Manchester City blew the Premier League title race wide open on 7 December 2025, capitalising on Arsenal’s earlier defeat by comfortably easing past Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side, aware that the Gunners had suffered a last-gasp loss to Aston Villa at lunchtime, made sure there was no slip-up of their own as they moved to within two points of the top of the table.
Sunderland set up deep with a disciplined five-man defence, frustrating City in the early stages. But the visitors’ resistance was broken in brutal fashion during a four-minute spell midway through the first half. Ruben Dias, granted space to advance, unleashed a thunderous 30-yard effort that took a slight deflection off Dan Ballard before swerving into the top corner. Moments later, Josko Gvardiol rose highest to meet Phil Foden’s inswinging corner, powering home a header to give the hosts a comfortable half-time lead.
City continued to dominate after the break. Jeremy Doku struck the post with a curling effort, Foden’s rebound was superbly blocked, and Erling Haaland saw a hooked shot cleared off the line by Lutsharel Geertruida. Rayan Cherki then produced a sublime cross for Foden to head in City’s third. Sunderland, limited to half-chances in the opening period, improved slightly in the second half: Wilson Isidor forced a big save from Gianluigi Donnarumma after a Dias error, and Granit Xhaka rattled the post with a fierce low drive. Their day worsened in stoppage time when Luke O’Nien was sent off for a high, studs-up challenge on Matheus Nunes, upgraded from yellow to red after a VAR review.
Later that day at Elland Road, on 7 December 2025, Leeds United delivered one of the weekend’s most dramatic finishes, drawing 3–3 with Liverpool thanks to Ao Tanaka’s 96th-minute equaliser. Arne Slot, who again opted to start Mohamed Salah on the bench, saw his side squander a two-goal lead built early in the second half. Hugo Ekitike struck twice in three minutes to put Liverpool firmly in control, only for Ibrahima Konaté’s foul on Wilfried Gnonto to hand Leeds a lifeline. Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted the resulting penalty before Anton Stach rifled in a leveller on 75 minutes.
Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage soon after with a composed finish, but Elland Road erupted deep into stoppage time when Tanaka arrived at the far post to volley in from a corner. The point lifts Leeds to 16th, three clear of West Ham in the relegation zone.
