Copy Reds, paste Cityzens: EPL goalscoring drought makes us miss 2025 already
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 02.01.26. | 08:27
If any conclusions should be made based upon these few games on January 1, this year will go down in history for all the wrong reasons
Wake us up when goals start coming...
We all know the story about the Grinch who stole Christmas, but we are not sure who is to blame for the unprecedented goalscoring drought in the Premier League in the very first hours and days of 2026.
Four games on Thursday night, and a grand total of two goals - both of them in a 1-1 draw between Crystal Palace and Fulham.
Liverpool bottled again, at home against Leeds United; Tottenham could not take down Brentford at their ground, and - last but not least - Manchester City had to settle for a disappointing goalless draw at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland.
It ends goalless at the Stadium of Light between Sunderland and Manchester City.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) January 1, 2026
Pep Guardiola's side drop points in the title race, much to Arsenal's delight... pic.twitter.com/JpS3kv0To9
Such a slow, pale start to a new year was anything but expected, but a bit of hangover is obviously present among those giants and title contenders.
Despite dominating the ball possession, just like Liverpool, the Cityzens failed to capitalise on that and were pushed back by the resilient Black Cats.
Pep Guardiola's men just could not find a way through the fortress built by Granit Xhaka and his teammates, who managed to grab a much-deserved draw despite missing as many as six players due to the AFCON.
Manchester City attacked with literally all weapons and remained short-handed.
The biggest credit for that goes to Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
The young Dutch shot-stopper, without exaggeration, had a sensational night between the sticks, as if he is a top-notch class and not the guy Sunderland brought from NEC Nijmegen for only €10,5m.
He has already recorded seven clean sheets while averaging 3.5 saves.
Tonight he had four of them, and each one was more beautiful than the previous one!
City threatened early when Bernardo Silva finished from an Erling Haaland flick-on, only for VAR to rule it out for offside.
Haaland then had the clearest chance of the first half, but fired straight at Roefs from close range.
Sunderland refused to bend. Brian Brobbey bullied Ruben Dias but found Gianluigi Donnarumma in his way, while Trai Hume's header skimmed the bar before the break.
That pass from Rodri ive been missing this ðŸ˜
— Danis (@DanisMCFC) January 1, 2026
pic.twitter.com/uLvrPn9Teu https://t.co/cvXZnf9xOX
Rodri's return after half-time failed to change the script.
Nordi Mukiele threw his body on the line to deny Jeremy Doku, Gvardiol clipped the post, and Donnarumma saved smartly from Eliezer Mayenda.
Sunderland resisted, as City slipped four points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 19
Tuesday
Burnley - Newcastle 1-3 (1-2)
/Laurent 23 - Joelinton 2, Wissa 7, Guimaraes 90+3/
Chelsea - Bournemouth 2-2 (2-2)
/Palmer 15 pen, Fernandez 23 - Brooks 6, Kluivert 27/
Nott. Forest - Everton 0-2 (0-1)
/Garner 19, Barry 79/
West Ham - Brighton 2-2 (2-1)
/Bowen 10, Paqueta 45+4 pen - Welbeck 32 pen, Veltman 61/
Arsenal - Aston Villa 4-1 (0-0)
/Gabriel 48, Zubimendi 52, Trossard 69, Jesus 78 - Watkins 90+4
Man. Utd - Wolverhampton 1-1 (1-1)
/Zirkzee 27 - Krejci 45/
Thursday
Crystal Palace - Fulham 1-1 (1-0)
/Mateta 39 - Cairney 80/
Liverpool - Leeds United 0-0
Brentford - Tottenham 0-0
Sunderland - Manchester City 0-0
