Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-3 in a Premier League regular season match at the Etihad Stadium on 20 September 2026. Enzo Fernández opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Brian Brobbey equalised for the visitors twelve minutes later. Rayan Cherki restored City's lead in the 29th minute, but the visitors kept pushing forward.
Antoine Semenyo dragged Sunderland back into contention in the 43rd minute and then again in the 57th. Brobbey made it three for Sunderland in the 59th minute, and by then the match had turned into something else entirely. Erling Haaland finally broke through in the 81st minute, with his effort confirmed by VAR in the 83rd.
Substitutions began in the 60th minute when Nilson Angulo came on for City. Noah Sadiki followed in the 68th, while Iliman Ndiaye and Thomas Meunier were brought on in the 75th and 79th respectively. Cherki was withdrawn for City in the 85th minute.
We tipped City to win at 64 per cent confidence, and that came through. The result extended their unbeaten run and kept them top of the table. Sunderland, sitting 14th with one win, one draw and two losses, showed they can spring a surprise away from home.
City dominated possession at 55 per cent but Sunderland created more big chances — six compared to three. The visitors registered nine shots on target with 53 per cent accuracy, while City managed six on target at 38 per cent. Sunderland's expected goals figure of 4.25 tells a different story from the final score.
City now sit four points clear at the top with four wins from four matches. Sunderland remain in the bottom half after their fifth league game. The result changes nothing for City's position but gives Sunderland something to build on.
