Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Sunderland and Manchester City.

With Liverpool hosting Arsenal yesterday evening, Manchester City were aware that they faced the possibility of one of their rivals getting an important win on the board in the race for a top-four spot, but it has to been seen as the biggest of bonuses that Manchester United could not defeat Bournemouth at Old Trafford. It leaves City with the opportunity to create a five-point cushion as they bid to secure a Champions League spot and they couldn't have asked for a better fixture to try to achieve that.

As for Sunderland, they are six points adrift of safety and have recorded only one win in their last nine outings in the Premier League. It really is dire straits for David Moyes and his players but they have no option but to try to lift themselves for what is an extremely tough showdown with one of the form sides in the country. Can they gain three points? Probably not, but they have already shown this season that they are capable on their day, with home draws against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur having already been recorded.

LATEST! There are just five minutes left in the game at White Hart Lane but Tottenham Hotspur have just been pegged back by Everton, with the score now 2-1. Catch the closing stages with our live commentary.

Anyway, without further ado, let's crack on with the team news, starting with the home side.

SUNDERLAND XI: Pickford, Jones, Kone, O'Shea, Oviedo, Gibson, Ndong, Larsson, Januzaj, Borini, Defoe

SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTES: Mannone, Manquillo, Djilobodji, Rodwell, Khazri, Honeyman, Love

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Caballero, Sagna, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling, Sane, Aguero

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Bravo, Otamendi, Fernando, Nolito, Iheanacho, Delph, De Bruyne

Sunderland suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Everton last weekend but that has not stopped Moyes naming an unchanged starting lineup. He's unable to call upon Jason Denayer, who is ineligible to feature against his parent club, while Jack Rodwell only makes the bench. Joleon Lescott is out injured for the visit of his former club.

As for Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has made the five alterations to the team which defeated Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup. Willy Caballero returns in goal, while Bacary Sagna and Aleksandar Kolarov both feature in defence. Yaya Toure and David Silva both come back into the team after being rested on Wednesday night. Nicolas Otamendi and Kevin De Bruyne are both among the substitutes.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's meeting represents the 145th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive fixture, with Man City claiming 69 wins in comparison to the 50 victories for Sunderland. However, while the records are relatively close from an historical perspective, the same cannot be said for recent years with City winning seven of the last eight contests! Sunderland last avoided defeat in April 2014.

RESULT! We hope that you followed the closing stages of the game at White Hart Lane with our live commentary because it got pretty dramatic! Spurs have ran out 3-2 victors to move four points clear in second place. It puts the onus on Manchester City to win even more, with Guardiola's side able to close the gap back down to just the one point. Read our on-the-whistle report by clicking here.

An impressive milestone is being achieved by Sebastian Larsson this afternoon. He's been with Sunderland since 2011 and he's now reaching three figures as far as game at the Stadium of Light is concerned.

Today Seb Larsoon will become the 8th player to make 100 #SAFC appearances @StadiumOfLight - 102 if you count his games for @Arsenal + @BCFC pic.twitter.com/VMiqN4L3hx — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) 5 March 2017

A few weeks ago, some people would have had you thinking that Sergio Aguero was all but finished at Manchester City but the injury to Gabriel Jesus appears to have handed him a reprieve and after scoring doubles in his last two matches, the Argentine is well and truly back. He had netted just twice in his previous 10 appearances so the rumours of moving to pastures new in the summer may have been justified, but he is showing that he wants to continue his career at the Etihad Stadium. You'd back him to add to his 22 goals for the season this afternoon.

Talking of strikers, Jermain Defoe is probably hoping that he can contribute more in the final third. He netted twice against Crystal Palace but they remain his only goals in his last six appearances. He has a return of 14 in 29 matches in all competitions this season, but he has scored just five in his previous 14 outings. That's going to need to improve if Sunderland are going to have a chance of remaining in the Premier League.

Many will suggest that Sunderland's home form will be key if they are to avoid relegation but they have the second worst home record in the division. In sharp contrast, City boast the best away record in the Premier League with nine wins from 13 attempts. They are yet to record a draw.

PREDICTION! It will come as no surprise to you that we are backing a Manchester City win. Sunderland have the ability to raise their game for a big fixture but we expect City to always pose a threat in the final third and we would be surprised if they don't score a few this afternoon. City to prevail 4-1.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out at the Stadium of Light. It's a warm reception from the home supporters. They are going to have to stick with their team this afternoon. They can be their extra man.

City get us underway.

SHOT! Kolarov's produces one of the passes of the season - at least 70 yards - to pick out Sterling. The winger tries to cut inside but he is blocked off by a defender, before Fernandinho fired well over the crossbar from 20 yards.

After Kolarov was winded by blocking a shot, Sunderland created a good opportunity to cross down the right but despite having the man advantage, they could not supply Defoe with the chance to convert from close range.

City are still looking a threat but Sunderland are well up for this and are not wasting any time in getting forward when they have the ball. Maybe Moyes is thinking that attack is the best form of defence? They have started well.

We've not seen anything of the likes of Sane and Aguero. O'Shea has a tough battle on his hands to deal with Aguero but he's on top so far. Sane is being used in defensive areas more so than offensive with Jones making headway down the flank.

