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Man City on five-game winning run but wobble vs Sunderland raises questions

📅 September 23, 2026 · By Liberia Sports Live · AI-assisted match report · 👁 3

Latest Result: City 5-3 Sunderland

Manchester City kept their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Premier League season going with a high-scoring 5-3 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 20 September. The result means City are on a five-match winning run in the league and sit at the very top of the Premier League table. According to Premier League data, it also stands as the highest-scoring match of the season so far. Erling Haaland remains the division's top scorer with five goals to his name.

However, the manner of the win has raised eyebrows. Conceding three goals at home prompted some pundits to question whether City's defensive solidity is good enough for a sustained title challenge. Commentator Paul Merson has openly said he does not believe City can win the Premier League this season, pointing to the Sunderland defensive lapses as evidence.

Derby Day Drama at Old Trafford

Just a week before the Sunderland game, City produced a statement result at Old Trafford, beating Manchester United 1-0 on September 13 in front of a crowd of 74,161 — the highest attendance of the Premier League season so far. The match was not without controversy: Phil Foden was sent off in the first half, and Erling Haaland's winning goal sparked fierce debate from pundits including Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney, who questioned whether the goal should have stood. Despite the controversy, City took all three points.

Carabao Cup: City Hammered Norwich 5-0

Sandwiched between the derby and the Sunderland league match, City hosted Norwich City in the Carabao Cup third round on Thursday, 17 September, running out convincing 5-0 winners at the Etihad. This keeps them on course to defend the EFL Cup, which they won last season by beating Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley in March 2026.

International Break: Players Away, Women's Team in Action

The men's first team is now on a break due to the international window, meaning no Premier League or Champions League action this week. Several City players — including Erling Haaland, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Enzo Fernández, Vitor Reis, Joško Gvardiol, and Nico O'Reilly — are on international duty with their respective nations. City return to action in October, with their first Champions League home game against current holders PSG scheduled for Wednesday, 14 October. Meanwhile, Manchester City Women are in action this week in the UEFA Women's Champions League, travelling to face Bayern Munich in the league phase opener.

Manager View

Ahead of the Sunderland clash, manager Enzo Maresca had warned that his side would need to be at their very best to take the three points, calling it their toughest test of the season so far. The Italian boss, who took over City this summer, oversaw a busy transfer window and has the side playing an attacking brand of football — but the defensive frailties against Sunderland will be something he looks to address when the squad reassembles after the international break.

Transfer Talk

The summer window is now firmly closed, but City made several big moves before deadline day. New signings Elliot Anderson, Gerónimo Rulli, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Allan, Iliman Ndiaye, and Enzo Fernández were all brought in to bolster the squad. Ndiaye notably completed his move to City on deadline day, having previously agreed personal terms with Tottenham Hotspur — a saga that caused significant drama. Looking ahead to January, reports in the English press (RUMOUR) suggest that both City and Arsenal are tracking a top Chelsea star, though no names have been officially confirmed. Separate gossip columns (RUMOUR) have also linked names such as Viktor Gyökeres and Julián Alvarez to City's radar for future windows, though nothing concrete has emerged from the club's side.

Sources

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