Here’s Louise Taylor’s report from the Stadium of Light.

Pep Guardiola spoke to the BBC: “The amount of chances we missed in the six-yard box, not difficult ones, we could not convert. We didn’t do what we talked about in the first half but in general it was a really good game.

“To break the lines, have the composure to break them. It was better second half, the guys did everything. They are a bit heads down but we have to be heads up because in three days we have a difficult game against Chelsea.

“We created enough chances, we played good second half. The commitment, the desire, the first half was different. We created enough - the two chances from Savinho in the second half, Jeremy [Doku], Josko [Gvardiol], Phil [Foden] and Erling [Haaland]. We had a lot but unfortunately we could not do it.”

Bill Muskett gets in touch: “From the pessimistic glass half empty view, Sunderland are 6 points or two losses off 15th. The other results this week kept them in seventh. But that middle section of the league is very tight.”

Granit Xhaka spoke to Sky Sports: “It’s just the energy, our dressing room is so positive. We have such good energy with the staff, with the players. In the end, the results speak for ourselves because we are putting a lot of effort day by day, week by week. I think we can be very happy for the moment after the first round.”

David Hytner was at Brentford to see Thomas Frank’s homecoming.

Kari Tulinius is back in touch: “Sunderland are one point off fifth, which would probably mean a champions league place. I wouldn’t bet against them getting there.”

Here’s the Premier League table at the halfway stage of the season.

Joshua Keeling gets back in touch: “As a neutral, I *love* watching Sunderland play. There is an energy and buzz about them that is infectious. They must be horrible to play against.”

Premier League scores today:

• Crystal Palace 1-1 Fulham

• Liverpool 0-0 Leeds

• Brentford 0-0 Tottenham

• Sunderland 0-0 Manchester City

Like Serie A in the glory days….

Pep Guardiola was not happy with that, though did at least offer handshakes to the Sunderland players. In the stand, it’s a celebration of a 0-0 draw, which is a rarity. Sunderland are here to stay.

90+4 min: Is this the one, Cherki plays in Reijnders, and he goes for goal. When he looks up, Haaland is glowering. That ball was meant for him…City cannot find a way through.

90+3 min: Sunderland look for the winner now, Le Fee and Isidor swinging at the ball, Mundle robbed as he tries to find a way through.

90+2 min: Donnarumma goes out on safari to show off his lesser spotted ball skills to close off a pass meant for Isidor.

90+1 min: Just four minutes added on to this breathless affair. Cheers as Doku and Foden are forced back.

90 min: More scrambling, Haaland pulling the ball down with a go-go gadget extended leg but unable to find a teammate as Sunderland defenders throw everything at keeping out City.

89 min: Oh my, a madcap scramble in the Sunderland box, and the ball fell to Gvardiol in the box, only to rebound off red and white shirts, and finally to safety.

87 min: Ake’s mistake sets the excitement levels up, but Isidor and Le Fee can never quite find the next, crucial step towards goal. It takes an Alderete tackle to rob a galloping Haaland, who was smelling blood.

86 min: As 0-0 games go, this has been OK. More absorbing than your average intriguing tactical battle. And it’s not done just yet.

85 min: Reijnders is coming on in the search for a winning goal, and during a break for a knock to Trai Hume. Bernardo Silva leaves the scene.

83 min: Sunderland finding that attacks are strictly rationed but here they come….only for City to find a shape that forces Xhaka to curb his attacking instincts and play the ball backwards.

81 min: Doku makes the byline but his cross loops only to Xhaka, who shows his cool in nodding back to his goalkeeper. Isidor makes a run into the City box, and squares up with Donnarumma but the angle is closed off.

80 min: Frustration for Foden, who hasn’t been front and centre in this big push, as his attempts drifts behind the goal.

78 min: Joshua Keeling gets in touch: “Guardiola has got a nerve shaking his head at Sunderland not giving the ball back there. City didn’t kick it out so an injured player could get treatment, they did it to substitute a player who was already off the field. It’s not the same thing, and Sunderland were well within their rights to keep the ball.”

Yes, agree with that.

77 min: Ake is booked for smashing over Mayenda with a sliding foul. That was only his first of the season as he’s had his problems this season. He’s done well to fight on after that early problem.

76 min: City sound the 15-minute warning. They cannot afford to drop points on Arsenal. This is Sunderland missing several players at AfCon.

74 min: Another Gvardiol chance, and he swings a volley at a cross he had no right to reach. He has been a significant attacking threat since coming on.

73 min: Hume tackles Doku and wins the ball. The referee apologises for having to give the decision, as it’s a scissors tackle. No yellow, which means Trai Hume is still eligible to face Sunderland next week.

72 min: Adringra, who has lost his earlier zest, comes off for Romaine Mundle, the young man from Enfield.

