Hello and welcome to our liveblog of what could turn out to be a crucial game in this increasingly unpredictable season – Sunderland versus Man City.

Here are the teams:

Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, O’Shea, Brown, Colback, McClean, Cattermole, Vaughan, Larsson, Bendtner, Sessegnon. Subs: Carson, Kilgallon, Elmohamady, Ji, Meyler, Noble, Laing.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Lescott, Kompany, Kolarov, Johnson, De Jong, Toure Yaya, Barry, Nasri, Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Clichy, Savic, Milner, Silva, Aguero.

Note that Irish player James McClean makes his first start for Sunderland.

And we’re underway…

So close. Nicklas Bendtner finds himself through on goal and tries to round Joe Hart, but the City keeper manages to claw the ball away well.

Nice run and a shot from Irishman James McClean, who tests Joe Hart without troubling him unduly. A dark horse to make Ireland’s Euro 2012 squad perhaps?

A  typically robust and – in the referee’s eyes – unfair challenge earns Nigel De Jong the first booking of the game.

It’s been a less than impressive opening few minutes from City. They don’t look like a team with a chance to open up a lead at the top of the table – as of yet at least.

However, just as I type, Adam Johnson fizzes a shot narrowly over the bar.

With 20 minutes gone, this has hardly been the liveliest game of the season, with little chances to speak of apart from Bendtner’s one-on-one with Hart. It’s still arguably the liveliest game of the year though.

More bad news for Sunderland. With their squad already having to deal with a number of injuries, Wes Brown is now hobbling and is about to be replaced by Matt Kilgallon.

Another promising City move breaks down, as Kolarov shoots well wide in a lackadaisical manner that is typical of the manner in which this first half has been played.

Mignolet  had a bit of a David De Gea moment there, as he unsuccessfully tried to come for a cross. However, he subsequently makes up for his error with a terrific saave, before Nasri’s shot is cleared off the line by Gardner.

City are really beginning to up the tempo now.

Mignolet again doesn’t exactly cover himself in glory, as he parries a corner straight to Edin Dzeko, whose powerful shot skims the top of the crossbar.

Again, Mignolet fails to hold Johnson’s cross, before grasping the ball gratefully at the second attempt. He really looks nervy at the moment.

Will Sunderland end up the ruing the enforced absence of Ireland’s Keiren Westwood?

A powerful Gardner shot fails to trouble Hart, as Sunderland make a rare foray into opposition territory.

HALF TIME: SUNDERLAND 0-0 MAN CITY

Martin O’Neill will undoubtedly be the happier of the two managers at the moment. City have only sporadically threatened, while the only real clear-cut chance fell to Sunderland (see 15.04).

While we wait for the game to recommence, here’s a poll to keep you entertained.

Has the quality of the Premier League declined in recent seasons?

Aguero is apparently replacing De Jong for Man City. Balotelli didn’t even make the bench by the way.

And the second half has begun…

Another dodgy clearance from Mignolet from a cross. Westwood really can’t come back soon enough for Sunderland.

Already, this second half is looking far more open, partially thanks to City’s more attacking line-up.

The game is getting very scrappy at the moment, with both sides surrendering possession cheaply on a regular basis.

Zabaleta scuffs a shot well wide, before David Silva replaces the disappointing Samir Nasri.

Mirror Football’s wry reaction to the game’s underwhelming first half:

That’s City’s best chance so far. Silva makes an immediate impact, playing through Aguero, whose tame shot is saved by the leg of Mignolet.

Kompany direly overhits a pass intended for Aguero. Are City running out of ideas?

A  terrific run from Sessegnon, who outfoxes Kompany, before shooting narrowly wide with the outside of his foot.

City make their final substitution, as Richards replaces Kolarov. Meanwhile, Dzeko heads Silva’s outswinging free kick just wide.

Sunderland are beginning to look weary, as City increasingly dominate this game. Can the hosts hold out for the last 20 minutes?

Brilliant last-ditch tackle from Gardner, who stops an onrushing Zabaleta from scoring what looked a certain goal.

Great play from McClean, who somehow wriggles away from Richards, before his cross is well cleared. The Irishman looks a decent player.

Sunderland are still showing impressive ambition in attack, breaking with four or five players on average.

Ji Dong-Won replaces Nicklas Bendtner for Sunderland.

Dzeko shoots miles over the bar, continuing his recent indifferent form in the process.

Again, Dzeko heads wide from a pinpoint Silva cross. That was a difficult chance, in fairness.

Man City have five minutes to prevent yet another surprise result from occurring this weekend.

Cattermole is receiving treatment now, as a temporary break in play occurs. Meanwhile, Mancini is showing Richards what looks like a detailed set of instructions from his notepad.

Incredible! Mignolet can only parry Silva’s shot into the path of Richards, whose downward header bounces up and hits the crossbar.

Not only has Lee Cattermole avoided getting sent off for once, he’s also just been announced as today’s man of the match.

GOAL FOR SUNDERLAND!!!

Incredible scenes at the Stadium of Light. Sessegnon plays through a suspiciously offside looking Ji Dong-Won, who calmly rounds Joe Hart and slots home. The Martin O’Neill revolution is very much on.

FULL TIME: SUNDERLAND 1-0 MAN CITY

What a way to end this amazing Premier League weekend, as Ji scores with virtually the last kick of the game. Mancini will be fuming at his side’s inability to capitalise on their rivals’ slip-ups.

Right, thanks for reading this liveblog. I’ll be liveblogging the Leinster game very shortly.