Man City's thrilling yet disorderly 5-3 victory over Sunderland painted a picture far removed from the tight, possession‑based football usually associated with Pep Guardiola's side. Enzo Maresma summed it up succinctly: "We want to dominate, but the opposition simply wouldn't let us." The Black Cats made life difficult for the visitors, and Manchester City, in turn, failed to give themselves any easy chances. Before the match, Maresma had warned that the task would be monumental, and the game proved his point.
"I was aware of how good they are, especially their aggressive off‑the‑ball work," he said after Sunderland's relentless pressure at the Etihad. It was rare to see City concede so much space on their own turf, hand over countless opportunities, and allow three goals against them.
Why did the defending unit look so porous? Brian Brobbey once again showcased his hold‑up prowess, echoing the performance that saw him dominate against Arsenal a week earlier. This time, however, his physicality was paired with a hat‑trick of superb finishes. Whenever Brobbey won a duel with Ruben Dias – and he did so frequently – he created a clear outlet for a teammate to exploit.
He was quickly supported by the likes of Enzo Le Fee, with Nilson Angulo and Thomas Meunier arriving from the flanks in rapid succession. The result was a City attack that kept swamping Sunderland’s back line, wave after wave. Sunderland's midfielders, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernández, struggled to cope with the physical intensity, finding it hard to adjust when the visitors pressed tightly or tried to stretch the play. City were out‑duelled in the majority of battles and were also out‑run on several occasions.
Brobbey alone won ten of the twelve contests he entered and drew the highest number of fouls in the match – five – underscoring his dominance in the midfield tussle. Fortunately for Maresma, the English side managed to adapt to Sunderland's style for long enough to net five goals. They capitalised on the opposition's errors, digging deep to secure a win in a manner that could be described as "anti‑Pep" – not textbook possession football, but effective nonetheless.
That resilience deserves recognition as well. --- Across the north‑west, Michael Carrick has been quietly deflecting criticism aimed at Manchester United.
After a loss in the Manchester derby, a disappointing Carabao Cup exit, and a point earned at a struggling Fulham side, Carrick faced questions about United's historically poor start to a Premier League campaign. He pointed to fine margins – a 25‑yard strike against Everton, a contentious goal awarded to City, a bizarre own‑goal at Fulham, and two shots that struck the post – to illustrate how close United have been to better outcomes.
Nevertheless, the accumulation of sub‑par performances is beginning to weigh heavily. As Carrick often remarks, United have not produced a wholly negative display in any single game, but the positives are being eclipsed by glaring deficiencies. Defensively, physically, and in possession, United have faltered at crucial moments, and the cost is evident in the points table.
A ten‑point gap now separates them from league leaders City, making a challenge for a higher finish than last season's third place appear increasingly unrealistic. "There is still a long season ahead," Carrick told the press, insisting that a fundamental shift – beyond minor tweaks – is required for United to turn their fortunes around.
--- Turning to Liverpool, Cody Gakpo has been a constant source of brilliance this term. In every league appearance he has started, he has either scored or created a goal‑scoring opportunity.
From his opening‑day strike against Newcastle to a silky assist versus Nottingham Forest, and from dual assists in the Ipswich win to a goal and assist against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, Gakpo has been indispensable. His most recent contribution came in a narrow 1‑0 victory over Bournemouth, where his hard‑running run and low cross from the right wing set up Alexander Isak's decisive finish.
Liverpool manager Luis Iraola praised the difficulty of Gakpo's contribution, noting that the goal’s creation should be credited to him, even if the official assist tally does not reflect it. Defensively, Gakpo also shone at Bournemouth, winning more duels than any other player on the pitch and neutralising one of the Cherries' key threats. Iraola highlighted Gakpo's understanding of opponent Adrien Truffert’s demands and lauded his two‑way impact.
When Gakpo is unavailable, Liverpool visibly lose their edge, as demonstrated by a goalless draw with Fulham where he was limited to the bench. Given his form, it is astonishing that Liverpool considered selling him this summer; his presence appears vital to their attacking and defensive balance. --- Bournemouth, meanwhile, head into the upcoming international break without a win, a stark contrast to the euphoria of their recent European triumph over Real Sociedad.
Their Premier League display against Leeds United at the Vitality Stadium was underwhelming; despite a solid defensive effort, they lacked the cutting edge in attack. With Justin Kluivert sidelined and no tactical changes made since the midweek fixture, the Cherries struggled to create clear chances.
Manager Marco Rose has made only two alterations to his starting line‑ups this season – the fewest among all clubs – a strategy that may prove unsustainable given the dual demands of domestic and European competition. Rotation will be essential to maintain fitness and avoid a potential relegation battle later in the campaign. --- Fulham's manager Alvaro Arbeloa observes steady improvement after early‑season draws against Liverpool and Manchester United. After a third consecutive defeat at home to Crystal Palace in September, concerns about a relegation fight resurfaced, but the team now has a platform to build upon during the break.
Young striker Josh King has emerged as a standout, netting two goals in the first five games and showcasing the talent that the club’s academy has cultivated. New signing David Affengruber, acquired for £8.5 million from Elche, impressed on debut at centre‑back against Liverpool and appears to have temporarily displaced Joachim Andersen. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Garcia, who scored on opening day after moving from Real Madrid, has struggled to find the net, registering only two shots on target from fifteen attempts. The next six weeks will be crucial for Arbeloa as he prepares his squad for matches against the newly promoted clubs when the league resumes.
--- Crystal Palace arrived at Elland Road having conceded eleven goals in their first four league games. They left with a clean sheet after a hard‑working, disciplined second‑half performance that left them feeling they could have secured all three points. The match turned into a tactical battle: Palace emerged after halftime with a renewed mindset, applying relentless pressure on Leeds United, whose attack appeared unusually muted.
Dominic Calvert‑Lewin received little service, and when chances did arise, Leeds goalkeeper Walter Benítez was ready to make the saves. The 0‑0 stalemate ultimately reflected two sides cancelling each other out, yet Palace can draw far more encouragement from the display than Leeds can.
For manager Pierre Sage, this defensive solidity could form the foundation for a much‑needed turnaround. --- In summary, the week offered a mixture of chaos, resilience and individual brilliance across the Premier League. Manchester City’s high‑scoring but defensively lax win, United’s ongoing struggles, Liverpool’s reliance on Cody Gakpo, Bournemouth’s search for consistency, Fulham’s gradual progress, and Palace’s defensive resurgence all illustrate the unpredictable nature of English football as the season unfolds.