Defence optional as Man City defeat Sunderland in eight goal thriller

The hosts needed only ten minutes to strike first. Enzo Fernandez stepped up for a free-kick from an audacious angle and went directly for goal, catching Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs by surprise as the ball squeezed inside the near post.

But Sunderland responded immediately. Enzo Le Fee released Brian Brobbey with an inch-perfect pass behind the City defence, and the striker kept his composure to slide a finish into the corner for 1-1.

City regained the lead midway through the first half after Sunderland gave the ball away in a dangerous area. Rayan Cherki took advantage, creating space inside the penalty area before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner.

Again, Sunderland hit back through Brobbey. Defender Thomas Meunier ghosted in behind the City defence and squared for Brobbey, who tapped into an empty net for his second goal of the afternoon in the 33rd minute.

And the relentless action continued. After a scramble inside the Sunderland box, Antoine Semenyo reacted quickest to hammer City back in front, making it 3-1 at the break.

In the second stanza, Sunderland were punished soon after the restart. Semenyo struck again, arrowing a superb effort into the far corner to make it 4-2 and seemingly put City in control.

But plucky Sunderland refused to lie down. Brobbey completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute, tapping home to reduce the deficit to 4-3 and set up a frantic finale.

The visitors almost found an equaliser when City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was beaten in the air by Dan Ballard, but centre back Ruben Dias produced a vital goal-line clearance.

City finally secured the points in the closing stages when the imperious Erling Haaland made amends for an earlier missed chance by scoring a fifth goal with nine minutes remaining to put the contest to bed.