70 min: More blocks required. Doku cuts in, his shot hitting Mukiele full in the face and Alderete nods the second ball behind. On the sidelines, Guardiola is not happy.

69 min: City turning the screw, Cherki, Foden and Silva seeing so much more of the ball.

68 min: Some desperate defending, all blocks and shadow chasing, now required from Sunderland.

66 min: Isidor is struggling to make the same physical impact as Brobbey, and thus Sunderland are struggling to keep the ball up in the City half.

65 min: Lovely chip from Foden finds Gvardiol in a scoring position, and Roefs makes another beautiful save. City look for momentum; that was their best attack yet.

64 min: Adingra’s touch lets him down just as Le Fee was looking for a give and go. Similar happens to Bernardo Silva at the other end. Nobody’s getting much time on the ball.

62 min: A drop of the Doku shoulder, and he’s past Le Fee, only for his ball into the middle to be met by Trai Hume.

60 min: Communication breakdown between Haaland and Cherki. Neither play looks impressed by the other. Sunderland’s energy has driven them to this.

59 min: Erling Haaland is getting frustrated and takes it out on Granit Xhaka, clambering all over his cove. Xhaka, who must avoid a yellow card to avoid a suspension, doesn’t rise to it.

58 min: Looks Nico O’Reilly has a problem. Gvardiol comes on at last, having looked like he would replace Nathan Ake earlier on. Farewell to, to Mr Brobbey, who was excellent in the first half. He’s replaced by Isidor.

56 min: City look for control, and try to resume their passing rhythm. The home fans boo, while the City fans are audible. with Blue Moon.

54 min: Le Fee’s ball, Mayenda’s low shot and a brilliant save from Donnarumma. City are rocking on their heels a bit here. These are the moments Donnarumma was signed for.

53 min: Sunderland go back at it, and Mayenda forces a Donnarumma save. He needs both hands to stop it. Great noise heard in the Stadium of Light.

52 min: Some boos as O’Reilly smashes the ball out. In comes Doku for Savinho. Would Semenyo have taken those chances? We’re about to find out.

50 min: Sunderland get some territory, with Alderete and Xhaka moving forwards with the attack. It’s end to end once more.

49 min: Rodri in action, to send away Savinho, who shoots across goal and Roefs makes another save. City had just two shots on goal in the first half. They’ve had two already this half.

47 min: Savinho should have scored, Cherki laying the ball across for an admittedly highly intelligent run, and he missed the target.

46 min: It’s back underway we go, and Rodri is on the field, Nico the departure.

It was 0-0 at Anfield, it’s 0-0 here, and it’s 0-0 at Brentford. Happy new year.

Sam gets in touch: “I undertook dry January this year. Brentford vs Tottenham is severely testing my resolve.”

Happy new year to Kari Tulinius: “Good point about this not being the Imperial City of yesteryear. Back then, struggling against them seemed like an impossible idea for most English sides, like a single tribe facing up to the Roman legions. However, thanks to Haaland they can always strike out of nowhere, like bandits in the night. There’s more than one way to win titles, and Pep is trying a different method.”

45+5 min: Foden is caught by Adingra, who will be booked for the foul from behind. That’s the last of the half.

45+3 min: Brobbey runs the channels, shaking off defenders, laying up Xhaka to lay up Hume who heads over the bar. Total football from Sunderland. As smooth as a pint of Vaux.

45+1 min: Savinho gets involved again, right to the byline again, and his cross comes across towards Cherki who cannot get there. There were five minutes added on, dur to those Ake and Nico delays.

45 min: Bernardo Silva breaks up an attack, and drives forward, only for a foul to be given. City, to their credit, do not take a long time over the free-kick. It’s aimed towards Savinho, but Haaland gets there first.

43 min: Jeers as a Nunes ball flies out of play. The City radar is malfunctioning, and the star men in Foden and Haaland have been quietened amid the din.

41 min: Brobbey and Adingra link well, and the winger, who can be frustrating, loses the ball. This was a common complaint in his Brighton days, high talent though not enough product.

40 min: Foden’s corner is hit too high and Ake’s attempt to make something of it see the ball bounce off his knees.

38 min: After Le Fee loses it again, Cherki sets off on a run, and then gets the ball back in the City box, eventually forcing a corner. It’s end to end at the moment.

37 min: Haaland has his big moment, the ball coming loose as Foden plays it across, and Roefs does well. Sunderland immediately go on the counter, and City struggle to clear their lines.

36 min: Can Sunderland sustain these energy levels?

35 min: Mayenda gets a header on the corner after Donnarumma makes something of a flap.

34 min: Erling Haaland has been quiet, for which much of the credit must go to Mukiele. Sunderland meanwhile have a corner.

33 min: City’s discomfort is obvious. They don’t quite put teams to the sword as they did in their imperial period. Arsenal fans will look on expectant.

