Man City's thrilling yet disorderly 5-3 victory over Sunderland was anything but the textbook possession football that Pep Guardiola’s side is known for. Enzo Maresca summed it up perfectly after the match: "We wanted to dominate, but the opposition simply wouldn't let us." Sunderland made life miserable for the visitors, and City also made several self‑inflicted errors that turned the contest into a wild, high‑scoring affair.
Maresca had warned his players before kickoff that the challenge would be huge, and the game proved his point. "I knew they were excellent, especially when they were off the ball – very aggressive," he later explained as the Black Cats turned the Etihad into a battlefield. It was rare to see City surrender so much space at home, concede so many chances and allow three goals against a side that had been struggling at the bottom of the table. Why did City leave themselves so exposed?
The answer lies in a combination of physicality, tactical mis‑steps and a failure to adapt to Sunderland's relentless pressing. Brian Brobbey, however, provided a masterclass in hold‑up play that reminded fans of his performance against Arsenal the week before. This time he paired his strength with a hat‑trick of clinical finishes. Whenever Brobbey won his duel with Ruben Dias – and he did so repeatedly – a pocket of space opened up for his teammates.
Enzo Le Fee surged forward to join the attack, while Nilson Angulo and Thomas Meunier arrived quickly from the flanks, creating an overload that City repeated throughout the match. Sunderland’s midfielders, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernández, were unable to cope with the physical battle, especially when the visitors pressed man‑to‑man or tried to stretch the play with longer passes. The result was a clear mismatch: City were out‑duelled in the majority of contests and often out‑run by their opponents. Brobbey alone won ten of the twelve duels he entered and drew five fouls – the highest in the game – making him the obvious winner of the aerial and ground battles.
Despite the chaos, Maresca managed to steer his side back into a winning position by exploiting Sunderland’s mistakes. City adopted a pragmatic, anti‑Pep approach for large stretches of the match: they pressed high, capitalised on errors and struck quickly when opportunities arose.
The strategy was far from elegant, but it was undeniably effective, and the five goals they scored proved enough to secure the three points. In another part of the Premier League, Michael Carrick continues to deflect criticism of Manchester United with a calm, measured tone.
After a string of disappointing results – a derby loss, a Carabao Cup exit and a point earned at Fulham – Carrick was asked about United’s joint‑worst start to a league campaign. He pointed to fine margins: a long‑range strike at Everton, a wrongly awarded goal for City, a bizarre own goal at Fulham and two shots that hit the post. While his observations are accurate, the accumulation of sub‑par performances is beginning to weigh heavily on United’s season. Their defensive frailties, lack of physical presence and inability to retain possession in crucial moments have created a ten‑point gap to leaders Manchester City, making a challenge for a higher finish seem increasingly unlikely.
Carrick acknowledges the long road ahead and stresses that a fundamental shift – beyond minor tweaks – is required if United hope to turn the tide. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Dutch forward Cody Gakpo has become a constant source of brilliance this season.
In every match he has started, Gakpo has either scored or created a goal‑winning chance. From his opener at Newcastle to a silky assist against Nottingham Forest, a double‑assist in the win over Ipswich and a decisive contribution against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, his impact is undeniable. His most recent effort, a hard‑run down the right wing that set up Alexander Isak’s winner in a 1‑0 triumph over Bournemouth, was perhaps his finest moment. Liverpool manager Iraola praised Gakpo’s work rate, noting that the goal’s difficulty lay in his contribution, even if he wasn’t officially credited with the assist.
Gakpo’s influence extends beyond attack; he won more duels than any other player on the pitch at Bournemouth, stifling one of the Cherries’ main threats. Iraola added that Gakpo’s defensive commitment is just as valuable, especially when marking a player like Adrien Truffert, who demands high defensive standards. When Gakpo is unavailable, Liverpool’s performance suffers, as evidenced by a goalless draw with Fulham where he was limited to the bench.
Given his form, it is astonishing that the club once considered selling him this summer – a decision that would have left a massive hole in their squad. On the other side of the league, Bournemouth entered the international break without a win, a disappointing finish after a thrilling European victory over Real Sociedad. Their lack of cutting edge in the Premier League was evident against Leeds United at the Vitality Stadium. With Justin Kluivert sidelined and no tactical changes made from the midweek lineup, Bournemouth simply lacked the firepower to break down Leeds’ defence.
Manager Marco Rose has made only two changes to his starting XI this season, the fewest of any club, a strategy that is unsustainable when juggling domestic and European commitments. Rotation will be essential to keep the squad fresh and avoid a relegation battle later in the campaign. Fulham’s manager Alvaro Arbeloa highlighted the club’s gradual improvement after draws with Liverpool and Manchester United, especially following a heavy defeat to Crystal Palace early in September.
Josh King has emerged as Fulham’s standout player, scoring twice in the first five games and demonstrating why the academy graduate is highly valued. New signing David Affengruber impressed on debut at centre‑back against Liverpool, seemingly displacing Joachim Andersen for the moment. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Garcia, who arrived from Real Madrid, has struggled to find the net, managing only two shots on target from fifteen attempts. Arbeloa now has a crucial six‑week window to fine‑tune his squad before the league resumes against the newly promoted clubs.
Crystal Palace arrived at Elland Road with a leaky defence – eleven goals conceded in four league games – but left with a clean sheet after a disciplined second‑half display. The match ended 0‑0, a result that reflected a tactical stalemate but gave Palace a morale boost. Their post‑break mindset was markedly different, applying pressure and forcing Leeds United into a subdued performance. Leeds struggled to create chances, with Dominic Calvert‑Lewin often left isolated and any opportunities he did receive being denied by Palace keeper Walter Benítez.
For Palace’s manager Pierre Sage, this defensive solidity could serve as a foundation for a broader turnaround in form. Overall, the Premier League continues to deliver a mix of chaos, brilliance and strategic adjustments, with each club navigating its own set of challenges as the season unfolds.