Man City's thrilling yet disorderly 5-3 victory over Sunderland was a stark contrast to the tight, possession‑based football usually linked with Pep Guardiola's side. Enzo Maresca summed it up succinctly: "We aim to dominate, but the opposition simply refused to let us." The Black Cats made life miserable 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 demanding, and his pre‑match assessment proved accurate. "I knew how strong they are, especially when they are off the ball – they press aggressively," he observed after Sunderland's ferocious display at the Etihad.
It was rare to see City surrender so much space on their home turf, hand over so many chances, and concede three goals in a single match. Why did the Citizens become so vulnerable? The answer lies partly in the physical battle that unfolded.
Brian Brobbey once again demonstrated why he is regarded as a hold‑up specialist, replicating the performance that had impressed against Arsenal the week before. This time, however, he combined his physicality with a hat‑trick of superb finishes. Whenever Brobbey won a duel against Ruben Dias – and he did so repeatedly – he created a clear outlet for his teammates. Enzo Le Fee joined the onslaught, while Nilson Angulo and Thomas Meunier surged forward from the flanks, turning City into an attacking overload.
The pattern repeated throughout the game: Sunderland’s midfielders Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernández were unable to cope with the relentless man‑to‑man pressure, leaving gaps that City exploited. In total, Brobbey contested twelve duels, winning ten and drawing five fouls, making him the clear winner of the physical tussle. Nevertheless, City’s dominance was far from flawless. They were out‑duelled and out‑run in several phases, and only by capitalising on Sunderland’s errors did they manage to score five times.
It was an imperfect, "anti‑Pep" approach – pragmatic, gritty and ultimately effective. As Laura Hunter noted, that resilience should also be recognised. In a separate narrative, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has become known for his composed rebuttals to critics, especially after a string of disappointing results. Following a derby defeat, a Carabao Cup collapse and a point earned against a struggling Fulham side, Carrick was questioned about United’s joint‑worst start to a Premier League campaign.
He pointed to fine margins – a long‑range strike against Everton, a controversially awarded City goal, a bizarre own‑goal at Fulham and two shots that struck the post – to explain the thin line between success and failure. Carrick’s assessment is sobering: United’s shortcomings are outweighing any positives. Defensively, physically and in possession, the team has been exposed at crucial moments, allowing opponents to gain the upper hand.
The gap to league leaders Manchester City has already widened to ten points, making a challenge for a higher finish seem increasingly unrealistic. While Carrick insists there is still a "big season ahead," he acknowledges that a fundamental shift – beyond minor tactical tweaks – is required for United to turn their fortunes around. Turning to Liverpool, Cody Gakpo has consistently delivered in front of goal this season.
From a debut strike against Newcastle to a silky assist versus Nottingham Forest, and from dual assists in the Ipswich win to a decisive contribution against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, Gakpo has been a constant threat. His most impressive moment came in Liverpool's 1‑0 victory over Bournemouth, where his hard‑run down the right and pinpoint cross set up Alexander Isak’s winner. Liverpool manager Iraola praised Gakpo’s effort, noting that the difficulty of the goal lay in the delivery rather than the finish, and lamented that Gakpo was not officially credited with an assist. Gakpo also shone defensively, winning more duels than any other player on the pitch and neutralising one of Bournemouth’s main attacking outlets.
Iraola highlighted his work rate, saying, "Cody has been vital at both ends of the field." When Gakpo is unavailable, Liverpool’s potency diminishes noticeably, as seen in a goalless draw with Fulham where he was limited to the bench. The speculation earlier this summer about a possible sale of Gakpo now appears baffling, given his indispensable role in the squad.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, entered the international break without a win, a disappointing end to a week that began with a historic European triumph over Real Sociedad. Their Premier League performance at the Vitality Stadium was underwhelming; despite being the more likely side to claim three points, they lacked the cutting edge in attack.
Injuries to key players such as Justin Kluivert and a lack of rotation – manager Marco Rose has made only two changes to his starting line‑ups this season, the fewest in the league – have left the squad fatigued. Rose’s reluctance to rotate could prove costly as the team balances domestic and European commitments, risking a slide into a relegation battle if freshness is not restored. At Fulham, Alvaro Arbeloa acknowledges that his side is improving after draws against Liverpool and Manchester United. Early‑season concerns rose after a third consecutive loss to Crystal Palace, but the team now has a platform to build upon.
Young academy graduate Josh King has emerged as a bright spot, netting two goals in the opening five games and demonstrating why he is highly regarded. New signing David Affengruber, acquired for £8.5 million from Elche, impressed on debut at centre‑back against Liverpool and appears to have displaced Joachim Andersen for the moment.
Conversely, Gonzalo García, who scored on his debut after leaving Real Madrid, has struggled to find the net, managing only two shots on target from fifteen attempts. Arbeloa’s next six weeks are crucial as he prepares his squad for fixtures against the three newly‑promoted clubs when the league resumes. The ability to fine‑tune tactics and maintain momentum will be essential for Fulham’s aspirations. Crystal Palace arrived at Elland Road having conceded eleven goals in their first four league games.
They left with a clean sheet after a disciplined, spirited display that saw them dominate the second half and press Leeds United into submission. Leeds, on the other hand, appeared flat and disjointed; Dominic Calvert‑Lewin was starved of service, and when chances did arise, Palace goalkeeper Walter Benítez was ready to make the saves.
The 0‑0 stalemate reflected two sides cancelling each other out, yet Palace can take greater confidence from the performance, while Leeds will have to regroup. For Palace manager Pierre Sage, the defensive solidity shown against Leeds could become the foundation for a turnaround in fortunes.
The match highlighted the importance of tactical flexibility and mental resilience – qualities that may define the rest of their season. Overall, the week delivered a mixture of chaos, brilliance and hard‑earned lessons across the Premier League, underscoring how quickly fortunes can swing in English football.