Silva just picked up the ball in the final third and as many as nine Sunderland players were no more than 25 yards from their own goal. Fair to say they are fearful of City's attacking attributes! Still no more chances to speak of. It's been a very quiet opening as far as they are concerned.

WOODWORK! Brilliant from Sunderland and they are so unlucky not to take to lead. A well-worked move ends with Defoe striking the post from more than 20 yards before Borini - on the stretch - headed the rebound away from goal.

When Sunderland play with this kind or vigour and organisation, you really wonder how they can be six points from safety. Moyes's future at the club is always going to be up for debate given their league position but he has a group of players all pulling in the right direction.

There's still not much coming back from City. Aguero is having to come deep to get involved in play and Sane is having "one of those games". If City are to create anything, it's going to come through Silva or Sterling. They appear to be missing Kevin De Bruyne.

City enjoy a prolonged spell of possession but it comes to nothing, much to the delight of the Sunderland fans. They can only be encouraged by this. Their team need to improve their passing, however. A number have gone astray when they have won back the ball.

BOOKING! O'Shea is given the first yellow card of the match after preventing Aguero from launching a counter-attack. He complains, but he shouldn't.

CHANCE! Sunderland have spent the last 10 or 15 minutes on the back foot but they are finally back on the offensive as Januzaj and Jones combine to earn their side a corner. They then combine from the set piece with Januzaj's corner finding his teammate but his header is straight at Caballero.

CHANCE! City should be 1-0 ahead. Sane shrugs off a defender inside the penalty area and should find Silva with a low cross but he over-hits it and the Spaniard can't make a connection.

CHANCE! Another headed chance for Jones! He loses his marker to meet Larsson's corner but he diverts the ball a yard wide of the post. This is starting to warm up now.

That's harsh on Sunderland, but that's what Manchester City are capable of. Silva plays the ball to Sterling, whose deflected cross picks out the run of Aguero and he is able to finish at the near post after getting in front of Kone. That's his 23rd goal of the season.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at the Stadium of Light and City lead thanks to that goal from Aguero. Sunderland don't deserve to be behind but they have not taken their chances when they have come up. Defoe was unlucky to hit the post from distance.

The two teams have made their way back out. Many of the Sunderland players are in deep discussion. This is a big 45 minutes coming up for both teams.

Sunderland get us back underway.

It's been an high-octane start to the second half. Firstly, Sterling should have made more of having the chance to run down the right flank, before up the other end, City have to put in a couple of blocks to prevent shots testing Caballero.

While Sunderland are aware that they have to place more emphasis on attack, their approach is measured. In all truth, they haven't really changed much at the break and that probably suits them at the moment. City do look livelier, though.

Ndong is finding himself in more forward positions than he is usually occupies and he keeps moving offside. Not sure it is a lack of awareness or over exuberance, but it's not helping his team.

SHOT! City are - slowly but surely - gathering a head of steam and Silva is given too much time to get a shot away on the edge of the area. His effort is pushed away by Pickford and Sunderland are fortunate the rebound did not fall favourably for a City man.

City get their second and that could be game over. Silva supplies the pass for Sane to run onto, and the burst of pace takes him away from the defender before finding the net via the inside of the post. It's a brilliant finish and the City support are jubilant.

Shortly after the goal, Sunderland engineered a chance from an acute angle for Larsson but his well-struck shot was blocked by Caballero. Some of the Sunderland fans appear to be making for an early exit. If that's the case, that's pretty disgraceful.

To their credit, Sunderland are throwing men forward in search of a goal which could potentially change the course of this match but they are lacking a cutting edge. The likes of Borini and Januzaj are too inconsistent today.

CHANCE! It's not often you see Januzaj getting into a position to get a head on the ball but he does so here, directing Oviedo's cross wide of the far post.

SUBSTITUTION! Moyes makes his first change and it's an enforced one, with Jack Rodwell coming on for the injured Gibson.

I'd expect Guardiola to start ringing the changes very soon. City have a home fixture with Stoke City in three days time, and then a trip to Middlesbrough three days after that. It's a punishing schedule.

There's nothing at all happening in this game right now. It's basically a passing exercise for City. De Bruyne will be on very shortly.

SUBSTITUTION! De Bruyne is going to replace Yaya Toure, which is a bit surprising given he was given the night off on Wednesday.

The empty seats at the Stadium of Light is astonishing. It shows what Moyes is dealing with when his team fall behind. Guardiola has now introduced Nolito for Sterling. Wahbi Khazri is on for Januzaj for Sunderland.

Sunderland have the ball in the net through Defoe but he is at least three yards offside. Up the other end, Aguero tries his luck from 20 yards but Pickford gathers well.

SHOTS! De Bruyne nearly finds the top corner with a left-foot rasper and Nolito is denied by Pickford from long range. City are finishing with a flourish.

SHOT! Aguero isn't content with just the one goal and he almost finds the bottom corner with a fiercely-struck shot from the edge of the area, only to see Pickford tip the ball wide.

SUBSTITUTION! Guardiola's final change see Fabian Delph replace Sane.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes at the Stadium of Light and City have comfortably held on to secure a 2-0 win over Sunderland. The Black Cats deserve some credit for their performance but they could not prevent City from netting goals through Aguero and Sane.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.