Man City Beat Sunderland 5-3 to Go Top as Brighton Stun Arsenal

Manchester City head into the international break three points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Sunderland 5-3 in a chaotic match at the Etihad Stadium.

The result extended Enzo Maresca's perfect start as City coach to five wins from five, and came a day after Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season.

Eight Goals at the Etihad

City went ahead inside nine minutes when Enzo Fernandez curled in a free-kick, his first goal since his £125 million move from Chelsea. It was the start of an extraordinary first half.

Brian Brobbey equalised for Sunderland, and when Rayan Cherki restored the lead the Dutch striker levelled again. Antoine Semenyo then put City 3-2 ahead before the interval. City led on three separate occasions in the first half, only the seventh time that has happened in Premier League history.

Brobbey hit the crossbar before the break. Semenyo added his second early in the second half to give City some breathing room, but Brobbey completed his hat-trick by forcing the ball over the line from close range, and Ruben Dias had to clear off his own line to prevent a fourth Sunderland equaliser.

Erling Haaland settled it in the 81st minute, his fifth goal in five Premier League games this season.

Brobbey became only the sixth player to score a Premier League hat-trick and finish on the losing side, and the first since Roque Santa Cruz for Blackburn in 2007. Sunderland registered nine shots on target.

Maresca played down the significance of the lead. "It is much better to win games. It is better to have three points more than not, but it is quite early (in the season)," he said.

Brighton Dismantle Arsenal

City's advantage was made possible by Arsenal's defeat at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, where Brighton won 3-0.

Arsenal had arrived hoping to equal a 123-year club record of eight straight victories to begin a season. They were behind after 31 minutes when Pascal Gross struck in off the post, and Charalampos Kostoulas doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time with another long-range effort. Summer signing Chema Andres headed in a corner shortly before the hour.

It was an uncomfortable afternoon for Bruno Guimaraes, making his first Premier League start for Arsenal, who gave the ball away in the build-up to Brighton's first clear chance. Brighton, wearing a special kit to mark the club's 125th year, moved up to third.

Elsewhere in Matchweek Five

Chelsea were beaten 3-0 away at Brentford on Friday night, their heaviest defeat of the season so far.

Manchester United needed an 89th-minute equaliser to draw 1-1 at Fulham, Matheus Cunha's heavily deflected shot preventing a third straight defeat in all competitions for Michael Carrick's side.

Alexander Isak scored his fourth league goal of the season as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 1-0, and Leeds drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace. Tottenham dropped into the relegation zone.

The Premier League now pauses for an extended international break, returning in the second week of October.