Nick Barnes and James Copley react to Sunderland 1-1 Leeds United
Sunderland host Manchester City in the Premier League on Thursday.
That afternoon, despite showing flashes of promise, the Black Cats were ultimately undone in a fairly routine 3-0 victory for the hosts, but since then, Regis Le Bris’ men have not lost a match in the top flight, and currently sit seventh in the table having amassed 28 points from their opening 18 fixtures.
For their part, City have been on a barnstorming run of their own, and are just two points adrift of leaders Arsenal having recorded six straight successes in the league. Most recently, they saw off Nottingham Forest in a 2-1 win at the weekend, with summer signing Rayan Cherki netting an 83rd-minute strike to decide the contest.
But as attention now turns to the first game of 2026, here are all of the vital details you need to know...
When does Sunderland vs Manchester City kick off?
Sunderland will play Manchester City at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League on Thursday, January 1st, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm.
Is Sunderland vs Manchester City on TV?
Yes, Sunderland vs Manchester City will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Ultra HDR, with coverage beginning at 7.45pm. Viewers without a Sky TV subscription can purchase a NOW Sports Day or Month Membership, which will allow them to watch the match in its entirety. A NOW day pass costs £14.99, or customers can purchase a rolling month-long membership for £28 per month for the first six months. Find full details here.
Who is refereeing Sunderland vs Manchester City?
The full list of officials for Sunderland’s fixture against Manchester City is as follows:
Referee: Jarred Gillett.
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adrian Holmes.
Fourth official: Anthony Backhouse.
VAR: Peter Bankes.
Assistant VAR: Natalie Aspinall.
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join ourSAFC WhatsApp channel.
How else can I follow Sunderland vs Manchester City?
BBC Radio Newcastle will be offering live commentary of the match with Nick Barnes and former Sunderland player Gary Bennett. Alternatively, supporters can stay up-to-date with all the latest news and updates from the game with the Sunderland Echo. Our writers Phil Smith and James Copley will bring you all the latest team news, updates, and both pre-match and post-match reaction to some of the game’s biggest talking points.
Can I get tickets for Sunderland vs Manchester City?
At the time of writing, there are still a very limited number of tickets available for Sunderland’s showdown with Manchester City. Any remaining tickets can be purchased through the Black Cats’ official website, here.
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