Complex sentence: On 5 January, Villa were beaten 1--0 at home by Sunderland; this loss left Villa in 18th position in the league table, the first time they had been in the relegation zone since 2002.
Split into simpler sentences: On 5 January, Villa were beaten 1--0 at home by Sunderland. This loss left Villa in 18th position in the league table, the first time they had been in the relegation zone since 2002.