Manchester City’s recent 5-3 triumph over Sunderland was anything but the textbook display of control that Pep Guardiola’s side is famous for. Enzo Maresma, the City assistant, summed up the spectacle by noting that while his team wanted to dominate, the opposition simply refused to give them space.
Sunderland made life difficult from the first whistle, and City’s own mistakes only added to the pandemonium. Before the game, Maresma had already warned that the challenge would be formidable. He knew Sunderland were aggressive off the ball and would press hard, and the match proved his concerns valid. The Black Cats managed to terrorise the Etihad, forcing City to concede more territory than usual and to hand up a staggering number of chances at home.
It is rare for Manchester City to allow three goals on their own turf, let alone give away so much space. Why did the home side look so exposed? The answer lies partly in the physical battle that unfolded. Brian Brobbey delivered a masterclass in hold‑up play, reminiscent of his performance against Arsenal a week earlier, but this time he combined his strength with a hat‑trick of impressive goals.
Whenever Brobbey won his duel with centre‑back Ruben Dias – which happened frequently – he created space for teammates to exploit. He was supported by Enzo Le Fee, while Nilson Angulo and Thomas Meunier quickly arrived from the flanks, turning City’s attack into a relentless wave. Sunderland’s defenders, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez, struggled to cope with the physicality and the man‑to‑man pressing, often being left out‑muscled.
Statistically, City were out‑duelled and out‑run for large periods. Brobbey alone contested twelve duels, winning ten and drawing the highest number of fouls in the game – five in total. His dominance in the aerial and ground battles made him the clear winner of the tussle for possession.
Despite these setbacks, Maresma’s side managed to adapt and play a portion of the match on Sunderland’s terms, eventually finding the net five times. Their resilience and ability to capitalise on the opposition’s errors demonstrated a gritty, anti‑Pep approach that deserved recognition. In another storyline, Liverpool’s Dutch forward Cody Gakpo continued his impressive run of form. Throughout the season, Gakpo has been involved in a decisive moment in every league start he has made for the Reds.
He opened his account with a goal at Newcastle, delivered a silky assist against Nottingham Forest, and contributed two assists in the victory over Ipswich. His most notable contribution came in the 1‑0 win at Bournemouth, where a hard‑run down the right and a pinpoint cross set up Alexander Isak’s winner.
Although the assist was not officially credited to Gakpo, Liverpool manager Arne Iraola praised the effort, saying the difficulty of the goal lay in Gakpo’s delivery. Gakpo’s influence extended beyond attack; he was the most successful defender on the pitch, winning more duels than any other player and neutralising one of Bournemouth’s key threats.
Iraola highlighted his defensive work, noting that Gakpo’s ability to track back and challenge opponents like Adrien Truffert was vital. When Gakpo is unavailable, Liverpool’s potency diminishes, as seen in the goalless draw with Fulham where he was limited to the bench. The speculation over a possible summer sale of Gakpo therefore appears baffling, given how integral he has become to both the offensive and defensive phases of Liverpool’s play.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, entered the three‑week international break without a win, a disappointing contrast to the euphoria they felt after their historic European victory over Real Sociedad. At the Vitality Stadium, the Cherries looked the more likely side to take three points, but injuries – notably the loss of Justin Kluivert – left them short of attacking options. Manager Marco Rose has made only two changes to his Premier League line‑ups this season, the fewest of any club, a strategy that raises concerns about squad rotation and fatigue as they juggle domestic and European commitments.
Without fresh legs, Bournemouth risk slipping into a relegation battle. In the south, Fulham’s manager Alvaro Arbeloa acknowledged the club’s gradual improvement after draws against Liverpool and Manchester United. Early‑season concerns about a potential relegation fight were heightened by a third consecutive defeat to Crystal Palace, but the team showed promise heading into the international break. Young academy graduate Josh King has emerged as a standout performer, netting two goals in the opening five games and demonstrating why he is highly regarded.
New signing David Affengruber impressed on his debut at centre‑back, appearing to displace Joachim Andersen for the moment. However, Gonzalo Garcia, who scored on his debut after moving from Real Madrid, has struggled to find the net, managing only two shots on target from fifteen attempts. Arbeloa now faces a critical six‑week period to fine‑tune his squad before the league resumes, especially with upcoming fixtures against the newly‑promoted clubs.
The next month will be decisive for Fulham’s aspirations. Over at Elland Road, Crystal Palace arrived with a worrying defensive record – eleven goals conceded in their first four league games – but left with a clean sheet after a disciplined second‑half display against Leeds United. The Palace side altered their mindset at halftime, applying sustained pressure and forcing Leeds into a subdued performance.
Leeds struggled to create clear chances; Dominic Calvert‑Lewin was often isolated, and when opportunities did arise, Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez was ready to make the save. The 0‑0 result reflected a balanced contest, but Palace can draw far more confidence from the performance than Leeds can. For Palace manager Pierre Sage, the defensive solidity shown could become the foundation for a turnaround in fortunes. As the season progresses, both clubs will look to build on these moments, hoping to convert resilience into points and avoid the spectre of relegation.