Manchester City continues its perfect start and takes sole lead in the English Premier League

Manchester City continued their perfect start to the new Premier League season, securing a thrilling fifth consecutive victory by defeating visitors Sunderland 5-3 on Sunday in Matchday 5.

City, under new Italian manager Enzo Maresca, capitalized on the first defeat of title holders Arsenal, who lost 0-3 to Brighton on Saturday, to take sole possession of the top spot, leading the Gunners by three points ahead of the international break.

Against a team they had not lost to in the Premier League since November 2013 (a 0-1 away defeat), City struggled defensively but were always able to respond offensively.

Maresca’s side, who face a tough match against Liverpool when the league resumes on the 11th of next month, led 3-2 at halftime in a match where Dutchman Bryan Brobbey shone for Sunderland with a hat-trick (12', 33', 59'). Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo scored twice for City (43', 57') and provided the assist for Frenchman Rayan Cherki’s third goal of the season (29').

The opening goal of the match went to City via Argentine Enzo Fernández, who opened his scoring account for his new club with a brilliant free kick (9'). The fifth goal for the hosts, and the eighth of the match overall, was scored by Norwegian Erling Haaland, who raised his Premier League tally to five goals this season with an assist from Croatian Joško Gvardiol (81'), securing Maresca’s side’s seventh consecutive victory across all competitions since the start of the season.

Spanish manager Andoni Iraola made a successful return to the stadium of his former club Bournemouth, whom he managed from 2023 until the end of last season, leading Liverpool to a single-goal victory. Swedish striker Alexander Isak scored the only goal in the 57th minute, raising his personal tally to four goals this season.

With their second win, three draws, and no defeats, the Reds moved up to sixth place, trailing Leeds United (fifth) and Brentford (fourth) on goal difference. Leeds drew 0-0 with visitors Crystal Palace.