---
title: "Maresca’s Man City go clear at the top despite defensive errors"
canonical: "https://readmancity.com/2026/09/20/enzo-maresca-man-city-sunderland-tactical-analysis/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Man City News"
published: "2026-09-20T16:15:00Z"
modified: "2026-09-20T16:15:00Z"
---

# Maresca’s Man City go clear at the top despite defensive errors

[**City**](https://readmancity.com/) **are three points clear at the top of the Premier League after five games and Enzo Maresca still has a perfect record as manager. On paper, there is very little to pick at.**

Saturday’s 5-3 win over Sunderland offered a little more to think about.

City scored five, with Antoine Semenyo twice on target and Enzo Fernandez, Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland also scoring. At the other end, Brian Brobbey became the first Sunderland player since Jermain Defoe in 2016 to score a Premier League hat-trick.

For all the attacking quality, Sunderland found ways through City far too often.

## Sunderland find gaps in Maresca’s Man City

There had been reasons to be wary. Our [seven stats ahead of the Sunderland game](https://readmancity.com/2026/09/20/sunderland-stats-enzo-maresca-man-city-warning/) pointed towards opponents capable of making life awkward, even if few would have expected an eight-goal afternoon.

Sunderland were direct when the opportunity was there and Brobbey caused problems that City never completely solved. Twice he equalised in the first half before completing his hat-trick shortly after Semenyo had made it 4-2.

City had started the league season looking increasingly secure without the ball. That control disappeared for spells against Sunderland and Maresca’s side were forced to win a very different sort of game.

There is no need to make too much of one afternoon. City still scored five and retained their 100 per cent league record, but this was comfortably their most uncomfortable defensive performance of the season.

Maresca will have plenty to pick through when he watches it back.

## Seven wins from seven for Maresca

The wider picture could hardly be better.

Maresca has won all seven of his competitive matches since replacing Pep Guardiola, including five in the Premier League. Arsenal’s defeat at Brighton gave City the opportunity to establish a three-point lead and they took it.

There is plenty happening at the other end of the pitch too. Semenyo’s two goals continued his excellent start, Cherki scored again and Haaland eventually supplied the fifth that put Sunderland away.

Maresca is doing this with a squad reshaped significantly over the summer and with his own ideas still bedding in. After a decade under Guardiola, some change was inevitable.

Seven matches tells us very little about what the finished version will eventually look like.

The [Manchester Evening News](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-not-yet-biggest-34645263) also picked up on City’s defensive problems after the Sunderland game despite another victory.

For now, the numbers are difficult to argue with: seven games, seven wins and a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Sunderland simply showed that there is still work for Maresca to do.

[*LIVE! Premier League 2026/27 News, Transfers, Updates & Viral Moments*](https://dave.sport/live/premier-league-2026-2027-season-updates/)