Manchester City

Man City starting XI:

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Could do little about any of Sunderland's goals but all over the place when coming out for high balls into the box. 5

Matheus Nunes: Was napping when a ball came over the top, allowing Angulo to sneak in behind and lay a pass off for Brian Brobbey to finish. 5

Ruben Dias: Not the captain's best game. Caught flat-footed for Brobbey's opening goal and beaten to the ball in the middle of the park on another occasion. Did make a remarkable goalline clearance to prevent an own goal. 5

Marc Guehi: Will have an assist alongside his name but an otherwise uncomfortable afternoon for the England international. 5

Josko Gvardiol: Failed to close down Enzo le Fee for Sunderland's second goal but provided the cross for Erling Haaland's goal. 6

Elliot Anderson: The former Newcastle man was jeered throughout by the travelling Sunderland fans, but made more passes than any other player on the pitch. 6

Enzo Fernandez: Curled in a delightful free-kick for his first City goal and the crafty Argentine saw plenty of the ball in the pockets outside the box. Becoming a fans' favourite with the "Enzo, Enzo" chant. 7

Iliman Ndiaye: Started in place of the suspended Phil Foden and was lively throughout. Unlucky not to get an assist after laying a ball on to Erling Haaland with the goal gaping. 6

Antoine Semenyo: Back in form. Twice thumped home for his first goals of the season and kept the ball alive to poke through a pass for Rayan Cherki's goal. 9

Rayan Cherki: Near his best in this game with some delightful touches. Quick feet and trickery helped create City's opener, and stayed cool to stroke home City's second goal in the first half. 8

Erling Haaland: Sunderland had been the only Premier League team the Norwegian had not scored against. Looked like staying that way when he missed an easy opportunity in the first half but he ended that run with a finish late on. 6

Man City substitutes:

Jeremy Doku (on 74, Ndiaye): Returned from a calf injury for his first league minutes this season. 6

Nico O'Reilly (on 85, Cherki): Should have scored second after coming on. 6

Subs not used:

Rulli, Kovacic, Ait-Nouri, Bouaddi, Allan, Khusanov, Lewis

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca speaking to Sky Sports post-match: "Sunderland are a very good team. They're strong and dangeorus, but again we found a way to win the game."

On it being a bonkers game to watch: "Not for us! In the press conference before the game I said I expect a very tough game. Then we also conceded two or three goals but again. We have learnt a lot in these eight weeks and this is good."

On how much he's learnt in his first few weeks as City boss: "As a manager you try always to learn. No matter if you win, lose or draw. You always review the game and see what you can do better. And today I think there were many things we could have done better but it's all a learning process."

On what they can do better: "Many things, I think we have played seven games, and they have all been different but that's also good, so we can learn from all of them. All the games require different things."

On the high score line: "Too many goals, I prefer 1-0 it's much better."

Listen to Maresca and Antoine Semenyo speaking to BBC Radio Manchester here

Did you know?

• Manchester City led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 in the first half, making it only the seventh match in Premier League history to see a team take the lead on three separate occasions in the first half alone, and first since Brentford against Wolves in October 2024.

• Erling Haaland has now scored against all 25 Premier League teams he has faced.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Five wins from five in the league, 13 goals scored and victories in Europe and the Carabao Cup too. On the face of it, things could hardly be going better for Manchester City early on in this post-Pep Guardiola era.

When a legendary figure leaves the club after a prolonged period of success, there is always uncertainty as to what comes next – and despite a string of such positive results, that remains the case.

Against Sunderland, Enzo Maresca's side were far from convincing for long spells with a defence that had conceded just two league goals coming into the game looking remarkably suspect - the Black Cats registered a whopping 4.25 expected goals.

And yet they come away having scored another five goals with Enzo Fernandez's cheeky free-kick a prime example of their attacking quality.

While there is clearly so much that can be improved upon, such brilliance at the top end of the pitch can get you out of many a hole. That, and the ability to find different ways to win, is a pretty good place from which to build.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester City's performance

What did you make of Sunderland's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Bournemouth v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Leeds United v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Manchester City v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Fulham v Manchester United (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated.

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Sunderland are a really good team and, on their day, they are more than a match for anyone.

The Black Cats are strong and robust, and when they get after teams and press you then they are phenomenal.

All of that makes me think this is a really hard game for Manchester City.

Their derby victory was a brilliant win, and Enzo Maresca's biggest result as their manager so far with the way they did it.

Iliman Ndiaye showed what a good signing he is when he came on for Rayan Cherki in the second half at Old Trafford, in terms of offering a different profile.

Cherki's more of an inside forward, as a number 10 or playing narrow, and he's a guy you think you couldn't get the ball off in a telephone box.

Ndiaye, though, will do more work going back and is also more of a ball carrier, so he was exactly what City needed when they went a man down.

Manchester United can feel hard done by because City's winner should have been disallowed, but the visitors were the better team with 10 men.

This will be a very different task for Maresca's men, with the emphasis on them breaking down the Black Cats, but I don't feel it will just be one-way traffic.

