New Year, New Challenge: Sunderland Sparks City’s Golden Run in 2026 Derby
1 January 2026
New Year Showdown
Sunderland stands out as an exception in Manchester City's golden run, a concern for Pep Guardiola's side ahead of their first Premier League game of 2026.
City will kick off the new year away to Sunderland on Thursday night, the 19th round of the domestic campaign.
BBC figures show City won their first league game of the calendar year in 18 of the past 19 seasons, including 13 consecutive victories.
The lone exception in that stretch was a 0-1 defeat at Sunderland on the opening day of 2012.
Standings and Stakes
Conversely, Sunderland have not lost their league opener in seven years, with three wins and four draws, since a 1-0 home loss to Barnsley in 2018 in the Championship.
The upcoming clash will be the third meeting between Sunderland and City on New Year’s Day in the Premier League era: the Black Cats won 1-0 at home in 2012, while City answered 3-2 at the Etihad in 2015.
City are keen to chase Arsenal at the top, sitting second with 40 points, five behind the Londoners who have a game in hand.
Sunderland sit seventh with 28 points, and a victory could lift them above Manchester United (30 points with a game in hand) into sixth.
Expect a tense start to 2026. Sniper punchline: City keep scoring, Sunderland keep countering.
