Good evening everyone! The midweek Premier League action continues and the games taking place tonight could have a significant impact at the top of the table. Here, we will be focusing on the events at the Stadium of Light, where Manchester City visit Sunderland.

Just a few weeks ago there were talks of a crisis at Sunderland, following their 8-0 defeat against Southampton, but an unbeaten run in November has taken the pressure off manager Gus Poyet. They are still not completely away from the relegation zone yet and will be looking to maintain their decent form over the festive period.

The opposition for the Black Cats this evening is a Manchester City side that could move to within three points of league leaders Chelsea by the end of the night if everything goes their way. Manuel Pellegrini's players seem to have got over their patchy start to the season and look as if they are hitting form at such an important time.

SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon, Vergini, Reveillere, O'Shea, Coates, Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell, Buckley, Wickham, Fletcher

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Boyata, Demichelis, Clichy, Fernandinho, Toure, Nasri, Navas, Jovetic, Aguero

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannone, Bridcutt, Brown, Cabral, Gomez, Alvarez, Altidore

MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Cabellero, Angelino, Sagna, Fernando, Lampard, Milner, Pozo

Poyet has made a couple of changes to his side from their draw against Chelsea at the weekend. Sebastian Coates comes into the defence in place of Wes Brown, while Will Buckley replaces Adam Johnson to join Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher in the attack.

Meanwhile, the visitors have also been forced into making two changes to their starting XI. An injury to Vincent Kompany and the suspension of Eliaquim Mangala means that Martin Demichelis and Dedryck Boyata are drafted in the defence.

Sunderland could not have asked for a much tougher run of fixtures this week, but they will come into tonight's match in good spirits after holding Chelsea to a goalless draw at the weekend. It doesn't get any easier for them, as a trip to Anfield to play Liverpool awaits them on Saturday.

It is quite hard to judge how well they have done this season and of course many will point to their hammering at Southampton. However, that was only one of three defeats they have suffered in the league and the only time that they have conceded more than two goals in a single match.

Although they may not have lost many games, they have only won twice in their 13 league matches, which is the joint lowest in the top flight alongside Burnley and Hull City. They do have a tenancy to draw, with eight of their fixtures ending on level terms.

One of their biggest problems has been finding the back of the net. They have scored just 12 times this season and only Steven Fletcher (4) and Sebastian Larsson (2) have netted more than once. It certainly is an area that Poyet will have to address in the transfer window if they want to avoid another relegation scrap.

In stark contrast to Sunderland's potential battle against the drop, Manchester City will be looking to hold on to their Premier League crown. The Citizens claimed an impressive 3-0 victory against Southampton at the weekend and are now six points behind leaders Chelsea in the table.

That result down on the South Coast has capped off a particularly good spell for the club. They have won both of their league games since the international break and revived their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League thanks to Sergio Aguero's late heroics in their 3-2 win against Bayern Munich.

Having looked at City's fixtures over Christmas, there are a number of games against teams from the bottom half of the table that they will be confident of winning. Their last four matches of the year are against Leicester City, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and Burnley, which should help them keep up the pressure on Chelsea.

Of course it helps the Citizens that their best players are hitting top form at just the right time. Yaya Toure endured a difficult start to the season, but he has scored in their last two games and is looking back to his commanding best. It is also hard to imagine just where the club would be without Sergio Aguero, as the Argentine has scored an impressive 17 goals already this season.

The Stadium of Light has become a bit of a nightmare for City in recent seasons and they have lost on their last four visits to the ground. Each of those games ended in a 1-0 win to Sunderland. You have to go back to August 2008 for their first win here, as a double from Shaun Wright-Phillips and a strike from Stephen Ireland helped them to a 3-0 victory.

It is worth mentioning the last time that these teams met in the league. Sunderland were struggling at the bottom of the table, while City were trailing Liverpool in the hunt for the title. Fernandinho had given City an early lead, but a brace from Connor Wickham put the Black Cats ahead. With two minutes left to play Samir Nasri scored to salvage a draw for Pellegrini's men. That point would prove crucial in them beating Liverpool to the title, while the result provided a huge boost for Sunderland, who won their next four games to incredibly avoid the drop.

PREDICTION: I'm expecting a very tight game and just one goal could be enough to decide the outcome. Sunderland have improved recently and they battled well to earn a point against Chelsea at the weekend. However, Manchester City are also on a good run of form and their victories over Bayern Munich and Southampton have added weight to their challenge for silverware. I feel that the visitors will have too much strength in their attack for the Black Cats to deal with, so for that reason I am going to tip City to win 1-0 and end their terrible run at the Stadium of Light.

