City's firepower too much for Sunderland in 5-3 Etihad victory
Manchester City moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 5-3 win over Sunderland at the Etihad on Sunday. Antoine Semenyo scored twice, while Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Enzo Fernandez also found the net. The victory was City's seventh in a row in all competitions.
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a clever free kick, but Brian Brobbey equalised three minutes later. Rayan Cherki restored City's lead in the 29th minute, only for Brobbey to level again four minutes after that. Semenyo then struck in the 43rd and 57th minutes to put City 4-2 up, but Brobbey completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute to make it 4-3. Haaland sealed the win in the 81st minute, converting Josko Gvardiol's low cross after Jeremy Doku played the Croatian in on the left.
City's attacking depth was on full display. Up front, they have the world's best striker in Erling Haaland. On the wings, options include Semenyo, Iliman Ndiaye, Jeremy Doku, Allan, Phil Foden and Ryan McAidoo. Rayan Cherki, Foden and Nico O'Reilly can all play the number ten role, while Enzo Fernandez offers another attacking threat with his guile and runs from midfield. From full-back, Gvardiol, O'Reilly and Matheus Nunes also pose a danger going forward — Gvardiol in particular has shown that so far this season.
For Sunderland, Brobbey's treble was not enough to prevent defeat. City's seventh consecutive win keeps them at the summit, three points clear of their nearest challengers.