SUNDERLAND, Sporting Alert – Manchester City are out to make a statement in their League Cup 3rd Rnd clash with Sunderland at Stadium of Light today.
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Manager Manuel Pellegrini has decided to name a very strong team against his fellow Premier League outfits, as he seeks to stop a two game skid in all competitions.
Among the starters today are Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Jesus Navas, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Fernando.
However, starting goalkeeper Joe Hart was left out of the match day squad for this contest, as he is rested, with Willy Caballero getting the start in place of the England first choice.
Bacary Sagna, Nicolas Otamendi, Martin Demichelis and Aleksandar Kolarov make up a very strong back four.
Captain Vincent Kompany, fellow defender Eliaquim Mangala and midfield playmaker are out injured and will not feature for Manchester City today.
Fernandinho and Patrick Roberts are among a very inexperienced substitute bench.
For Sunderland, in the meantime, Yann M’Vila, Jack Rodwell, Jeremain Lens and Fabio Borini all start.
Winger Adam Johnson is also in the starting lineup, along with American defender DeAndre Yedlin, who is on loan from Tottenham.
Wes Brown, Lee Cattermole, Sebastian Larsson, Jermain Defoe, Steven Fletcher and Jordi Gomez are all on the bench, so too is goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, with Vito Mannone getting the starting nod.
Manchester City are hoping to halt a two game slide after losing at home in the Champions League to Juventus and then to West Ham United at the weekend in the English Premier League.
Sunderland are yet to win a game in the Premier League this season and sit at the bottom of the table standings.
Sunderland Team: Mannone, Yedlin, Coates, O’Shea, Van Aanholt, M’Vila, Rodwell, Lens, Toivonen, Johnson, Borini. Subs: Pantilimon, Brown, Cattermole, Larsson, Gomez, Defoe, Fletcher.
Manchester City Team: Caballero, Sagna, Otamendi, Demichelis, Kolarov, Toure, Fernando, Jesus Navas, De Bruyne, Sterling, Aguero. Subs: Fernandinho Roberts, Wright, Maffeo, Garcia, Barker, Evans.