I still think City will find a way, though, and they need to for the sake of the title race. They already seem to be the only team capable of keeping pace with Arsenal.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City will look to maintain their 100% league record under Enzo Maresca when they welcome Sunderland to Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Maresca's tenure got off to a wobbly start with the Community Shield defeat by Arsenal, but his troops have rallied to ensure they are level on points with the table-topping Gunners at this early stage, trailing only on goal difference.

In fact, the Italian is aiming to become just the sixth manager to win his first five Premier League games in charge of a club.

The Blues, last season's runners-up, are on a mightily impressive run of league form, having lost just two of their past 30 matches, winning 20 and drawing eight.

Their record at home to the Black Cats is also enviable. City are unbeaten in all 14 of their Premier League home games against Sunday's opposition, winning 12 of those encounters. Sunderland's last league win in this fixture came at Maine Road in the second tier in January 1998.

Sterling Erling

Erling Haaland, Golden Boot winner in three of his four campaigns in England, is already the pace-setter for this season's prize with four goals. Sunderland, however, are the only top-flight team he has faced without scoring.

The Norwegian has scored in eight of his past nine league appearances, netting nine goals. In two games against the Black Cats, he had had three shots with an xG of 0.75 without finding the net. Don't bet against him breaking his duck on Sunday.

Stadium of delight

Juggling Sunderland's European commitments with their domestic schedule was always going to be one of the biggest tasks facing Regis le Bris this season.

Having got their Europa League campaign off to a winning start against AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday – the club's first game in continental competition since 1973 – the Black Cats must focus on climbing the Premier League table after an unconvincing start.

Four points from four games has them sitting 14th, and history suggests this won't be the fixture to propel them up the table. The Black Cats haven't won any of their past 17 top-flight games against teams starting the day in the top two, losing 13 and drawing four.

Couple that with the fact they are winless in nine league games against Manchester City – since a 1-0 home victory under Gus Poyet in November 2013 – and it looks like a tall order for Le Bris' side to head back to Wearside with all three points.

Something for Sunderland to cling to, however, is the fact they have scored in each of their past eight league away games, their best run of scoring on the road in this competition since another run of eight in 2015-16.

The atmosphere at the Stadium of Light against AZ was electric and Le Bris is keen for that feelgood factor to continue. It is a demanding schedule for his squad, though they will have an extra day's rest over City, who battered Norwich 5-0 in the Carabao Cup on Thursday.

"It is a tough week but it is exactly what we want to do," the Frenchman said.

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Sunderland at Etihad Stadium (14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca said Jeremy Doku, who has been absent with a calf injury since the Community Shield, can "probably be available for the Sunderland game".

• He was asked about the benefits of heavily rotating his starting XI for Thursday's Carabao Cup win over Norwich: "It was very important. We gave rest to the ones that played back-to-back 90 minutes against Porto and Manchester United. It was important for them to give them rest and hopefully they can be full of energy for Sunday's game as it will be a strong game."

• Asked why he has started so well as City boss, Maresca said: First of all, the players. The main thing when you join a new club is you can see that the players understand what the manager wants. I can see day by day, game by game, even with many changes, it's very clear for them what we want."

• On whether being at the club before has helped him: "People inside the building, for sure, [but] the players are a completely different squad - there are three or four players from my last season here. I spend my days with the players so it's something new. I'm happy because I can see that we're improving."

• On the pressure of succeeding Pep Guardiola: "When I decided to join the club, I was quite sure that the club is a good club and the players are good players. At the same time, I knew that the club was in a moment of change after 10 years with the same manager and Rodri, Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Nathan Ake [also leaving]. It's normal that there is a change, but at the same time, I'm quite confident that we can do a good job."

• On Sunday's opponents Sunderland: "I watched the game live against Arsenal and then I watched it again in the past few days. You can see how strong they are. I think they didn't deserve to lose that game. They are very strong, very well coached by their manager and they have already had time together, so you can see what they want to do on and off the ball. My feeling, after watching them, is that Sunday will be the toughest game since the start of the season."

• On the upcoming extended international break: "During the international break, I always used to review all the previous games and analyse what we can do better - these kind of things. But because we have three weeks, I have time enough to watch back all the games."

Hear more from Maresca above or on BBC Sounds here

Listen to live commentary of Man City v Sunderland on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra or BBC Sounds

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We asked for your views after Manchester City's 5-0 win over Norwich in the Carabao Cup.

Here are some of your comments:

Harry: Samba showed far more than I would have ever expected him to. I think his experience as a midfielder showed in spades, he could handle the physicality and exhibited brilliant hold-up play. Well done to the lad - proper Manchester City debut to be proud of.

Terence: Samba had a good debut, very lively and two well-taken goals. Should get more minutes in the first team after that performance.

Wayne: What a ray of light Samba was and a proud moment for a very talented footballing family.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Floyd Samba's scintillating first-team debut stole the show at Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

The youngster joined Manchester City's academy at under-nine level and he really started to make a name for himself last term.

Samba scored 24 goals and provided 10 assists in an eye-catching first full season with the under-18s, including curling home a stunning free-kick to help City win the FA Youth Cup final against rivals Manchester United in May.

On his debut against Norwich, Samba played the entire 90 minutes and fully grasped his opportunity.

