Manchester City head into the extended international break three points clear at the top of the Premier League after edging a completely bonkers, gloriously chaotic eight-goal thriller against Sunderland, winning 5-3.
Enzo Maresca’s side knew that any positive result would see them open up a gap on nearest rivals Arsenal after Mikel Arteta’s side slumped to defeat at Brighton on Saturday. But Maresca surely did not plan to do it in the chaotic manner that transpired, with City trading blows with Sunderland as though it were a training match.
Enzo Fernandez’s clever free-kick put City ahead inside nine minutes, but that was merely the beginning of the pandemonium. Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo also found the net in a first half that produced five goals, with Sunderland’s undefendable striker Brian Brobbey grabbing two.
Man City led three times in first half
Man City led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 in the first half, making it only the seventh match in Premier League history to see a team take the lead on three separate occasions in the first half alone.
City’s performance was littered with mistakes, particularly defensively, as Brobbey bullied Ruben Dias and completed a remarkable 33-minute hat-trick after Semenyo had netted his second of the afternoon to make it 4-2 in favour of the hosts.
rling Haaland had the final say, breaking his Sunderland duck to complete the Premier League set, having now found the net against all 25 opponents he has faced in the English top flight.
Matheus Cunha’s deflected strike rescued a point for Manchester United late on to deny Fulham a first Premier League win of the season.
Lisandro Martinez’s bizarre own goal at Craven Cottage had looked set to condemn the visitors to a third consecutive defeat.
However, with just a minute of the 90 remaining, Cunha’s shot from 20 yards took a wicked deflection off
Fulham centre-back David Affengruber, wrongfooted goalkeeper Bernd Leno and found the corner of the net.
It was particularly harsh on Leno, who had made a number of big saves as United pushed for a leveller.
