Manchester City begin their Premier League campaign against Sunderland on Saturday, 13 August at the Etihad Stadium.

Where to watch live

Kickoff is set for 5.30pm BST. Live coverage of the game will be on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 1 HD. Highlights of the game will be available on BBC Match of the Day at 10.30pm on BBC One.

Overview

All eyes will be on Pep Gaurdiola as he makes his Premier league debut this weekend against Sunderland, who will welcome David Moyes back in management following his disastrous spell with Manchester United. The former Bayern Munich manager has been linked with a long impending move to England and has replaced Manuel Pellegrini at the helm. City will be hoping that the Spaniard can weave his magic at the Etihad and lead them to what will be their third Premier League title in the last eight years since the Qatari takeover.

City have had an industrious pre-season, playing Bayern, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal in the run in. However, they are yet to win a single game in normal time thus far, with their only win coming in penalties against Dortmund. City lost 1-0 to Bayern and 3-2 to Arsenal, with Chuba Akpom, Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi scoring the goals for the north London club.

John Stones is expected to start in defence, having completed a world record move to the Etihad earlier this week. Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito, Leroy Sane have also made their way to City but have a few injury worries to dispel before making the field.

Meanwhile, Sunderland will be looking to consolidate after a nail biting finish to last season where they scraped out of the relegation zone owing to some solid management by Sam Allardyce towards the end of the season. The Black Cats will be hoping that Moyes will have the same influence he had during his time at Everton, especially after some brilliant work by Allardyce, which earned him the position as the manager of the England national team.

They have already completed the transfers of Papy Djilobodji, Paddy McNair and Donald Love on a permanent deal and are set to make a few more additions to the squad before the end of the summer. Adnan Januzaj has also made his way to the Stadium of Light from Manchester United on a season long loan.

What managers say

Pep Guardiola: "I like the fans to expect as much as possible. They have to do that. Of course we are here to win titles, but there are six, seven, eight big Premier League teams. To create something we need time, to create something with ideas we need time. But to play with soul, with soul and something inside we don't need time. Tomorrow, we don't know if everyone is going to play good or if we will get the result, but I will not accept not playing with soul. We can do that from the first day and that is exactly what I am looking for from my team and my players."

David Moyes: "[On Januzaj] It's a big boost because he has real quality. He can turn games and I'm determined to get him back to the level he was a couple of years ago. I've told him he needs to stop blaming everyone else, he needs to mature into a team player. If he shows he's playing for the team, everyone will take to him because he's such a talent. He reminds me a little of Chris Waddle in the sense he has movement, can beat people from a standing start and can play on either wing."

Betting Odds (betfair)

  • Manchester City win: 2/9
  • Draw: 5/1
  • Sunderland win: 11/1

Team News

Manchester City

Possible XI: Hart; Sagna, Stones, Fernando, Clichy; Fernandinho, Delph; Sterling, Silva, Nolito; Aguero

Sunderland

Possible XI: Mannone, Kaboul, Djilobodji, Kone, Van Aanholt, McNair, Rodwell, Borini Januzaj, Khazri, Defoe

Manchester City FC Premier League David moyes