Manchester City kept their perfect Premier League record intact with a 5-3 win over Sunderland at the Etihad. The result gave Enzo Maresca five league wins from five and left City three points clear at the summit. Manchester Evening Newswriter Alex James described a contest that pushed Maresca into an unusually animated reaction.
City had attacking answers. Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring, Rayan Cherki restored the lead, Antoine Semenyo struck twice, and Erling Haaland settled the contest late. Yet Sunderland kept finding gaps. Brian Brobbey scored three times, while the visitors produced 17 shots and nine on target. City had a reported xG of 2.72 against Sunderland’s 4.15. The figures show how hard City had to work for control.
Maresca’s frustration became obvious after Sunderland made it 4-3. He threw his hands up before moving onto the pitch to issue instructions. His reaction matched his post-match view. The Man City manager said he would prefer a 1-0 victory to a 5-3 thriller, while accepting that his side found a way to win.
Why do Manchester City need to change their midfield structure?
For me, the biggest concern sits in the middle rather than the scoreline. City’s possession game can create attacking positions, yet the midfield screen looked too loose once Sunderland attacked with speed. Enzo Fernandez pushed high during build-up phases, and that left too much space between midfield and defence when City lost the ball.
That problem gave Brobbey room to attack centre-backs directly. Ruben Dias faced physical tests, while Sunderland used quick deliveries and set-piece situations to keep City uncomfortable. A 4.15 xG figure against 2.72 underlines the scale of those chances, and City cannot expect five goals to rescue every poor defensive spell.
Maresca should use the three-week international break for more than recovery. He can test a deeper midfield axis and give the defence greater protection during transitions. A double pivot out of possession could reduce the gaps, especially when Fernandez moves higher to support attacks. That change would preserve City’s creative threat without leaving the centre-backs exposed so often.
The manager’s touchline reaction showed that he recognised the issue during the match, although the late intervention came after Sunderland had already found openings. Seven straight wins since the Community Shield defeat provide useful results, but Manchester City still need better control now if Maresca wants his side to rely less on wild scorelines.
