Manchester City lost ground in the Premier League title race after a 0-0 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, where Pep Guardiola’s team failed to score from several close-range openings and missed the opportunity to cut Arsenal’s lead back to two points in the standings.
Despite controlling possession and territory, Manchester City were held by a Sunderland side that stayed unbeaten at home this season. Guardiola’s players saw an eight-match winning run in all competitions halted, while also failing to find the net in a Premier League match in January for the first time since a 4-0 defeat at Everton in 2017.
Manchester City dominated the ball with roughly two-thirds possession and produced 14 attempts on goal, yet the visitors struggled
in the six-yard box. Their expected goals figure of 2.25 was the club’s highest in a Premier League fixture without scoring since the 2.92 xG recorded against Crystal Palace in March 2022.
Guardiola highlighted the wasteful finishing from Manchester City, especially from close range, and admitted the team did not carry out the first-half plan. "We could not score in the six-yard box, Guardiola said.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. It was a 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 had a lot, but unfortunately we could not do it. We take the point. The result is always what it is. "
Bernardo Silva thought Manchester City improved significantly after half-time, yet the attacking players could not convert pressure into goals. The midfielder had an early finish disallowed for offside, while Savinho and Josko Gvardiol were both denied by goalkeeper Robin Roefs, and late efforts from Jeremy Doku and Gvardiol were blocked near the line.
Silva echoed Guardiola’s assessment that Manchester City were far stronger after the interval but criticised the first-half display, pointing to issues in controlling transitions and decision-making in attack. "Two different halves, he said.In the first half, we didn't play that well. We didn't control the counter as well as we should.We attacked a bit too quicklywe didn't move them to find spaces. In the second half, we had a lot more chances. Today was one of those days when we couldn't finish them. We are not happy because we wanted better than this. "
The stats from todays draw against Sunderland @okx pic.twitter.com/XvVVgJZ89IManchester City (@ManCity) January 1, 2026
The draw leaves Manchester City still chasing Arsenal, with a demanding fixture against Chelsea looming in three days. Guardiola stressed the players must recover quickly from the setback, keep confidence despite heads dropping after the final whistle, and accept that on some evenings dominance and high xG still do not guarantee victory.
