Sunderland AFC vs Manchester United FC: Five things we learned from the EPL encounter

Wahbi Khazri put relegation-threatened Sunderland ahead after three minutes with a free-kick that eluded everybody in the box.

Anthony Martial levelled the scores after after clipping the ball over Vito Mannone, who had parried off a Juan Mata shot. But the Black Cats created history when Lamine Kone's header from Khazri's corner went inside the net as it went down as an own goal by David de Gea.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

Late goals keep haunting United: For the fourth match in succession Louis Van gaal's side has allowed late goals to hurt their chances. Defensive duties have been poor from set pieces and that has allowed teams to sniff out points. Chris Smalling's horrendous man-marking left Lamine Kone free who tucked in the header in the 82nd minute to earn Sunderland precious points.

Matteo Darmian is failing to justify tag: Italian defender Matteo Darmian was poor in the 38 minuted he played before being injured. Darmian's final product while going forward has been a daft the entire season. He had some glorious run-ins from the right flank but his poor crossing cost his side creating chances. Meanwhile, his replacement Donald Love had a solid performance on is debut at right-back.

Anthony Martial, David de Gea only bright spots: French forward Martial and Spanish goalkeeper De Gea has been the bright figures for United in this disastrous campaign so far. De Gea made some excellent saves in the second half to keep United in the game. Martial showed his clever attitude and composure to score the equaliser. Both players are a notch above in quality from the rest of the side.

Black Cats showing right attitude: Sunderland is getting up in their pursuit of survival and their attitude has been notable. Despite being the second best side in the first 45 minutes, Sunderland dominated the second half at ease. The entire team is sticking together and are producing good performances that was also seen in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool.

United's inconsistency under Gaal continues: With the manner in which a laboured United played the second half, the consistency is clearly lacking. The body language alongside the intensity and purpose was poor at a time they needed to play with belief. Gaal is in added pressure now as his side cannot put together a string of performances. Was Jose Mourinho watching the game?

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Embattled United boss van Gaal takes his team to Sunderland on Saturday with speculation mounting that Mourinho is waiting in the wings to take charge at Old Trafford.

United have refused to deny reports they have spoken to Mourinho in recent weeks following their team`s slump and the former 

Chelsea boss is said to have made it clear he is ready to replace van Gaal if the Dutchman is sacked or departs at the end of the season.

Van Gaal concedes it is plausible the club have made contact with Mourinho in secret, but he is hoping that is not the case.

"Then I shall be disappointed (if contact has been made)," he said.

"Because that is the consequence of what I have said. In a football world that is possible, I know, but I do not think that.

"I have a relationship with (executive vice chairman) Ed (Woodward) and the Glazers, they (would) tell me I think."

Meanwhile, Jamie Vardy is adamant Leicester City remain unfazed by the mounting pressure of the title race as the shock leaders prepare for a summit meeting with Arsenal on Sunday.

For the first time this season, Claudio Ranieri`s side find themselves the bookmakers` favourites to be crowned champions after their fairytale rise reached a new high with last weekend`s stunning 3-1 win at title rivals Manchester City.

The Foxes sit five points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur and third-placed Arsenal with just 13 games remaining and the previously unthinkable prospect of the unfashionable outfit winning a first ever top-flight title is now a genuine possibility.

But the task of successfully completing an unexpected title bid proved too much for Liverpool in the closing weeks of the 2013-14 season and many pundits still believe Leicester`s unheralded players, who only last year were fighting to avoid relegation, will crumble in similar style.

However, England striker Vardy insists there are no signs of any nerves in the camp ahead of this weekend`s crucial clash with the Gunners in north London.

"We`re just enjoying it aren`t we? We`re enjoying the ride," Vardy said. "If you start thinking about it too much it`s going to affect you, it`s as simple as that.

"We`ll just continue to do exactly the same thing we`ve done all season.

"Arsenal are up there, we`re up there, (Manchester) City are. We`ll just take every game as it comes, knuckle down and hopefully keep picking points up."Arsene Wenger`s team pounded Leicester in a 5-2 victory inspired by an Alexis Sanchez hat-trick in September and in the process extended their 22-year unbeaten league record against the Foxes to 18 matches.

But Vardy is confident Leicester, steeled by their recent triumphs at City and Tottenham, have learnt the lessons of their heaviest defeat of the season and will provide more obdurate opposition for Arsenal this time around.

"No doubt it will be tough against Arsenal, we know the players they`ve got are world class but although we lost 5-2 when we played them last time we did show that we can hurt them," Vardy said.

Just hours after the final whistle at the Emirates Stadium, attention will turn north to Eastlands, where City host Tottenham in the other fixture with major implications for the title race this weekend.
Buoyed by four successive league wins, Mauricio Pochettino`s team harbour hopes of a first English title since 1961.

Tottenham have made a habit of failing to fulfil their potential whenever they have started to look like title contenders in the past, but Pochettino, who took charge last season, sees far more resilience in the current squad.
"I think we are different people now," Pochettino said.

"It`s difficult to explain but today we live in the present and everyone at the club believes we can win every game."

Liverpool, dumped out of the FA Cup by West Ham United in midweek and rocked by their fans` recent walkout over ticket prices, could also do with a morale-boosting win when they face bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless stated)

Saturday 

Bournemouth v Stoke, Chelsea v Newcastle (1730 GMT), Crystal Palace v Watford, Everton v West Brom, Norwich v West Ham, Sunderland v Manchester United (1245 GMT), Swansea v Southampton

Sunday

Arsenal v Leicester (1200 GMT), Aston Villa v Liverpool (1405 GMT), Manchester City v Tottenham (1615 GMT)

Samir Nasri to be out for three months due to hamstring injury

Manchester City's French midfielder Samir Nasri will be out for a further three months due to a hamstring injury, he revealed on Thursday.

London: Manchester City's French midfielder Samir Nasri will be out for a further three months due to a hamstring injury, he revealed on Thursday.

"What doesn't kill you make you stronger. I will be back better than ever see you in 3 months," Nasri wrote in an Instagram post alongside a picture of him looking pensive as he rested on a pair of crutches.

Nasri, 28, has not played for City since making a substitute appearance in their 5-1 Premier League defeat of Bournemouth on October 17.

He was thought to be closing on a return to action, but will now be out until February.