However much Pep Guardiola tries to downplay it, all eyes watch the impact he will make. For now, with Vincent Kompany injured, he welcomes David Moyes’s side with a defence featuring new signing John Stones plunged straight in, so a win by any manner will do. Yet given the club’s riches and the 45-year-old’s pedigree there is no excuse for Guardiola not to have City as serious contenders. The missions starts here. Jamie Jackson
Kick-off Saturday 5.30pm
Venue Etihad Stadium
Last season Manchester City 4 Sunderland 1
Live BT Sport 1
Referee Robert Madley
Last season G26, Y70, R5, 3.08 cards per game
Odds H 1-4 A 12-1 D 5-1
Manchester City
Subs from Caballero, Mangala, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Delph, Fernando, Navas, Nasri, Nolito, Bony, Iheanacho, Zinchenko, Denayer, Adarabioyo
Doubtful Mangala (match fitness), Otamendi (match fitness)
Injured Gündogan (knee, Sep), Kompany (thigh, unknown), Sané (hamstring, unknown)
Suspended None
Form n/a
Discipline (last season) Y61 R0
Top scorer (last season) Agüero 24
Sunderland
Subs from Pickford, Koné, Lens, Bridcutt, Gómez, Mavrias, Watmore, Januzaj, Greenwood, Honeyman
Doubtful Koné (unsettled)
Injured Kirchoff (hamstring, 20 Aug), Larsson (knee, Jan), Cattermole (groin, unknown), Jones (hip, unknown)
Suspended None
Form n/a
Discipline (last season) Y66 R2
Top scorer (last season) Defoe 15
