Manchester City maintained their position at the top of the Premier League after edging Sunderland 5-3 in a thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring for City in the ninth minute with a clever free-kick from a tight angle, but Sunderland quickly responded through Brian Brobbey, who produced a fine finish to level the contest.
Rayan Cherki restored City’s advantage in the 29th minute after Sunderland were caught playing out from the back.
However, Brobbey struck again four minutes later to make it 2-2.
The hosts regained the lead shortly before half-time when Antoine Semenyo fired home after Marc Guehi kept the ball alive inside the Sunderland box, giving City a 3-2 advantage at the break.
Semenyo doubled his tally in the 57th minute with a powerful finish into the far corner, extending City’s lead to 4-2. Sunderland refused to give up, though, as Brobbey completed his hat-trick two minutes later to reduce the deficit.
City were forced to withstand further pressure, with Ruben Dias producing a crucial goal-line clearance in the 70th minute after goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to claim a cross.
Erling Haaland eventually settled the contest in the 82nd minute, finishing after being set up by Josko Gvardiol to make it 5-3.
The result moved City three points clear at the top of the table, while Brobbey became only the sixth player to score a Premier League hat-trick and finish on the losing side.
He was also the first to achieve the feat since Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz in 2007.
Haaland’s goal also completed his scoring record against every Premier League opponent he has faced, having now netted against all 25 teams he has played in the competition.
