Man City v Sunderland: Key stats and talking points

Manchester City will look to maintain their 100% league record under Enzo Maresca when they welcome Sunderland to Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Maresca's tenure got off to a wobbly start with the Community Shield defeat by Arsenal , but his troops have rallied to ensure they are level on points with the table-topping Gunners at this early stage, trailing only on goal difference. In fact, the Italian is aiming to become just the sixth manager to win his first five Premier League games in charge of a club. [BBC] The Blues, last season's runners-up, are on a mightily impressive run of league form, having lost just two of their past 30 matches, winning 20 and drawing eight. Their record at home to the Black Cats is also enviable. City are unbeaten in all 14 of their Premier League home games against Sunday's opposition, winning 12 of those encounters. Sunderland's last league win in this fixture came at Maine Road in the second tier in January 1998. Sterling Erling Erling Haaland, Golden Boot winner in three of his four campaigns in England, is already the pace-setter for this season's prize with four goals. Sunderland, however, are the only top-flight team he has faced without scoring. The Norwegian has scored in eight of his past nine league appearances, netting nine goals. In two games against the Black Cats, he had had three shots with an xG of 0.75 without finding the net. Don't bet against him breaking his duck on Sunday. Stadium of delight Juggling Sunderland's European commitments with their domestic schedule was always going to be one of the biggest tasks facing Regis le Bris this season. Having got their Europa League campaign off to a winning start against AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday – the club's first game in continental competition since 1973 – the Black Cats must focus on climbing the Premier League table after an unconvincing start. Four points from four games has them sitting 14th, and history suggests this won't be the fixture to propel them up the table. The Black Cats haven't won any of their past 17 top-flight games against teams starting the day in the top two, losing 13 and drawing four. Couple that with the fact they are winless in nine league games against Manchester City – since a 1-0 home victory under Gus Poyet in November 2013 – and it looks like a tall order for Le Bris' side to head back to Wearside with all three points. [BBC] Something for Sunderland to cling to, however, is the fact they have scored in each of their past eight league away games, their best run of scoring on the road in this competition since another run of eight in 2015-16. The atmosphere at the Stadium of Light against AZ was electric and Le Bris is keen for that feelgood factor to continue. It is a demanding schedule for his squad, though they will have an extra day's rest over City, who battered Norwich 5-0 in the Carabao Cup on Thursday. "It is a tough week but it is exactly what we want to do," the Frenchman said.