Chelsea are bidding to solve their defensive troubles with Senegal defender Papy Djilobodji as a switch from Nantes nears completion.

Sunderland 1 Leeds United 0

All the team news from around the grounds ahead of the full round of matches on St Stephen’s Day in the Premier League.

All the team news from around the grounds ahead of Week 16 in the Premier League - more to follow as it comes in.

All the team news from around the grounds ahead of Week 8 in the Premier League.

All the team news from around the grounds ahead of Week 7 in the Premier League - more to follow as it comes in.

All the team news from around the grounds ahead of Week 6 in the Premier League - more to follow as it comes in.

Sunderland 2 Tottenham 2

Norway 0 Italy 2

Sunderland's “miraculous” great escape is almost complete after they clinched their first win at Manchester United for almost half a century.

Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0

Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0

Manchester City 2 Sunderland 2

Arsenal 4 Sunderland 1

Arsenal 4 Sunderland 1

The Irish Examiner’s Darren Norris remains in festive mood this new year as he hands out his annual Premier League mid-season awards

Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 1

Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 1

Jack Colback struck in injury time to earn Sunderland a point and stun managerless Cardiff.

Everton 0 Sunderland 1

West Ham 0 Sunderland 0

Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 0

Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 0

Sunderland 1 Manchester City 0

Swansea 4 Sunderland 0

Sunderland 1 Man United 2

Phil Jones hailed Manchester United’s champion qualities after helping them fight back to snatch victory at lowly Sunderland.

Kevin Ball has urged Sunderland to build on the foundations they have lain during his spell in charge, irrespective of whether or not he remains at the helm.

Teenager Adnan Januzaj blasted Manchester United to a face-saving 2-1 victory at Sunderland with a superb double on his first start for the club.

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Sunderland 1 Liverpool 3

Sunderland 2 Peterborough 0

While Cardiff City’s win over Manchester City was the standout result of the weekend another promoted club, Hull, were also celebrating a first win of the season thanks to a penalty from Republic of Ireland winger Robbie Brady.

Southampton 1 Sunderland 1

Sunderland 0 Fulham 1

Former Sunderland striker Darren Bent had to settle for a place on the bench as his new club Fulham prepared to kick off the new Barclays Premier League season at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio is expected to name the majority of his 10 summer signings in his starting line-up for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League season opener against Fulham.

James McClean has no fears dropping down a division will harm his international aspirations.

Uruguay 2 Italy 2, Italy win 3-2 on pens

Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli revelled in a Confederations Cup victory over Mexico at the Maracana but warned his match-winning striker Mario Balotelli to stop “flexing his muscles”.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon savoured the prospect of another two classic encounters against Juventus after being paired with the Italian champions and Serie A leaders in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho admits his side deserved to lose against Sevilla at the weekend as they slipped eight points behind Barcelona in the Primera Division.

Football these days is full of greedy young men and grasping young women, players and their WAGs, a set of people who inhabit a world of their own, utterly separate from the world of their fans.

Cesare Prandelli has no difficulty with criticism after a game.