_away
over_0.5 55.6% under_0.5 44.5% over_1.5 19.6%
under_1.5 80.4% over_2.5 5.0% under_2.5 95.0%
most
home 62.7% draw 22.5% away 14.8%
handicap
home_-2.5 18.6% away_+2.5 81.5% home_-1.5 38.1%
away_+1.5 62.0% home_-0.5 62.7% away_+0.5 37.3%
home_+0.5 85.2% away_-0.5 14.8% home_+1.5 95.4%
away_-1.5 4.6% home_+2.5 98.9% away_-2.5 1.1%
total_exact
exact_0 7.1% exact_1 16.9% exact_2 24.8%
exact_3 22.1% exact_4 15.0% exact_5 8.2%
exact_6 3.7% exact_7plus 2.2%
First half range, not a point
1×2
home 54.9% draw 37.5% away 7.6%
total
over_0.5 68.8% under_0.5 31.2% over_1.5 32.5%
under_1.5 67.6% over_2.5 11.3% under_2.5 88.7%
btts
yes 11.2% no 88.8%
total_exact
exact_0 31.2% exact_1 36.3% exact_2 21.2%
exact_3 8.2% exact_4plus 3.1%
Second half range, not a point
1×2
home 44.9% draw 34.9% away 20.3%
total
over_0.5 78.6% under_0.5 21.4% over_1.5 45.6%
under_1.5 54.4% over_2.5 20.2% under_2.5 79.8%
btts
yes 26.7% no 73.3%
Half-time / full-time range, not a point
H/H 47.4% H/D 5.8% H/A 1.7%
D/H 16.8% D/D 13.1% D/A 7.6%
A/H 1.2% A/D 2.0% A/A 4.4%
Corners range, not a point
total
over_7.5 73.9% under_7.5 26.1% over_8.5 62.8%
under_8.5 37.2% over_9.5 51.0% under_9.5 49.0%
over_10.5 39.7% under_10.5 60.3% over_11.5 29.5%
under_11.5 70.5% over_12.5 21.0% under_12.5 79.0%
odd_even
odd 50.0% even 50.0%
team_home
over_3.5 76.0% under_3.5 24.0% over_4.5 62.1%
under_4.5 37.9% over_5.5 47.8% under_5.5 52.2%
team_away
over_3.5 56.8% under_3.5 43.2% over_4.5 40.2%
under_4.5 59.8% over_5.5 26.4% under_5.5 73.6%
most
home 59.3% draw 9.7% away 31.0%
handicap
home_-3.5 29.7% away_+3.5 70.4% home_-1.5 49.1%
away_+1.5 50.9% home_-0.5 59.3% away_+0.5 40.7%
home_+0.5 69.0% away_-0.5 31.0% home_+1.5 77.5%
away_-1.5 22.5% home_+3.5 89.8% away_-3.5 10.2%
Shots range, not a point
total
over_22.5 61.7% under_22.5 38.3% over_24.5 50.0%
under_24.5 50.0% over_26.5 38.6% under_26.5 61.4%
over_28.5 28.2% under_28.5 71.8%
odd_even
odd 50.0% even 50.0%
team_home
over_10.5 74.9% under_10.5 25.1% over_12.5 60.4%
under_12.5 39.6% over_14.5 45.4% under_14.5 54.6%
team_away
over_10.5 47.5% under_10.5 52.5% over_12.5 31.1%
under_12.5 69.0% over_14.5 18.6% under_14.5 81.4%
most
home 67.5% draw 5.2% away 27.4%
handicap
home_-4.5 44.2% away_+4.5 55.8% home_-2.5 56.1%
away_+2.5 43.9% home_-0.5 67.5% away_+0.5 32.6%
home_+0.5 72.6% away_-0.5 27.4% home_+2.5 81.6%
away_-2.5 18.4% home_+4.5 88.5% away_-4.5 11.5%
Shots on target range, not a point
total
over_6.5 72.0% under_6.5 28.0% over_7.5 60.4%
under_7.5 39.6% over_8.5 48.4% under_8.5 51.6%
over_9.5 37.1% under_9.5 62.9%
odd_even
odd 50.0% even 50.0%
team_home
over_3.5 69.5% under_3.5 30.5% over_4.5 53.8%
under_4.5 46.2% over_5.5 38.8% under_5.5 61.2%
team_away
over_3.5 47.1% under_3.5 52.9% over_4.5 30.3%
under_4.5 69.7% over_5.5 17.8% under_5.5 82.2%
most
home 60.4% draw 11.4% away 28.2%
handicap
home_-2.5 36.3% away_+2.5 63.7% home_-0.5 60.4%
away_+0.5 39.6% home_+0.5 71.8% away_-0.5 28.2%
home_+2.5 88.4% away_-2.5 11.6%
Cards calibrated
total
over_2.5 75.1% under_2.5 24.9% over_3.5 55.2%
under_3.5 44.8% over_4.5 35.7% under_4.5 64.4%
over_5.5 20.3% under_5.5 79.7%
odd_even
odd 50.0% even 50.0%
team_home
over_1.5 47.7% under_1.5 52.3% over_2.5 21.8%
under_2.5 78.2%
team_away
over_1.5 67.4% under_1.5 32.6% over_2.5 40.9%
under_2.5 59.1%
most
home 26.4% draw 19.8% away 53.8%
handicap
home_-1.5 12.3% away_+1.5 87.7% home_-0.5 26.4%
away_+0.5 73.6% home_+0.5 46.2% away_-0.5 53.8%
home_+1.5 66.6% away_-1.5 33.4%
Fouls calibrated
total
over_20.5 60.4% under_20.5 39.6% over_22.5 44.1%
under_22.5 55.9% over_24.5 29.2% under_24.5 70.8%
odd_even
odd 50.0% even 50.0%
team_home
over_9.5 58.5% under_9.5 41.5% over_11.5 35.3%
under_11.5 64.7% over_13.5 17.6% under_13.5 82.4%
team_away
over_9.5 70.6% under_9.5 29.4% over_11.5 48.4%
under_11.5 51.6% over_13.5 28.0% under_13.5 72.0%
most
home 36.8% draw 8.0% away 55.2%
handicap
home_-3.5 16.9% away_+3.5 83.1% home_-0.5 36.8%
away_+0.5 63.2% home_+2.5 61.1% away_-2.5 39.0%
Red card range, not a point
any
yes 10.1% no 89.9%
home
yes 2.5% no 97.6%
away
yes 7.8% no 92.2%

How this works (honestly)

We are transparent about our method, our limits and how we measure performance.

What we use

Results, odds & closing prices, xG, shots, lineups, referee and schedule load.

Our method

Dixon-Coles + an xG strength model + champion/challenger selection + probability calibration + a trust gate.

What we don’t do

We do not beat the sharp market. The value is honest probabilities, No-bet calls and CLV.

Performance snapshot

Top-pick hit rate 47.7% (reliability, not edge). Calibration error 0.0096 (55405 matches).

More: Manchester City predictions · Sunderland predictions · Premier League

Not financial advice. No model beats the sharp closing market on public data. The value here is honest probabilities, No-bet calls, and CLV history.

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