Premier League preview: Manchester City v Sunderland

Manchester City can return to the top of the Premier League table with a win over Sunderland on Saturday.

With league leaders Manchester United not in action until Monday, City have the opportunity to go back to the top, albeit on goal difference, and put the pressure back on their cross-town rivals.

City were as much as five points ahead of United in early December, but defeats to Swansea and Everton, coupled with a draw with Stoke last time out, have seen them fall behind in their quest to win their first league title since 1968.

That quest continues with the visit of Sunderland to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with Martin O’Neill’s side another team to have taken points off City this season.

On that occasion Ji Dong-Won scored an injury-time winner to give Sunderland the points at the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day.

The selection talk at City all centres around whether reformed striker Carlos Tevez will be given hs first start since being welcomed back into the fold.

Tevez has missed the bulk of the season after being exiled for reportedly refusing to come on as a substitute in a Champions League match.

But with the title on the line manager Roberto Mancini has turned to the mercurial Argentine for inspiration, and Tevez could line up for his first start in the Premier League since September.

Tevez’s return may come at the expense of fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero, who is still recovering from a foot injury, while a calf strain has defender Vincent Kompany in doubt.

For Sunderland, the rest of the season is about consolidation after their impressive recovery under O’Neill.

The Black Cats were looking in danger of going down towards the end of Steve Bruce’s tenure, but O’Neill’s arrival has seen them climb to eighth, just two points behind Liverpool.

While a European spot looks out of their reach, O’Neill will be asking his squad to finish the season strongly.

They were disappointing in their 2-0 loss to Everton in the FA Cup quarter-final replay on Tuesday, and were lucky not to lose by more in front of their home fans.

That effort might be the jolt they need to lift their game against City, but with so much on the line, it’s hard to see Mancini’s men slipping up.