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As it happenedended1488736582

Sunderland vs Manchester City - as it happened: Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero fire visitors to victory

Re-live all the action from the Stadium of Light

Joe Miles
Friday 03 March 2017 18:11 GMT
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Leroy Sane celebrates with team-mates after scoring for his side
Leroy Sane celebrates with team-mates after scoring for his side

Manchester City finally look like they’ve hit a bit of form after a torrid spell over Christmas which saw them drop out of the title race.

Since the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Everton in January, Pep Guardiola’s side have drawn 2-2 with Tottenham – a game they should have won – as well as three straight wins over West Ham, Swansea and Bournemouth.

Those results have pushed City back to third, one place behind second-placed Spurs, with a game in hand.

Bottom-of-the-table Sunderland stand in their way this weekend and, with only one win since the turn of the year, David Moyes faces a tough task to get his side out of trouble.

Follow the action live...

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Vital information…

The game kicks off at 4pm on Sunday 5 March and the game will be shown on Sky Sports 1.

It’s a big game for…

Sergio Aguero. Sunderland should prove cannon fodder for a striker of Aguero’s qualities and with Guardiola still unconvinced by the Argentine there is no better time for him to prove his worth. Aguero has scored four goals and two assists in his last four games against the Black Cats.

Sergio Aguero is showing the hunger for goals that Pep Guardiola wants to see

Player to watch…

Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgian is the creative hub of the Manchester City attack and will surely thrive against a leaky Sunderland defence which has conceded six goals in their last two games.

Best stat…

Jermain Defoe has scored eight goals against Manchester City over the course of his career and has only had more success against Wigan, who he has scored 10 against.

Form guide…

Sunderland: LLDWLL

Manchester City: WWWDWW

Odds…

Sunderland to win: 10/1

Manchester City to win: 3/11

Draw: 51/10

(Courtesy of 888.com)

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Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of this weekend's last Premier League clash: Sunderland vs Manchester City.

Stay tuned for team news which will be coming up shortly!

Samuel Lovett5 March 2017 15:17
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Team news...

Samuel Lovett5 March 2017 15:19
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Joe Miles5 March 2017 15:26
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With Sunderland winning just one of their last nine league games, it looks like the club that sit at the bottom of the table have a tough task on their hands today. City have claimed six successive wins against the Black Cat's in  all competitions, so the odds certainly do not stack in the home side's favour. However, when you have Jermain Defoe in your side - there is always an element of hope. The striker has bagged 14 of his side's 24 goals this season, so he needs to put in a top display. 

Just ten minutes until kick-off now. Stay tuned for minute-by-minute coverage of the action. 

Joe Miles5 March 2017 15:50
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Has Moyes got the managerial ability to sink Guardiola's City side? We'll see. 

Joe Miles5 March 2017 15:54
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WE ARE OFF

City kick off to get the game underway. 

Joe Miles5 March 2017 16:00
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3 MINS

It's an energetic start at the Stadium of Light, with Sterling testing Oviedo inside of the area in the early stages. The ball falls into the path of Fernandinho, who's attempt on goal flies high and wide. 

Joe Miles5 March 2017 16:03
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4 MINS

Sunderland look to disturb the visitors, with Jones sending a drilled ball across the face of goal. Defoe attempts to connect with the cross, but it's just too far behind him. 

Joe Miles5 March 2017 16:05
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7 MINS

City are just pinging the ball around the edge of the penalty area, with a sea of Sunderland shirts hunting down possession. Sterling attempts a cross into the box, but it deflects out for a corner kick. 

Joe Miles5 March 2017 16:07
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10 MINS

City have had 75% of possession so far, but Sunderland have used the remainder very well. It looks like their game plan will be to punish their opponents on the counter attack. 

Joe Miles5 March 2017 16:11

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