On Thursday, Manchester Metropolis look to chop the hole on on the high of the desk with a tough journey to face a Sunderland facet unbeaten at dwelling (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Arsenal’s over put the stress again on Manchester Metropolis to begin 2026 with a bang and hold tempo within the title race. Good job, then, that they don’t historically undergo from a hangover within the new yr.
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Metropolis have received their first league recreation in a outstanding 18 of the previous 19 years, together with the previous 13 in a row. Curiously, although, the final time they didn’t take three factors was a 1-0 loss to Sunderland on New Yr’s Day in 2012.
There have been no January diets for Metropolis on the goalscoring entrance both as they’ve feasted over current years. They’ve scored in an astonishing 32 consecutive league video games within the month of January courting again to 2017.
It’s the longest such run in top-flight historical past, whereas throughout the entire of the Soccer League solely Crewe Alexandra between 1960 and 1972 have had an extended streak with 36.
December was fairly good as effectively for Pep Guardiola’s males as they made it eight wins from eight in all competitions. After such a poor 2024-25 and a shaky begin to this season, their mojo has come flooding again and so they have received 13 of their previous 15 video games in all competitions.
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They even managed a victory of their final recreation in opposition to Nottingham Forest with out Erling Haaland discovering the again of the web. This might be his first match on the Stadium of Mild – he has scored at 22 of the opposite 23 Premier League venues he has performed at other than Anfield.
Whereas he was having a quiet day on the Metropolis Floor, Rayan Cherki as soon as once more confirmed how he’s rising as one of many signings of the season with a purpose and an help in an all-action show.
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If Metropolis are to win a seventh title in 9 seasons, rising unscathed from a particularly tough journey to the Stadium of Mild might be essential.
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Sunderland went by way of the primary half of their dwelling league video games unbeaten for under the third time within the Premier League and they’re one among solely two sides, together with Arsenal, but to lose at dwelling. They’ve managed to attain in all 9 of these video games as effectively.
They’ve already bloodied Arsenal’s nostril with a memorable 2-2 draw on the Stadium of Mild, so can they now put a dent in Manchester Metropolis’s title hopes?
Whereas Regis le Bris’ crew have solely received two of their previous 9 video games, a return of 28 factors from 18 matches, with an all-important derby win over thrown in, is the stuff desires are product of.
One factor Le Bris will need extra of from his facet is targets, having solely netted three of their previous 5. Six of their previous seven top-flight targets on the Stadium of Mild have come from set-plays, together with penalties.
There may be anticipated to be a milestone for Granit Xhaka. If chosen, he’ll set a brand new outright document for essentially the most Premier League appearances by a Swiss participant of 244.
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