You're heard my thoughts on the match, now make sure you have a look at our video preview from the guys at Sports Mole HQ as we close in on kick off.

The teams are out on the pitch and we are now just a few minutes away from kick off. Do remember that we have live coverage of all of tonight's Premier League games.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadium of Light!

The hosts are given an early chance to put pressure on the City defence as Buckley wins a free kick on the left following a foul by Zabaleta. Larsson goes over to take the resulting set piece, but his delivery is easily cleared by the visitors.

City have begun to dominate and they cause a real moment of panic in their opponents box when Navas gets in down the right and whips a low ball across the box. It is just ahead of Aguero at the front post and ends up missing everyone in the middle.

OFF THE LINE! What a huge moment this is for Sunderland. Buckley beats the offside trap and latches onto a ball down the right. Instead of opting to shoot, he looks up and picks out Rodwell arriving on the edge of the box. The former City man then tries to find the net with a low strike, but Zabaleta was there to clear the ball off the line.

It has been a very open start to the match and at the other end of the pitch City are back on the attack. They work a decent chance as Jovetic feeds Clichy in down the left, but the Frenchman's pull back across the box is well cut out by the Sunderland defence.

Poyet will be very pleased at the start his team have made to the match and they are full of confidence. They are getting plenty of men forward to support Fletcher in the attack and look good in possession.

Aguero only needs a moment to make the difference, but his first shot this evening is not one of his best. He initially does well to wriggle away from his marker and come inside from the left, before getting to the edge of the box. Once he gets the ball in space on his left foot, he looks to fire in a strike, but the ball ends up heading well over bar.

Once again Navas is found down the right after a good move from City and he flashes a great low ball across the box. However, none of his teammates are there to convert and the hosts clear. You would expect someone like Aguero to be lapping up chances like that.

The hosts have broken the deadlock and once more they lead City at home! it's a fortunate goal as Wickham is slipped in by Larsson's fine through ball, but before he can get a shot away, Zabaleta slides in to make the challenge. Unfortunately for the City defender, he kicks the ball against Wickham and the ball ends up in the back of the net.

What a great response this is by City, who were behind for less than two minutes. Aguero picks up the ball outside the box, before taking it past Coates and firing a stunning strike into the corner that leaves the keeper with no chance.

CHANCE! Navas is having a fine game down the right and after picking up the ball just inside the box, he finds some space and looks to fire a strike across the keeper and into the far corner. The ball ends up going just inches wide, but City are well on top now.

Sunderland have given away possession cheaply on quite a few occasions now and Toure is quick to latch onto a loose pass. He plays it in to Nasri on the edge of the box, but after turning and getting the ball out of his feet, the Frenchman blazes a strike over the bar.

At the moment it only looks like a matter of time until City grab a second. Some of their passing has been first class, with Toure and Fernandinho dominating the midfield. Aguero is looking lively in the attack and has already shown what he can do when given even the slightest of openings.

The hosts are really struggling to get out of their own half and Cattermole gives the ball away cheaply, allowing City to counter. The ball is eventually threaded through to Aguero, but from out wide on the right-hand side of the box the Argentine can only scuff an effort wide of the far post.

I would be surprised if Sunderland manage to go into the break on level terms. They just have not been able to control the City midfield, who are in complete control of the match, while their forward players are looking dangerous every time they come forward.

City have played some wonderful football and this is a fantastic team goal. Toure finds Aguero on the edge of the box and the striker flicks a brilliant pass on to Jovetic, who arrives to power a low strike through the legs of Pantilimon. It's no more than they deserve and you feel that there could be a few more for them in this match.

CHANCE! Clichy scored his first goal for City at the weekend and he should probably have another here. Not for the first time in this game, Navas gets in down the right and plays a great ball to the back post. Clichy then arrives and looks to direct his header into the bottom corner, but it goes just wide of the target.

CHANCE! I would have been talking about the goal of the season had Aguero just found the net. He picks the ball up just inside his own half and wriggles away from two Sunderland players. The Argentine then drives through the midfield, before reaching the edge of the box, but ends up dragging a shot wide of the target. He really is having a fine game and must surely be the best striker in the world at the moment.

There are going to be two minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.

OFF THE LINE! They've hardly been in the game, but Sunderland almost equalise right at the end of the first half. It's Vergini with the chance, as he meets a corner, but sees his header blocked by Boyata. The hosts can't scramble in the rebound and City eventually manage to get it clear.

