Sunderland vs Man City Live Score Premier League

• Info
• Lineups
• Stats
• Events
• Standings

Sunderland

Lineups (4-3-2-1)

• 25 Gianluigi Donnarumma
• 27 Matheus Nunes
• 3 Rúben Dias
• 6 Nathan Aké
• 33 Nico O'Reilly
• 20 Bernardo Silva
• 14 Nico González
• 47 Phil Foden
• 10 Rayan Cherki
• 26 Savinho
• 9 Erling Haaland
coach: Pep Guardiola

Subs

• 16 Rodri
• 11 Jérémy Doku
• 24 Joško Gvardiol
• 1 James Trafford
• 45 Abdukodir Khusanov
• 82 Rico Lewis
• 4 Tijjani Reijnders
• 63 Divine Mukasa
• 92 Reigan Heskey

Manchester City

Lineups (4-2-3-1)

• 22 Robin Roefs
• 32 Trai Hume
• 20 Nordi Mukiele
• 15 Omar Alderete
• 3 Dennis Cirkin
• 6 Lutsharel Geertruida
• 34 Granit Xhaka
• 12 Eliezer Mayenda
• 28 Enzo Le Fée
• 24 Simon Adingra
• 9 Brian Brobbey
Coach: Regis Le Bris

Subs

• 18 Wilson Isidor
• 1 Anthony Patterson
• 33 Leo Fuhr Hjelde
• 13 Luke O'Nien
• 4 Dan Neil
• 11 Chris Rigg
• 50 Harrison Jones
• 57 Timur Tutierov
• 14 Romaine Mundle

Sunderland	Stats	Manchester City
4	Shots on Goal	4
4	Shots off Goal	5
10	Total Shots	14
2	Blocked Shots	5
7	Shots insidebox	12
3	Shots outsidebox	2
9	Fouls	6
3	Corner Kicks	5
0	Offsides	1
32%	Ball Possession	68%
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
4	Goalkeeper Saves	4
300	Total passes	632
216	Passes accurate	544
72%	Passes %	86%
0.80	expected_goals	2.18
0	goals_prevented	0

Premier League

#	Team	P	W	D	L	Pts
1	Arsenal	23	15	5	3	50
2	Manchester City	23	14	4	5	46
3	Aston Villa	23	14	4	5	46
4	Chelsea	23	10	7	6	37
5	Manchester United	22	10	7	5	37
6	Liverpool	23	10	6	7	36
7	Fulham	23	10	4	9	34
8	Brentford	23	10	3	10	33
9	Newcastle	23	9	6	8	33
10	Everton	23	9	6	8	33
11	Sunderland	23	8	9	6	33
12	Brighton	23	7	9	7	30
13	Bournemouth	23	7	9	7	30
14	Tottenham	23	7	7	9	28
15	Crystal Palace	23	7	7	9	28
16	Leeds	22	6	7	9	25
17	Nottingham Forest	23	7	4	12	25
18	West Ham	23	5	5	13	20
19	Burnley	23	3	6	14	15
20	Wolves	23	1	5	17	8

The New Year’s Day fixtures of the 2026 Premier League season delivered a shock to the system for the reigning champions, as the highly anticipated Sunderland vs Man City clash ended in a gritty 0-0 stalemate at the Stadium of Light.

While the scoreline suggests a quiet affair, the match was anything but. It was a tactical battle of attrition where Régis Le Bris’s disciplined Sunderland side frustrated a Manchester City team desperate to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal.

Goalless Draws Everywhere… All Matches End Without Goals ⚽️⛔#PremierLeague #EPL #Liverpool #Leeds #CrystalPalace #Fulham #Brentford #Tottenham #Sunderland #ManCity #PL pic.twitter.com/REh6KPa0oF

— Match Day (@MatchDaay) January 1, 2026

Tactical Breakdown of Sunderland vs Man City

From the first whistle, the narrative of Sunderland vs Man City was clear: City’s relentless possession against Sunderland’s organized, low block. The Citizens, lining up in a 4-3-2-1 formation with Erling Haaland at the spearhead, looked to dominate the central areas. However, Sunderland’s 4-2-3-1 setup was compact, leaving no spaces between the lines for Phil Foden or Savinho to exploit.

The “Attack Momentum” charts told the story of the second half—a siege by the visitors. Yet, despite the wave of pressure, the Black Cats refused to buckle. This resilience highlights why Sunderland currently sits comfortably in 7th place, proving they are legitimate contenders for European football this season.

Enzo Le Fée: The Architect of Resistance

The standout performer in this edition of Sunderland vs Man City was undoubtedly Enzo Le Fée. Awarded the “Player of the Match” with a stellar 8.2 rating, Le Fée was the heartbeat of the home side.

He wasn’t just a defensive shield; he was instrumental in transition. Every time Sunderland regained possession, it was Le Fée’s composure that allowed them to bypass City’s suffocating press. His ability to hold the ball and draw fouls broke the rhythm of the City attacks, providing his defense with crucial moments to reset. For a midfielder facing the likes of Bernardo Silva and later Rodri, his performance was nothing short of world-class.

Guardiola’s Changes Fail to Break the Deadlock

As the clock ticked down, the urgency on the City bench became palpable. Pep Guardiola, sensing that two points were slipping away, made aggressive substitutions. The introduction of Rodri at halftime for González was an attempt to regain total control, followed by the injection of pace with Jérémy Doku replacing Savinho in the 51st minute.

Despite these changes, the Sunderland vs Man City scoreline remained stubborn. City created chances, but a combination of poor finishing and heroic defending kept the sheet clean for the hosts. The frustration was evident on Haaland’s face, who found himself isolated and marshaled brilliantly by the Sunderland center-back pairing.

How Sunderland vs Man City Impacts the Title Race

This draw has massive ramifications for the Premier League table. Following the final whistle of Sunderland vs Man City, the landscape of the top four has shifted:

• Arsenal remains top of the pile with 45 points, capitalizing on City’s slip-up.
• Manchester City moves to 41 points. While they remain in 2nd place, the gap to Arsenal has now widened to 4 points—a significant margin at this stage of the season.
• Sunderland solidifies their status as the season’s surprise package, holding 7th place with 29 points, boasting a defense that can stand up to the world’s best.

A Result That Echoes

Ultimately, this Sunderland vs Man City match will be remembered as a defensive masterclass from the home side. For Manchester City, it is a stumbling block that raises questions about their ability to break down resolute defenses without Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings.

For Sunderland fans, leaving the Stadium of Light with a point against the champions feels like a victory. They have started 2026 with a statement: the Stadium of Light is a fortress, and taking points here will require something special.