With City struggling for openings, Samba broke the deadlock by flicking home a header - he celebrated by blowing a kiss in the direction of family and friends in the stands, before curling in a delightful second later in the game.

Samba was afforded a generous ovation towards the end of the game when being deservedly named man of the match.

"[I'm] satisfied not just for the goals but for the performance too," said manager Enzo Maresca.

"When I decided to play him as nine, he said he never played there. He is not a nine for sure, but he was good.

"He is young, full of energy, strong, can finish, can set [players up]. He made some good decisions in the first half. I am happy but they are young and we have to go slowly, slowly.

"Hopefully we can give him more chances."

Hit play below to hear more from Maresca or listen on BBC Sounds here

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

The Samba surname will be familiar to those of a certain age who have followed the Premier League.

Floyd is the son of former Blackburn and QPR defender Christopher, who played 171 top-flight matches for those two sides, as well as a further 12 in the Championship with Aston Villa.

The City forward is the younger of two brothers at the club, with Tyrone also involved in the youth team, and will now be aiming to play more first-team minutes after an exciting debut.

As a fleet-footed forward, Floyd could not be more of a different player to his dad Christopher, who was a no-nonsense towering centre-back.

"Coming from under-21s to first-team training, that is a big jump," added Samba. "The sessions are more tiring, you have to run more - they demand more of you and you have to cope with it."

Former Norwich striker Chris Sutton added on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Absolutely brilliant moment for Floyd. His dad was in the stadium and will be extremely proud. It's the journey, he has been nurtured at Man City, got his moment and what a night for him.

"He has given Enzo Maresca a bit of food for thought moving forward. Of course, he is not going to play ahead of Erling Haaland but it is a great evening for him and good for his development.

"Maresca can think he can trust him a little bit more."

What did you make of Samba's showing and City's performance against Norwich? Let us know here

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Thomas Tuchel has named his squad for England's upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton), James Trafford (Leeds United)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen).

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (Bournemouth).

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).

Follow reaction and Tuchel's news conference here

Real Madrid and Barcelona have made fresh enquiries about American teenager Cavan Sullivan, 16, who is set to move to Manchester City from Philadelphia Union when he turns 18. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Former Norwich striker Chris Sutton speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live following the 5-0 victory over Norwich: "It was too easy for Manchester City. They barely broke a sweat this evening, it was just a different class to Norwich City and Clement made a lot of changes as he's looking ahead to their game on Sunday.

"Well done to the Norwich support, travelling all that way but not a lot to cheer about. Man City cruise into the next round.

"Just seeing the Norwich City staff and players go over and applaud the magnificent away support, I'm not a body language expert but it's like they rocked up, made a lot of changes, and just expected to be beaten.

"A brilliant moment for Samba. Football is a ruthless game and it's about taking your opportunities when they come along and for these young players they don't come along too often. It's good to see Cherki, O'Reilly give him that assurance, as they should.

"He's arrived, he's still going to have to play the waiting game, and be patient when you play for a club like Manchester City. The demands are on winning. The fans demand trophies. His chances may be few and far between but he's done himself no harm."

Manchester City's Floyd Samba speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "Right before the game yesterday, the day before - I knew there would be an opportunity to get some minutes for the first time with the first team - to get a debut like that is mind blowing. I couldn't believe it myself - but that's just the beginning, I've got a big career ahead of me. It was a great debut.

"I couldn't be happier right now, being my first senior debut, you have to expect everything to go well, the intensity, the level of players, everything goes up and you have to be able to match it and cope with it, and I think I did well with that.

"Coming from the 21's to first-team training, that's a big jump - the sessions are more tiring, you have to run more - they demand more of you and you have to cope with it.

"I spoke to all of them [the first team players], they've all been brilliant with me - before the game, giving me advice - play your game, be you - those words gave me confidence and helped me score those two goals today.

"I can't wait - recover now, rest, the team goes again - training tomorrow and then Sunderland on the weekend - everyone has to be prepared for that."

Hit play above to hear more from Samba or listen on BBC Sounds here

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City, second in the Premier League, at home against a Norwich side 14th in the Championship never seemed like producing a shock result.

The Canaries players and supporters made the long trip over from Norfolk and return home extending their thoroughly miserable recent record against their opponents.

Norwich were heavy underdogs and it proved to be the case, having now lost their past three contests against Manchester City by an aggregate of 19-0, suffering defeat in all five League Cup meetings between the sides.

But it was a satisfying evening for boss Maresca, who made 10 changes to the side that won at rivals Manchester United on Sunday - the sole survivor from that starting XI, Cherki, scoring in the first half.

But the night belonged to academy product Floyd Samba, graduating from City's academy into the senior set-up to score a double on his first senior start - the first an instinctive header but the second a beauty of a finish caressed into the far corner.

Maresca's side faced questions when they began the campaign with a heavy defeat by Arsenal in the Community Shield, but they have since recovered by winning six games in a row in all competitions.

They will be aiming to pick up maximum points against Sunderland on Sunday to continue a highly impressive start to Maresca's tenure, before the three-week international break.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester City's performance

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Friday for a selection of your replies.