Sunderland need to be at 150% to beat top teams, says Le Fee

Enzo Le Fee urged Sunderland to be at 150% when they face Manchester City in the Premier League, having dropped points against Liverpool in midweek.

Sunderland are currently sixth in the table and came close to earning a narrow win over the reigning champions on Wednesday, only to concede an 81st-minute Nordi Mukiele own goal.

The Black Cats have lost just one of their last seven league matches, though that loss did come away from home against Fulham.

A shock win could lift them back into the top four, depending on other results this weekend, and Le Fee wants them to keep their standards high on Saturday.

"When you play against strong teams, you don't have to give 100%," Le Fee said. "You have to be at 150%, and I think everyone in the dressing room understands this.

"That's why we have got some good results away against strong teams. We are ready to fight until the end. I think we built a family, and that's why we win some points at the end of games.

"If we want to stay in this league, we have to [give 100%]. I think we work really well to prepare for every game. But everyone understands that we have to work and improve again and not be passive. We improve every day."

City, meanwhile, are second, five points behind leaders Arsenal heading into the weekend, though that gap could open up to eight by kick-off.

Pep Guardiola's side have won two thrillers in their last two matches, staving off comebacks from Leeds United and Fulham, respectively, beating the latter 5-4 on Tuesday.

Erling Haaland scored his 100th Premier League goal in that game, overtaking Alan Shearer as the fastest to reach the landmark, and Bernardo Silva believes the sky is the limit for the striker.

"From my experience, Erling is still so young and can be the best player that ever played in the Premier League if he keeps doing what he's been doing," Silva said.

"I am really happy for him. Since the moment he arrived at this club, he has been a fundamental piece to everything that we achieved.

"It's just so good to have him with us. He is still so young, so he can achieve everything that he wants if he keeps that hunger he has inside him, and hopefully he does."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Manchester City – Phil Foden

Phil Foden has scored four goals in his last two Premier League games, having netted just once in his previous 20 appearances.

The only Man City player to score at least two goals in three consecutive such games is Erling Haaland (September 2024), while the last English player to do so in the competition (all clubs) was Tammy Abraham (September 2019).

Sunderland – Brian Brobbey

All three of Brian Brobbey's Premier League goals (two) and assists (one) this season have either put Sunderland in the lead (two) or drawn them level (one), coming off the bench in all three of those matches.

He scored the winner against Bournemouth on November 29, but against Liverpool last time out, he failed to have a single shot and only managed one touch in the opposition box.

MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN

Man City have won their last six Premier League games against Sunderland, with this the first meeting since a 2-0 away win in March 2017.

And, City have never lost a Premier League game at the Etihad against Sunderland in 11 meetings (W9 D2) – only Newcastle United (20) and West Brom (12) have played more games there without winning than the Black Cats.

Guardiola's side have won 24 of their last 26 top-flight games against promoted sides (D2), with their last such defeat coming at home to Leeds United in April 2021.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have never won away in 13 attempts against City in the Premier League (D2 L11). Their last away top-flight win there was in December 1981 at Maine Road.

They will come into this match confident, however, as no team have won more points from losing positions in the Premier League than Sunderland this season (12, level with Aston Villa). 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Manchester City – 73.6%

Draw – 15.4%

Sunderland – 11.1%