Manchester City took the top spot in the Premier League with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The match saw Enzo Fernandez score his first goal for City, a curling free-kick that caught Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs off guard. This win marked City's seventh successive victory in all competitions this season. City's manager, Enzo Maresca, is off to a dream start, taking over from Pep Guardiola, who won 20 trophies with City.
Sunderland's Brian Brobbey equalized for his team after Fernandez's opener, taking a pass from Enzo Le Fee and steering a clinical finish past City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, Rayan Cherki restored City's lead in the 29th minute, prodding in after Sunderland failed to clear the danger. City's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed again when Brobbey scored his second goal in the 33rd minute, converting from close range after a pass from Thomas Meunier.
The first half ended with City's Antoine Semenyo scoring his first goal of the season in the 43rd minute, drilling past Roefs after Marc Guehi stumbled over a pass from Cherki. Semenyo scored again in the 52nd minute, pouncing on a pass from Cherki with a composed strike. However, Brobbey completed his hat-trick two minutes later, tapping in a pass from Nilson Angulo.
The match was marked by frantic tempo and sloppy defending from both teams. City defender Ruben Dias nearly gifted Sunderland an equaliser, inadvertently guiding the ball towards his own net before hacking it to safety. Despite this, City maintained their lead, with Erling Haaland sealing the win in the 81st minute.
Haaland's goal, his seventh in six games this season, ensured City could relax and enjoy their victory. The win takes City to the top of the Premier League table with 13 goals in five league games, three points above champions Arsenal. However, City's defensive issues, exposed by Sunderland, will be a concern for Maresca ahead of matches against Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.
Fernandez's £125 million transfer from Chelsea on deadline day has been vindicated by his impressive performance, including his crucial first goal. Maresca will be pleased with his team's attacking prowess but will need to address the defensive vulnerabilities that Sunderland exploited. The international break will give Maresca time to work on City's defence.
City's perfect record in the Premier League this season is under threat from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, who will test City's defence in the coming weeks. For now, City can enjoy their top spot and look forward to a challenging few weeks ahead. The win over Sunderland was an entertaining match that showcased City's attacking talent.
Key points
- Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League with a 5-3 win against Sunderland.
- Enzo Fernandez scored his first goal for City, a curling free-kick that caught Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs off guard.
- Erling Haaland sealed the win for City in the 81st minute, his seventh goal in six games this season.
