Image source, Getty Images

Easy, easy.

David Silva tucks the ball into Yaya Toure and, 22 yards out, the Man City midfielder drives the ball into the bottom corner.

Sunderland - this does not look good.

Image source, PA

That's a collectors item.

Kevin de Bruyne pings in a beautiful cross from the right and the dimunitive Raheem Sterling somehow climbs above Billy Jones and heads into the net.

Yes a Sterling header. Awful from Jones.

Steven Fletcher is almost played through for Sunderland but good defending by Eliaquim Mangala as he stretches out a foot after a sliding lunge - we haven't said that too often in recent weeks.

Sunderland need to try and get hold of this. As soon as they get possession, they give it away again.

An opener for City is only a matter of time if this continues...

Controversy here.

Raheem Sterling cuts inside Billy Jones in the penalty area, the Sunderland defender woefully kicks out and the City man goes down.

A penalty surely? Nope, Sterling is booked for diving. Harsh, very harsh.

Jason Roberts
Former West Brom striker on Football Focus

Image source, Getty Images

"If you look at the talent they have got in their squad, it’s clear that Manchester City really should be winning the league title this year. 

"City should be running away with it but they're not, because defensively they are not performing anything like they should be."

A confident start from City as they get in behind Sunderland's defence twice in the opening minutes.

Nothing comes from either attack, but a worry for the strugglers.

Game under way...

Who likes an omen?

Man City fans might not like this one.

City have already lost five league games this season and no side has won the title after losing as many times by Christmas since Everton in 1986-87.

Winning the title would be some effort from here...

Image source, Reuters

Here come the teams...

Image source, BBC Sport

Should Manchester City be even higher in the Premier League table? Possibly. But their fans will think they should be higher than 12th in our Predictor league table.

Sunderland fans, like their side, are scrapping around near the bottom. You can help improve your team's form by having your say in our Predictor game.

You can also check out the Predictor league table and see whether your predictions are better than Mark Lawrenson's guesses.

What are you waiting for? Get involved.

Billy Jones in goal for Sunderland?

Don't worry Black Cats fans... it is a simple typo from Manchester City.

Image source, BBC Sport

It is 'man versus machine' this week. Our man Mark Lawrenson takes on a state-of-the-art super-computer called SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) in his weekly prediction game - find out here what they have plumped for.  

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany returns to the bench after eight games out with a calf injury.

Sergio Aguero returns to the bench, having started the defeat by Arsenal, while Fabian Delph also drops out of the starting line up, with Raheem Sterling and Wilfried Bony brought in after the loss to Arsenal.

Image source, .

Sunderland defender Younes Kaboul is out because of a hamstring problem, while striker Jermain Defoe remains on the bench.

Steven Fletcher starts on his own up front for the Black Cats.

Image source, .

Happy Christmas - but let's get on with the serious business.

Manchester City start today's Premier League match at home to Sunderland six points off leaders Leicester.

They will fancy putting the pressure on today - against a Black Cats side in the drop zone and five points adrift of safety.

Should be straightforward then...

So, Manchester City are the strongest in the Premier League are they Mr Pellegrini? 

Time for you to prove it.

Mind you, things are looking a lot brighter than they are for your City rivals...

Welcome to our live page for Manchester City v Sunderland. We’ll have text commentary here from 14:30 GMT. You can keep up to date with all the build-up to today’s games here.