It's half time at the Stadium of Light and we have been witness to a fine 45 minutes of football. Just moments after Connor Wickham had put Sunderland ahead, Sergio Aguero fired City level and a second from Stevan Jovetic has left the visitors firmly in control.

City have produced a vintage display and the stats show their dominance of the first half. They were well in control and have had 65% of the possession. They have also looked far more dangerous than Sunderland, with eight shots on goal compared to four efforts from their opponents.

Well, what more can we say about Sergio Aguero? The Argentine has had a brilliant half of football and his thunderbolt of a strike took him to 13 goals in the league this season. When he is fully fit, City look more than capable of beating anyone in world football, as Bayern will have told you last week!

In tonight's other Premier League games, Chelsea currently have a 2-0 lead against Tottenham Hotspur, thanks to goals from Eden Hazard and Didier Drogba. Romelu Lukaku's strike has put Everton 1-0 up against Hull City, while it is goalless between Arsenal and Southampton at the Emirates.

Sunderland take the kick off and get the second half underway.

The Black Cats are the first to threaten at the start of the half when Larsson lets fly from just outside the box. He hits the ball well enough, but the shot is hit straight at Hart, who comfortably holds on.

City fans will remember Toure's strike that found the top corner against Sunderland in last year's League Cup final and the Ivorian looks to bend one in from range. It is not a bad effort, but the ball was always going wide.

Sunderland may have a bit of problem here, as Fletcher is down and in need of treatment following a tough challenge from Boyata. It's not looking good at the moment and Poyet will be desperate for the striker to stay on.

Fletcher is able to come back on the pitch and he is involved straight away. He is picked out by Larsson's pass, but he can't quite get the ball under control and Boyata gets in to clear. Fletcher is still feeling his back, so it remains to be seen how long he will last this evening.

The points are surely heading to the Etihad now as City score a third with another fine goal. Zabaleta exchanges passes with Nasri on the edge of the box and continues his run forward. He is played in with a delightful pass by the Frenchman and then shows great composure to chip an effort over Pantilimon and into the far corner.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Both teams have made their first change of the match. For Sunderland, Altidore is on for Fletcher, while Milner replaces Jovetic for the visitors.

Things are looking very comfortable now for City and they are playing the ball around with ease in the midfield. It just seems that they are able to burst into life at their choosing and you would not put it past them to add another goal or two to their lead.

It's hard to see just how Sunderland are going to get back into this match. They have struggled to put a number of passes together and have barely threatened since the break.

YELLOW CARD! Boyata picks up the first booking of the evening for a foul from behind on Wickham.

The foul from Boyata gives Sunderland a free kick around 25 yards out from goal that Larsson steps up to take. However, it is a disappointing effort from the Swede, who fires the ball straight into the wall.

SUBSTITUTION: The hosts have made their second change, with Alvarez replacing Wickham.

It's another goal for City and Aguero has scored his second of the evening. Milner deserves a lot of the credit, as he picks the ball up on the right and bends in a cross towards the front post, that is met by the Argentine, who guides a low effort past the keeper.

SUBSTITUTION: Aguero won't have the chance to complete his hat-trick for City as Lampard comes on to take his place.

Even without Aguero on the pitch the visitors are pushing for a fifth goal. Aguero's replacement Lampard has slotted well into the City midfield and a clever flick from him looking for Navas is only inches away from putting the Spaniard through on goal.

City will have certainly sent a message out that they are still well in this season's title race. They seem to have hit top form at just the right time and if they can keep this up then it will be hard to stop them.

SUBSTITUTION: It's another change for City, with 18-year-old Pozo coming on for Nasri to make his first Premier League appearance.

Toure has absolutely bossed the midfield this evening and he is looking more like the player that was so good last season. He may not have found the net or had too many shooting chances, but he has kept his side ticking over well and has never misplaced a pass.

There are going to be three minutes of stoppage time.

It's been a very comfortable end to the match for City. They have pushed forward for another goal, but long-range efforts from Lampard and Milner have gone over the bar.

The final whistle blows and Manchester City have cruised to a 4-1 win over Sunderland. The visitors fell behind early on, but they levelled quickly through Sergio Aguero and from the moment they went ahead a win never looked in doubt.

It was a fine performance from Manuel Pellegrini's side, who showed their title credentials once more. As for Sunderland, it ends their four-game unbeaten run and it doesn't get any easier for them as they take on Liverpool at the weekend.

That's all we've got time for this evening. We'll have player ratings and analysis of every game that took place today, so stay tuned for that. I hope you have enjoyed our coverage. Until next time, goodbye!