Manchester City continued their dominance in the Irani Cup with a comprehensive victory over Sunderland, who had already reached the final with a remarkable run. The match showcased Sunderland's attacking flair — particularly from striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who continued his impressive tournament form — but City's experience and quality proved decisive on the biggest stage.
Sunderland, the FA Cup holders entering the tournament as underdogs against the English football powerhouse, showed bravery throughout. Their attacking approach kept City on the back foot for stretches, and they created several clear chances. However, the gap in pedigree and depth ultimately told as City controlled possession and territorial advantage for large periods of the encounter.
In a separate fixture on the same evening, Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford seeking to maintain their momentum but were denied all three points in a tense Premier League clash. The Reds took an early lead through Luis Diaz, who made no mistake from the penalty spot after Ousmane Dembele brought down Alex Iwobi inside the box in the 19th minute. However, Sunderland — who had already secured their place in the Irani Cup final — responded strongly after half-time, with Jonathan Leko steering home a composed finish in the 73rd minute to earn a hard-earned point and keep alive their hopes of matching their best-ever league position.
The draw meant Sunderland maintained a remarkable unbeaten run across all competitions, adding further drama to an extraordinary season for the club. For Liverpool, the result represented another reminder of their ongoing struggles in front of goal, with Diaz's tally now standing at seven across all competitions this term.
Attention now shifts to theIrani Cup final, where Sunderland face Manchester City in what promises to be a significant occasion for both clubs.