31 min: Nico is back on, and as he arrives, Savinho makes it to the byline again. His ball in might have found Haaland but he gets in a tangle and loses his footing. No foul, either.

29 min: Julian Yeomans has an idea out of leftfield: “Catching the entire football media flat-footed ... currently available Joey Barton could contribute his characteristic “bon vivant” vitality to this Chelsea side. He would definitely kick them into a new dimension.”

Thanks, Julian. Meanwhile, to nobody’s surprise, Nico is OK. Pep’s talk was impassioned.

28 min: Looks like Rodri will be back soon. Nico Gonzalez is on the deck, having taken a knock from Brobbey. It gives time for a, er, Pep talk, and the crowd are booing, smelling a rat.

26 min: Le Fee, who has been quiet, goes close to putting Adringra in the clear when Brobbey – again – wins the loose ball. He’s been useful, the big Dutchman.

25 min: City look a little rattled here and try to take the steam out of the occasion by passing the ball around.

23 min: Huge roars as high pressing forces a throw, which means Mukiele will launch his long throw. It comes to Adingra who bobs and weaves, and goes down under a tackle by Nunes, with Nico Gonzalez on the scene, too.

22 min: More City hesitancy, more Sunderland Roker roars. Adingra’s break causes havoc and Hume has a shot, though his backlift is to heavy. Sunderland are in this, and their fans know it.

20 min: Sunderland only got a corner from their best moment of the game, and Xhaka’s cross isn’t the best. Dias really did come off second best to Brobbey there.

19 min: Oh wow! Bryan Brobbey blasts through Dias, and it takes Donnarumma, at his smothering best, to stop Mr Brobbey scoring.

18 min: Mayenda again finds space but then, as before, loses possession at the moment of truth.

17 min: Roefs almost falls victim to the MBM commentators’ curse and it takes his defenders to clear the danger when he hesitates at a Cherki cross.

15 min: Brobbey gets hustled out by Dias but Sunderland go again, and Hume finds space to attack the City box. It takes Dias’s experience to cut out the cross.

14 min: Robin Roefs, one of this season’s better keepers, takes his time over a goal kick and it soon comes back to him to, in open play, smash the ball to Adringra. Such a good buy from NEC Nijmegen.

12 min: What can Cherki, the rabona king, find? Ake steps forward as each and every Sunderland player sits back and gets into defensive shape. Savinho gets a cross in but it will not drop in time for Haaland.

10 min: Sunderland back in numbers as City take up their usual passing rhythm. They shall not pass. Well, hopefully.

8 min: Sunderland go on the attack, and Mayenda’s pass inside is intercepted by Ake. It needed to be far better, as did Adingra’s control when a Xhaka pass comes to him.

5 min: Savinho sets off on sortie into the Sunderland defence to force a corner. Ake rejoins the throng for now.

4 min: Gvardiol, who was rested, is due to come on but Ake is trying his best to soldier on. He asks if he can run it off.

3 min: Nathan Ake smashes the ball out, and that’s it for him. Just a second start of the season for him. and he’s down hurt. It looks like his knee has gone in over-extending. That’s a sad sight.

Regis Le Bris also spoke to Sky: “A few weeks ago we struggled because they were really good and efficient through their counter pressing. I hope we learnt the lesson but it will be another experience at home with another energy so we’ll see.”

Pep Guardiola has been speaking to Sky: “Tough place and it means that anyone could win here. Hopefully we can perform. Josko [Gvardiol] had a few niggles, an incredible run of playing every three days and Savinho has speed and is fresh.

“The set pieces, long balls, second balls, [Granit] Xhaka is involved in the process. It is not just long balls and second balls but they have a good side.”

Rodri, after that fanfare, is on the bench with Reigan Heskey, 17, son of the Liverpool legend. Reigan’s brother, Jayden, is also on the City books.

Nathan Ake and Savinho come the City team, replacing Josko Gvardiol and Tijani Reijnders, who both drop to the bench. Doku’s on the bench, though with Antoine Semenyo set to arrive, a big game for Savinho who has been linked with a move.

Eliezer Mayenda for Chris Rigg is the sole Sunderland change, with Dan Ballard ruled out with injury.

Jeff Sax gets in touch: “Happy new year. I am shocked to hear that City are considering Maresca!! It will be like amorim at MU.”

So far today, just one sacking. Maresca does have a good record in the Championship…

Pep Guardiola was so so happy with 2025, a year without a trophy but some really positive signs as it closed out.

Because it’s how you overcome the problems. In this perspective, now every time when I reflect on what happened last season, I’m more proud than ever about what we have done as a club, how we handled the bad, bad situations.

The glitch in the space-time continuum that is this season’s fixture list means they met just weeks ago. That was the day of the rabona.

Here’s the table, as it stands. Sunderland have had such a good season. City are in the hunt but their points total is significantly lower than in their imperial periods.