Man City 5-3 Sunderland; City survive eight-goal thriller to stay top

Manchester City survived a remarkable eight-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium, beating Sunderland 5-3 to maintain their place at the top of the Premier League.

Enzo Fernández gave City an early lead before Brian Brobbey struck twice to twice bring Sunderland level, while Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo put the hosts back in front.

Semenyo added his second after half-time before Brobbey completed his hat-trick, but Erling Haaland’s late goal finally settled a chaotic contest and secured City’s seventh consecutive league victory.

City took the lead after just nine minutes when Fernández caught Sunderland goalkeeper Roefs off guard with a clever free-kick from the right edge of the area, curling the ball inside the near post.

Sunderland responded almost immediately as Enzo Le Fée found Brobbey just outside the box, with the striker using an excellent first touch before guiding a low finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The hosts restored their advantage in the 29th minute after Sunderland gave the ball away playing out from the back.

Antoine Semenyo eventually teed up Rayan Cherki, who calmly picked out the bottom-left corner for his third Premier League goal of the season.

Sunderland refused to fold and levelled again four minutes later.

Thomas Meunier linked up with Le Fée before playing the ball into Brobbey, who finished from close range to complete his brace.

City eventually edged ahead for a third time before the break when Semenyo drove a powerful first-time effort into the bottom corner following sustained pressure around the Sunderland penalty area.

The hosts had a huge opportunity to extend their lead before half-time, but Haaland fired wide from close range after a promising Sunderland attack broke down inside their own area.

The second half was barely 12 minutes old when City found a fourth.

Cherki’s searching ball forward caused confusion in the Sunderland defence, allowing Semenyo to collect the loose ball before drilling another powerful finish into the bottom corner.

Yet Brobbey had one more response.

Granit Xhaka’s pass over the top found Nilson Angulo, who sent a low ball across the six-yard box for Brobbey to poke home and complete a remarkable hat-trick.

The goal made Brobbey the first player to score a Premier League hat-trick against the team starting the day top of the table and still finish on the losing side since Roque Santa Cruz for Blackburn Rovers against Wigan Athletic in December 2007.

Sunderland almost completed another comeback in the 70th minute when Xhaka’s free-kick caused confusion in the City penalty area.

Marc Guéhi and Donnarumma failed to deal with the delivery, and Ruben Dias was forced to race back and clear the ball off his own goal line under pressure from Wilson Isidor.

City finally put the result beyond doubt eight minutes from time.

Joško Gvardiol broke forwards from left-back before sending a low cross towards the far post, where Haaland slid in to finish.

The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but VAR overturned the decision and confirmed the striker had remained onside.

The result keeps Manchester City three points clear of reigning champions Arsenal at the top of the table.

City’s next test comes against Liverpool away from home, while Sunderland remain 14th and will host Brighton & Hove Albion in their next league fixture.