Manchester City’s electrifying yet disorderly 5-3 triumph over Sunderland stood in stark contrast to the meticulous control usually associated with Pep Guardiola’s side. Enzo Maresca summed up the experience succinctly: “We aim to dominate, but the opposition simply won’t let us.” The Black Cats made life difficult for the visitors, and City, in turn, did not make things any easier for themselves. Before kickoff, Maresca had already warned that the task would be daunting, and the match proved his point. “I knew how good they are, especially off the ball – they’re incredibly aggressive,” he later observed after Sunderland’s ferocious display at the Etihad.
It was a rare night at home for City: they surrendered unprecedented amounts of space, handed up a flood of chances, and, unusually, allowed three goals. Why did the reigning champions become so exposed? Brian Brobbey delivered yet another masterclass in hold‑up play, echoing his performance against Arsenal the previous week. This time, however, his physical dominance was paired with a hat‑trick of superb finishes.
Whenever Brobbey won his duel with centre‑back Ruben Dias – which happened frequently – he created a clear outlet for his teammates. He was quickly supported by the likes of Enzo Le Fee, while Nilson Angulo and Thomas Meunier surged in from the flanks, creating an overload that City repeated throughout the game. Sunderland’s midfielders, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernández, struggled to cope with the physical intensity, unable to match the pressing, man‑to‑man battles or the longer ball play that City employed. 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 match – five. He was impossible to restrain and emerged as the clear winner of the aerial and ground battles. Fortunately for Maresca, City managed to impose their style for enough of the contest to net five goals. They capitalised on Sunderland’s errors, digging deep to achieve a result that, while imperfect, was undeniably effective – an "anti‑Pep" approach that still delivered points.
That resilience should be acknowledged, writes Laura Hunter. In a separate narrative, Michael Carrick has cultivated a reputation for calmly deflecting criticism of Manchester United, a stark contrast to the noisy detractors surrounding the club. Over the past week, Carrick has faced a string of setbacks: a loss in the Manchester derby, a collapse in the Carabao Cup, and a point‑scraping draw at Fulham – a team that had been languishing at the bottom of the table. When questioned at Craven Cottage about United’s joint‑worst start to a Premier League season, Carrick highlighted the fine margins that have defined their campaign – a 25‑yard strike at Everton, a controversially awarded City goal, a bizarre own‑goal at Fulham, and two shots that rattled the woodwork.
While his perspective holds merit, the accumulation of sub‑par performances is beginning to weigh heavily on United. As Carrick admits, the positives in each game are increasingly eclipsed by glaring shortcomings. Defensively, physically, and in possession, United have faltered at crucial moments, paying a steep price.
A ten‑point deficit to league‑leading City now seems insurmountable, and the prospect of surpassing last season’s third‑place finish appears unrealistic. Carrick remains defiant, reminding the press that "a big season still lies ahead," but stresses that a comprehensive shift – beyond mere tactical tweaks – is essential for any realistic chance of success, notes Peter Smith. Turning to Liverpool, Cody Gakpo has consistently delivered headline‑making moments in every match he has started this season.
From a goal on opening day against Newcastle, a silky assist versus Nottingham Forest, dual assists in a win over Ipswich, to a decisive contribution in the Carabao Cup against Tottenham, Gakpo’s influence has been undeniable. His most striking performance came in the 1‑0 victory at Bournemouth, where his determined run down the right and pinpoint cross set up Alexander Isak’s winner. Liverpool manager Luis Iraola praised the difficulty of the goal, attributing much of its creation to Gakpo, even though the assist credit was not officially recorded. Defensively, Gakpo shone equally, winning more duels than any other player on the pitch and neutralising a key Bournemouth threat.
Iraola highlighted Gakpo’s defensive work rate, noting his familiarity with opponent Adrien Truffert and the high standards required in that role. When Gakpo is unavailable, Liverpool’s potency diminishes noticeably, as evidenced by a goalless draw with Fulham where the Dutchman could only be a substitute.
Given his form, it is astonishing that Liverpool considered selling him this summer – a move that would have left a massive void, writes Sam Blitz. Bournemouth’s recent form reflects a roller‑coaster of emotions: a historic European win over Real Sociedad followed by another Premier League defeat.
Heading into the three‑week international break, they remain winless, a disappointing way to cap a period that began with joy in San Sebastián. The match against Leeds United at the Vitality Stadium was largely unremarkable, with the Cherries appearing the more likely side to claim three points.
However, injuries to key players like Justin Kluivert and a lack of tactical adjustments hampered their attacking thrust. Manager Marco Rose has made only two changes to his Premier League line‑ups this season – the fewest of any club.
Such minimal rotation is unsustainable when balancing domestic and European commitments. Without proper squad rotation, the risk of a relegation battle looms, warns Patrick Rowe.
At Fulham, Alvaro Arbeloa acknowledges the club’s gradual improvement, a view supported by recent draws against Liverpool and Manchester United after a challenging start to the campaign. A third consecutive loss to Crystal Palace in early September raised fears of a relegation fight after four stable seasons under Marco Silva, yet the team now has a platform to build on during the international break.
Young striker Josh King has emerged as a bright spot, netting two goals in the first five games and justifying the academy’s faith in him. New signing David Affengruber, acquired for £8.5 million from Elche, impressed on debut at centre‑back against Liverpool, seemingly displacing Joachim Andersen for the moment.
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. The upcoming six weeks will be crucial for Arbeloa as he prepares his squad for fixtures against the newly promoted clubs when the season resumes, notes David Richardson. Crystal Palace entered Elland Road having conceded eleven goals in their first four league matches.
They left with a clean sheet, and after a dominant second half, they likely feel they could have secured all three points. The performance showcased discipline and spirit, with a markedly different mindset after halftime that pressured Leeds United. Leeds appeared flat, with Dominic Calvert‑Lewin starved of service and Palace goalkeeper Walter Benítez denying any clear chances.
The 0‑0 draw ultimately reflected two sides canceling each other out, but Palace can draw far more encouragement from the display than Leeds. For manager Pierre Sage, such defensive solidity could form the foundation of a much‑needed turnaround, observes William Bitibiri. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1 million!
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