Manchester City survived a remarkable eight-goal thriller on Sunday, defeating Sunderland 5-3 at the Etihad Stadium to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola’s side maintained their perfect start to the league campaign after capitalising on Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Saturday.
City took the lead after just nine minutes through Enzo Fernández.
Sunderland responded quickly, with Brian Brobbey restoring parity to make it 1-1.
The game remained wide open, with both sides creating chances at either end.
Rayan Cherki put City back in front in the 29th minute after being set up by Antoine Semenyo.
But Brobbey struck again four minutes later to level the scores at 2-2.
City regained the lead two minutes before half-time when Semenyo found the net in the 43rd minute.
The hosts went into the break 3-2 ahead.
Semenyo extended City’s advantage 12 minutes into the second half, completing his brace to make it 4-2.
Sunderland refused to give up.
Brobbey completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute, cutting City’s lead to 4-3 and setting up a tense finish.
The visitors continued to push for an equaliser but were finally punished when Erling Haaland struck in the 81st minute.
The goal sealed a 5-3 victory for City.
The result took Guardiola’s men to 15 points from five matches.
City now sit three points clear of Arsenal at the summit.
Arsenal had entered the weekend level on points with the champions but suffered a heavy defeat away to Brighton.
City took full advantage at the Etihad, emerging from the eight-goal contest with their unbeaten and perfect league start intact.
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