Man City edge eight-goal thriller against Sunderland

Manchester City moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League after prevailing 5-3 over Sunderland in an eight-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, preserving their perfect league record despite a hat-trick from Brian Brobbey.

Antoine Semenyo scored twice, while Enzo Fernández, Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland also found the net. Fernández opened the scoring with a superb free-kick in the ninth minute, his first goal for City, but Brobbey equalised three minutes later. Subsequently, Cherki restored the hosts' advantage in the 29th minute, only for Brobbey to level again four minutes later after a lengthy VAR review.

Semenyo then struck in the 43rd minute to send City into the interval 3-2 ahead. Moreover, he extended the lead in the 57th minute before Brobbey completed his hat-trick two minutes later, keeping Sunderland within touching distance. City, however, eventually settled the contest in the 81st minute when Haaland converted Joško Gvardiol's cross after another VAR intervention.

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The victory gave City 15 points from five league matches and extended their winning run to seven games in all competitions. Nevertheless, conceding three goals at home exposed defensive vulnerabilities, with Sunderland repeatedly exploiting gaps at the back despite City's attacking potency. Furthermore, Brobbey's feat was historic, as it made him only the fifth player to score three times for a losing side in a Premier League match.