Football fans are looking forward to a big Premier League clash. Sunderland is set to host Manchester City on Thursday, January 1, 2026. This game will happen at the Stadium of Light. Both teams held their pre-match press conferences on December 31, 2025. It’s shaping up to be a really interesting start to the new year. City wants to keep pace with Arsenal for the title, and Sunderland is pretty high up in the table, sitting seventh with 28 points.
Sunderland Grapples with Absences
Sunderland’s head coach, Regis Le Bris, has a few things to worry about. The team is dealing with a pretty reduced squad right now. A big reason for this is the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). A significant number of players are away on international duty. We’re talking about six players: Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Arthur Masuaku, Bertrand Traore, and Habib Diarra. That’s a lot of key talent gone for a big match like this.
On top of the AFCON impact, Dan Ballard is out with an injury. Le Bris did say it’s not serious, though. He’s hoping Ballard will be back for the next fixture, which is good news for Sunderland supporters. Other players like Simon Adingra are still available and developing well. Dennis Cirkin has also shown some real resilience after his own injury setbacks.
Nordi Mukiele is another player providing great versatility for the Black Cats, playing in many defensive roles, as sources confirm. Alan Browne, on loan, is developing positively too. Le Bris is also pretty clear about transfers. He doesn’t want to rush anything in January. He just wants players who fit the club’s system and culture, which is smart.
Manchester City’s Injury Woes and Squad Depth
Manchester City also has its own challenges to deal with. Pep Guardiola, City’s manager, spoke about the team’s long-term absences. Rodri, for example, has been out, and that’s been really difficult for them. Guardiola said getting him back confidently is the main priority. Mateo Kovacic is also missing due to an ankle injury. John Stones and Oscar Bobb are out too.
There’s some good news on the injury front, though. Jeremy Doku is progressing well from his calf issue. Guardiola seems pretty satisfied with his current squad size. He also mentioned the depth coming from the academy, which is always a bonus.
Like Le Bris, Guardiola isn’t focusing on January transfers much. He says those decisions are collective, and the window isn’t even open yet. He also highlighted how injuries last season forced changes. Guardiola feels it’s more important for the team to reflect on itself when results aren’t perfect, rather than just looking for new players, as he explained in a recent press conference.
A Tough Test for Both Managers
This match at the Stadium of Light is a big one. Sunderland has been pretty impressive since returning to the Premier League. They’ve had three unbeaten runs already, beating Newcastle and drawing with Brighton and Leeds. Regis Le Bris is doing a fantastic job, really. He’s even being talked about for Manager of the Year, which is quite something.
Manchester City, though, is on a serious roll. They’ve won six Premier League matches in a row, three at home and three away. They’re sitting second in the league with 40 points, five points behind Arsenal, but with a game in hand. City has also scored an absurd 43 goals this season, so they’re pretty scary going forward. Pep Guardiola has a strong record against Sunderland, winning all three of his previous encounters. Le Bris, on the other hand, has lost his only match against Guardiola’s City, as detailed by match statistics.
It seems like City is expected to win this one. Some predictions are even saying a 2-0 win for Manchester City. Even with their own injury issues, City’s squad depth and current form make them tough to beat. Sunderland will need to be at their absolute best, especially with so many players missing. It won’t be easy for them at all. The Stadium of Light will be buzzing, that’s for sure. It’s always a good atmosphere there. But City is looking very healthy and ready to compete on all fronts, as we heard. It’s going to be a really intense game to kick off 2026. The match will be broadcast live, with kick-off at 3 PM ET, so you can watch it live on NBC.com.
Sagnik Banerjee 
Tanya Singh 
Priyanjan Paul