Manchester City moved clear at the top of the Premier League with a dramatic 5-3 victory over Sunderland on Sunday, maintaining new coach Enzo Maresca’s perfect start to the season.
The result gave City a three-point lead over defending champion Arsenal, with Maresca extending his winning run to five games before the international break.
But the scoreline only partly reflected a chaotic contest at the Etihad Stadium. City twice surrendered the lead, while Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey outshone Erling Haaland with a hat trick before Haaland finally ended the visitors’ brave fight.
Manchester United, meanwhile, rescued a 1-1 draw at Fulham to avoid three straight defeats in all competitions, while Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 1-0 through Alexander Isak’s fourth goal of the season.
Leeds and Crystal Palace played out a 0-0 draw.
Maresca maintains perfect start
Maresca’s 100% record continued after he took on the challenge of succeeding Pep Guardiola over the summer.
With the responsibility of maintaining City’s successful era, which has included six league titles and the Champions League among 17 major trophies, Maresca has made the strongest possible start in terms of results.
However, City will need to improve defensively if they are to end a two-year wait for the league title.
“I would prefer to win 1-0 than 5-3,” Maresca said. “I’m always trying to see what we can do better. Two of the three goals that we concede, they have been too easy.”
Sunderland repeatedly exposed gaps in City’s defence, scoring three times and creating several more opportunities.
City twice surrendered the lead in the first half before going into the break 3-2 ahead.
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a free kick that curled into the near post, but Brobbey quickly equalised after getting behind City’s defence.
Rayan Cherki restored City’s advantage with a low effort from inside the area, only for Brobbey to level again after Sunderland once more capitalised on loose defending.
Antoine Semenyo then drilled a low shot past Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs shortly before half-time and scored again in the 57th minute to give City some breathing room.
Brobbey completed his hat trick by forcing the ball over the line from close range, while Ruben Dias had to clear off the line to prevent Sunderland from levelling again through an own goal.
Haaland’s seventh goal in his last five games finally settled the contest in the 81st minute, ensuring City remained top after Arsenal’s surprise defeat by Brighton on Saturday.
“It is much better to win games. It is better to have three points more than not, but it is quite early in the season,” Maresca said.
Man United find late relief
After consecutive defeats, United needed a win to ease the pressure heading into the international break.
Instead, there was relief at Craven Cottage after the team secured a point against winless Fulham.
“We came to get the win, but the way it has panned out and the way we finished the game are the positives we take from it,” United coach Michael Carrick said.
“We know we can be better and we need to be better about certain things. That is pretty clear and we will be.”
Lisandro Martinez’s own goal shortly after the hour mark appeared to pile further pressure on Carrick following defeats by City and Brighton during the past week.
United had twice hit the post in the first half but rarely looked close to an equaliser until Matheus Cunha’s long-range effort in the 89th minute deflected off David Affengruber and wrong-footed Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
“In the second half it was like they put in more energy than us. We cannot accept this. We always play better after conceding a goal, and it cannot be like this,” Cunha said.
“We were a little bit unlucky. Me and Bruno Fernandes hit the post, but we have to keep creating things and hope they come to more things.”
“It is the same as last season where there was a bit of noise around and we finished third. This season we need to improve further.”
The draw left big-spending Tottenham at the bottom of the standings on goal difference.
Isak delivers again for Liverpool
Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola enjoyed a winning return to Bournemouth after leaving the south coast club at the end of last season.
The Spanish coach had spent three successful seasons at the Vitality Stadium before taking charge at Anfield.
He had Isak to thank for Liverpool’s second league win of the campaign, with the Sweden international producing a composed close-range finish in the 57th minute.
The striker, who joined Liverpool for $170 million, endured a difficult first season at the club after being disrupted by injury. He has made an impressive start this season, scoring four goals in five league appearances.
Leeds maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a 0-0 home draw against Crystal Palace.
After battling relegation last term, Leeds sits fifth in the standings.
