Premier League: A weekend that changed the mood at the top
Manchester City will head into the first international break three points clear at the top of the Premier League after surviving a remarkable eight-goal thriller against Sunderland, while Arsenal’s perfect start came crashing down at Brighton.
City maintained their 100% league record with a 5-3 victory at a sun-drenched Etihad Stadium, but Sunderland were more than capable of matching the champions for long spells, with Brian Brobbey producing a stunning individual performance.
Brobbey struck a hat-trick as Sunderland twice came from behind to keep the contest alive. His treble made him the first Sunderland player to score a Premier League hat-trick since Jermaine Defoe in 2016, and the first player since Blackburn Rovers' Roque Santa Cruz in 2007 to score three goals in a Premier League match and still finish on the losing side.
But City's attacking firepower ultimately proved decisive.
Antoine Semenyo scored twice, Rayan Cherki also found the net and Erling Haaland added a late goal to finally settle an extraordinary contest. Enzo Fernandez had earlier opened the scoring with a free-kick for his first City goal.
“Too many goals, I prefer 1-0 much better,” City manager Enzo Maresca joked afterwards as City celebrated a seventh successive win in all competitions.
Haaland has now scored against all 25 Premier League clubs he has faced since arriving in England.
“It was very difficult, but we found a way to win the game,” Maresca said. “The good thing also is that these seven official games have all been different. We experience different things.”
Arsenal’s perfect start comes to an abrupt end
While City were celebrating, Arsenal’s early-season momentum suffered a major setback at Brighton.
Mikel Arteta’s side had won all seven of their matches in all competitions and arrived on the south coast in formidable form.
Instead, Brighton exposed weaknesses that had barely been visible during Arsenal’s opening weeks, producing a 3-0 victory and handing the Gunners their first defeat of the season.
Pascal Groß opened the scoring before Charalampos Kostoulas doubled Brighton’s advantage just before half-time. Chema Andrés added a third nine minutes after the break to complete a memorable afternoon for the hosts.
Arsenal struggled to cope with Brighton’s pressing and were also vulnerable from set pieces as the hosts produced one of their strongest performances of the season.
“The way we have competed, the way we have played, the way we have dominated. It’s been really good,” Arteta said of Arsenal’s start to the campaign.
“But today we need to take this lesson very, very seriously because it’s going to happen.”
The defeat dropped Arsenal to second, three points behind City, while Brighton moved into third.
Chelsea suffer another setback
Chelsea’s encouraging start under Xabi Alonso also suffered a significant setback as they were beaten 3-0 by Brentford.
After a goalless first half, Jaidon Anthony opened the scoring in the 61st minute before Igor Thiago doubled Brentford’s advantage. Fábio Carvalho added a third in stoppage time.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The result means Chelsea have now gone three Premier League games without a win and have conceded at least twice in each of their first five league matches under Alonso.
The defeat leaves Alonso with plenty to address during the international break, particularly after Brentford exposed Chelsea’s problems defending set pieces and dealing with the game after falling behind.
“We dropped our consistency, our competitive mentality needed in the second half,” Alonso said after the defeat.
Brentford, meanwhile, moved up to third and remain unbeaten after five league games.
United escape again
Manchester United avoided another damaging defeat but were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Fulham.
After losing to Manchester City and then suffering a League Cup exit against Brighton, Michael Carrick’s side looked set for another defeat when Lisandro Martinez put through his own net in the 63rd minute.
United pushed for an equaliser and eventually found it in the 89th minute when Matheus Cunha’s long-range effort took a huge deflection off David Affengruber and wrong-footed Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
The draw leaves United 12th with five points, while Fulham moved off the bottom of the table.
It was another frustrating result for United, but the late equaliser prevented Carrick’s side from ending a difficult week with three defeats in all competitions.
Isak gives Liverpool a much-needed win
Liverpool had reason to breathe a little easier after Alexander Isak’s second-half goal secured a narrow 1-0 victory at Bournemouth.
It was a winning return to the Vitality Stadium for Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who previously managed Bournemouth. Isak struck in the 57th minute to settle a tense encounter.
The game took time to spark into life, but Liverpool eventually made one of their opportunities count when Isak turned in a move involving Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz.
The Sweden striker now has four league goals this season.
The victory lifts Liverpool into sixth and gives Iraola’s side some positive momentum heading into the international break.
Leeds remain unbeaten
Leeds United remain unbeaten but missed the chance to move into third after being held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke’s side started the season strongly and had won their previous match against Newcastle United, but Palace held firm to claim a point.
The result extends Leeds’ unbeaten league run to five matches, although the dropped points mean they missed an opportunity to climb higher in the table.
The international break now gives managers time to reflect, regroup and address their weaknesses before the Premier League resumes -- but after a weekend of twists, goals and unexpected results, the early shape of the season is already beginning to emerge.
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