This preview has been updated on 26 September 2026, ahead of Sunday’s Premier League fixture at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City vs Sunderland kicks off with Enzo Maresca one victory away from a rare piece of managerial history, and City still chasing a perfect start to his reign.
Maresca targets historical fifth win against Sunderland
Maresca can become only the sixth manager in Premier League history to win his first five games in charge of a club. City have taken maximum points from their four league games so far under the Italian, a run that includes a 1-0 win at Manchester United.
A fifth straight victory would put Maresca alongside a small group of managers who began their Premier League tenures unbeaten. Full context on the fixture, including the head-to-head record against Sunderland, is available for supporters wanting the wider picture.
Premier League managerial history awaits Maresca
Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, Craig Shakespeare and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all won their opening six Premier League games in charge of a club. Maurizio Sarri won his first five. Maresca would join that company by beating Sunderland on Sunday, becoming the sixth manager to reach that landmark.
Maresca has been careful not to talk up the milestone. Instead he has focused on the size of the task, telling reporters, “I have the feeling that the Sunderland game will be the toughest game since we started the season,” in comments covered in our original report on Maresca’s record attempt.
Ten changes made in Norwich cup victory
City made ten changes for Wednesday’s 5-0 Carabao Cup win at Norwich, resting several players who had completed back-to-back 90 minutes against Porto and Manchester United. The rotation kept the win comfortable while protecting key men ahead of the weekend.
Maresca explained the thinking behind the selection. “We gave rest to the ones that played back-to-back 90 minutes against Porto and United,” he said. “It was important for them to give them rest and hopefully they can be full of energy for Sunday’s game that will be a strong game.” Details of that Norwich selection are set out in the line-up against Norwich.
Jeremy Doku fitness update ahead of Sunderland
City are waiting to see whether Jeremy Doku will be available to face Sunderland after a spell on the sidelines. Nothing has been confirmed either way, and Maresca’s camp has not stated whether the winger will be fit to start, feature from the bench, or miss out entirely.
Supporters should treat his involvement as genuinely uncertain until the club confirms the matchday squad. Further reading on the numbers behind the fixture is available in our key stats ahead of kick-off.
What happens next for City
Sunday’s match at the Etihad Stadium will decide whether Maresca joins the list of managers to win their first five Premier League games. A win also keeps City’s early-season momentum intact before a busy run of fixtures. The full 2026/27 fixture list shows what follows the Sunderland game.
