On Thursday, Manchester City look to cut the gap on Arsenal at the top of the table with a tricky trip to face a Sunderland side unbeaten at home (kick-off 20:00 GMT). Arsenal's stunning win over Aston Villa put the pressure back on Manchester City to start 2026 with a bang and keep pace in the title race. City have won their first league game in a remarkable 18 of the past 19 years, including the past 13 in a row.
On Thursday, Manchester City look to cut the gap on Arsenal at the top of the table with a tricky trip to face a Sunderland side unbeaten at home (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Arsenal's stunning win over Aston Villa put the pressure back on Manchester City to start 2026 with a bang and keep pace in the title race. Good job, then, that they do not traditionally suffer from a hangover in the new year.
City have won their first league game in a remarkable 18 of the past 19 years, including the past 13 in a row. Interestingly, though, the last time they did not take three points was a 1-0 loss to Sunderland on New Year's Day in 2012.
There have been no January diets for City on the goalscoring front either as they have feasted over recent years. They have scored in an astonishing 32 consecutive league games in the month of January dating back to 2017.
It is the longest such run in top-flight history, while across the whole of the Football League only Crewe Alexandra between 1960 and 1972 have had a longer streak with 36.
December was pretty good as well for Pep Guardiola's men as they made it eight wins from eight in all competitions. After such a poor 2024-25 and a shaky start to this season, their mojo has come flooding back and they have won 13 of their past 15 games in all competitions.
They even managed a victory in their last game against Nottingham Forest without Erling Haaland finding the back of the net. This will be his first match at the Stadium of Light - he has scored at 22 of the other 23 Premier League venues he has played at apart from Anfield.
While he was having a quiet day at the City Ground, Rayan Cherki once again showed how he is emerging as one of the signings of the season with a goal and an assist in an all-action display.
If City are to win a seventh title in nine seasons, emerging unscathed from an extremely tricky trip to the Stadium of Light will be crucial.
Sunderland went through the first half of their home league games unbeaten for only the third time in the Premier League and they are one of only two sides, along with Arsenal, yet to lose at home. They have managed to score in all nine of those games as well.
They have already bloodied Arsenal's nose with a memorable 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light, so can they now put a dent in Manchester City's title hopes?
While Regis le Bris' team have only won two of their past nine games, a return of 28 points from 18 matches, with an all-important derby win over Newcastle thrown in, is the stuff dreams are made of.
One thing Le Bris will want more of from his side is goals, having only netted three in their past five. Six of their past seven top-flight goals at the Stadium of Light have come from set-plays, including penalties.
There is expected to be a milestone for Granit Xhaka. If selected, he will set a new outright record for the most Premier League appearances by a Swiss player of 244.
Category: General Sports
