Our Manchester City fans have certainly have been at their last wits with their side this season and many have resorted to regular trips to the Transfer Tavern in order to vent their frustrations.

The most recent complaints are about the consistency of the Citizens this season but our landlord believes Pep Guardiola may have finally got his side playing football in his own recognisable style.

They have yet to lose a game so far this calendar year and with Sunderland welcoming City at the weekend, that run of form will surely continue against David Moyes’ relegation strugglers.

City might be out of the Premier League race but the Champions League is still on and so our landlord would not be surprised to see Guardiola rotate his squad in a relatively straight forward fixture (on paper) for his men.

With that said, rotation always brings a risk on inconsistency but with many players still fighting for their places in Guardiola’s plans for next season – this could well be the audition that some need in order to save their City careers.

Bearing all that in mind, here is the potential City XI to face Sunderland this weekend…

GK: Willy Caballero

Caballero has been preferred to the inconsistent Claudio Bravo in recent weeks and our landlord expects the Argentine to keep his place.

RB: Pablo Zabaleta

With Bacary Sagna usually preferred for Champions League ties, Zabaleta may get a run out vs Sunderland.

CB: Nicolas Otamendi

Guardiola will look for Otamendi to lead his defence, something the Argentine failed to do in the game against Monaco where his side shipped three goals.

CB: Aleksandar Kolarov

City’s lack of options in central defence has seen Kolarov play as a make shift centre-back with some less than convincing performances. Our landlord thinks he’ll start here, though.

LB: Fernandinho

Since his return from suspension, Fernandinho has found himself as a make shift left-back and may well play there this weekend as Guardiola continues to look for his strongest back-line.

CM: Fernando

Yaya Toure’s importance to City this season may see Guardiola rest him for this one with one eye on games against Monaco and Liverpool to come, presenting a massive chance to Fernando to show his talents.

RAM: Jesus Navas

Navas may well get a go in place of Raheem Sterling who needs to be fresh for the big tests to come this month.

CAM: Kevin de Bruyne

Guardiola will feel he simply cannot rest de Bruyne who is vital to City’s attack with his creativity.

CAM: David Silva

Like de Bruyne, Silva is so important to City’s attack. His experience may well be the difference in this away trip to Sunderland.

LAM: Nolito

Whilst Leroy Sane has risen to prominence in the last month, Nolito’s City career has somewhat stalled – our landlord expects the Spaniard to get a run out here.

ST: Sergio Aguero

Playing with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove, City fans are looking for Aguero to really prove Guardiola wrong against this Sunderland defence.

Thoughts, City fans? Let us know below!