Manchester City 5-3 Sunderland: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How Manchester City won it

Enzo Fernández put Manchester City ahead in the 9th minute. Sunderland levelled at 1-1 in the 12th minute through Brian Brobbey, set up by Enzo Le Fée. Rayan Cherki made it 2-1 to Manchester City in the 29th minute, set up by Antoine Semenyo. Sunderland levelled at 2-2 in the 33rd minute through Brian Brobbey, set up by Thomas Meunier. Antoine Semenyo made it 3-2 to Manchester City in the 43rd minute, set up by Marc Guéhi. Antoine Semenyo made it 4-2 to Manchester City in the 57th minute. Brian Brobbey made it 4-3 to Sunderland in the 59th minute, set up by Nilson Angulo. Erling Haaland made it 5-3 to Manchester City in the 81st minute, set up by Josko Gvardiol.

It was 3-2 at half-time.

Brian Brobbey scored a hat-trick.

Antoine Semenyo scored twice.

The referee, R. Jones, showed 1 yellow card: 0 to Manchester City and 1 to Sunderland.

Manchester City: E. Maresca, 4-2-3-1 · Sunderland: R. Le Bris, 4-2-3-1.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 2.79 for Manchester City and 2.57 for Sunderland.

Manchester City scored about 2.2 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.

Manchester City had 6 shots on target, Sunderland 9.

Manchester City had 55% of the ball and turned it into the win.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Manchester City came into it with 5 Premier League matches played, scoring 2.6 and conceding 1.0 a match, with 2.00 expected goals for and 1.11 against, and had won 100% of their matches.

Sunderland came into it with 5 Premier League matches played, scoring 1.2 and conceding 2.0 a match, with 1.86 expected goals for and 1.60 against, and had won 20% of their matches.

Manchester City vs Sunderland: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), rated 10.0 by Sportmonks, with 3 goals.

Manchester City

• Antoine Semenyo 8.7 2 goals, 1 assist
• Rayan Cherki 7.6 1 goal
• Enzo Fernández 7.3 1 goal
• Josko Gvardiol 7.1 1 assist
• Marc Guéhi 6.8 1 assist

Sunderland

• Brian Brobbey 10.0 3 goals
• Enzo Le Fée 7.7 1 assist
• Granit Xhaka 7.5
• Thomas Meunier 6.8 1 assist
• Nordi Mukiele 6.8

The lowest-rated starter was Kevin Danso at 5.7. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Manchester City: Liverpool vs Manchester City Sunday 11 October 2026 · Premier League
• Sunderland: Sunderland vs Brighton & Hove Albion Saturday 10 October 2026 · Premier League

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Manchester City vs Sunderland

What was the score in Manchester City vs Sunderland?

Manchester City 5-3 Sunderland (half-time 3-2), Premier League, Sunday 20 September 2026.

Who scored in Manchester City vs Sunderland?

Enzo Fernández 9', Brian Brobbey 12', Rayan Cherki 29', Brian Brobbey 33', Antoine Semenyo 43', Antoine Semenyo 57', Brian Brobbey 59', Erling Haaland 81'.

Did Moneyball predict Manchester City vs Sunderland correctly?

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Who was man of the match in Manchester City vs Sunderland?

Brian Brobbey, rated 10.0 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Manchester City vs Sunderland?

R. Jones.