EPL: Sunderland deny Man City to give Arsenal four-point cushion; Liverpool, Tottenham drop points

New Delhi: Manchester City's Premier League title challenge suffered a big blow on New Year as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The hosts weathered a second-half storm to preserve their unbeaten home run in the league this season.

Pep Guardiola’s side missed plenty of opportunities to move back within two points of Arsenal, but failed to break down their hosts' resistance. A combination of brilliant defending, a loud home crowd and the occasional good luck saw Sunderland keep a clean sheet against an in-form Manchester City.

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Rodri made a return to the team and came on as a second-half substitute, but the Sunderland goalkeeper made brilliant saves to deny the visitors, and the home side also got several chances to secure all three points.

Bernardo Silva's goal was ruled out for offside in the early stages of the match, while Savinho and Josko Gvardiol also went close to scoring for City. The hosts are placed in the seventh position with 29 points, while Manchester City remain in second, four points behind league leaders Arsenal.

Liverpool were also held to a 0-0 draw by Leeds United on Thursday, which cost Arne Slot's men two points in the Premier League title race. The defending champions are fourth in the standings with 33 points in 19 games, 12 behind league toppers Arsenal, while Leeds are in the 16th position with 21 points, seven above the relegation zone.

Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrated the winning goal with around 10 minutes left to play, but it was ruled out for offside. The goalless draw also ended his run of scoring in six consecutive matches.

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The hosts lacked any sort of urgency and missed a couple of good chances, with Hugo Ekitike's header at the far post being the best, which went wide of the goal. Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker nearly gifted Leeds United a lead in the match with a horrible clearance, but recovered to save the Welshman's shot.

In the other two matches, Crystal Palace and Fulham's game ended at 1-1, while Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford played a goalless draw.