In what will be a Capital One Cup Final rehearsal, Manchester City welcome Sunderland to the Etihad Stadium in a Premier League encounter.

Preview: Citizens hoping to return to winning ways

Pellegrini's men who looked destined for Premier League glory, have encountered a major hurdle in their quest for a second league title in three seasons having failed to record a victory in their last two matches. The Citizens who have already passed the 100 goal mark for the campaign have struggled for goals lately and after losing out to Chelsea at the Etihad, the Premier League’s top scorers failed to make an impression in their last outing against Norwich with the match ending in a stalemate.

 

Pellegrini will now be hoping for his forwards to rediscover their scoring boots against a Sunderland side which has conceded just two goals in their last four matches in all competitions. The Citizens have evidently suffered in the absence of star striker Sergio Aguero who has been on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury. The Argentinean had been vital to City’s success earlier in the season having scored 15 goals in 17 appearances. However in his absence City have a plethora of attacking talent including the likes of Alvaro Negredo, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko who are capable of doing the job with aplomb.

Apart from Aguero, City have also been without the services of midfield duo Fernandinho (muscle) and Samir Nasri (knee) both of whom have been very impressive this season. Javi Garcia is another player the Citizens will have to do without after the Spanish international picked up a knock and is doubtful for the match against Sunderland.

Pellegrini meanwhile has engaged himself in a war of words with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho who is starting to make a habit of getting on the nerves of the Chilean. After becoming the only side to get the better of the Citizens at their own backyard in the league this season, Mourinho took a swipe at the former Malaga manager claiming that Pellegrini’s team was not built for the future and also hit out at Man City’s lavish spending on players over the summer.

"They (City) have a team for now, not for 10 years, but for three or four - so experience, potential, power - and not worried about Financial Fair Play because in the summer they spent," Mourinho told reporters.

Manuel Pellegrini who is generally known for not speaking too much of his opposite managers was provoked by the Portuguese’s words and claimed that Jose Mourinho and Chelsea were themselves guilty of spending too much money on players during transfer windows.

“This is the team that spends most money in the last 10 years, it is the team that spends most money this year and the team that spends the most money in the transfer window so [it is] little but rich,” said the Chilean.

Pellegrini will however be glad that talismanic midfielder Yaya Toure was able to escape punishment after the Ivory Coast international was seen kicking Norwich striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel during the clash between the two sides over the weekend.

Sunderland on the other hand after three consecutive wins in all competitions lost to Hull City in their last outing. The Black Cats who seemed relegation favourites earlier in the season have blossomed under the tutelage of Gus Poyet. Sunderland have gradually driven themselves out of the bottom three and are currently 17th one point ahead of 18th placed West Brom. To score a victory at the Etihad might be a herculean of a task for Poyet and his men but Sunderland’s recent record against City will surely give them confidence.

The Black Cats have lost just once to City in their last five league matches, the defeat for Sunderland came last season in the same fixture. However the last two matches have ended in favour of Sunderland with both the matches ending 1-0, including the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light in November.

Sunderland’s loss to Hull City brought an end to their seven match unbeaten streak. The match also saw veteran defender Wes Brown being red carded and the former Man United man will now miss Sunderland’s next two matches.

Sunderland will also be without goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, but Poyet will not be concerned by the Ireland international’s absence owing to the good form of former Arsenal goalie Vito Mannone. Scottish international Steven Fletcher will also miss the match due to an Achilles injury.

Where to watch the match – live stream, start time, TV channels, live scores

Watch Manchester City vs Sunderland live on Wednesday, February 12, 2014:

In Canada at 14:45 ET on TalkSport Radio, TSN2

In UK at 19:45 GMT on BBC Manchester

In US at 14:45 ET on TalkSport Radio, Directv, NBC Sports Live Extra, Premier League Extra Time

Fans in Australia can catch the action live on Fox Sports 2 Australia.

For complete details of match listings and live scores, visit the Manchester City vs Sunderland match page.