CITY SLICKERS! Man City beat Sunderland in eight-goal thriller to move three points clear at top despite Brobbey hat-trick in Premier League classic

Manchester City retained their 100% start to the season and moved three points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with victory over Sunderland in an eight-goal thriller at the Etihad.

Brian Brobbey struck a hat-trick for the Black Cats but it wasn't enough for Regi Le Bris' side to even earn a share of the spoils on a crazy afternoon in East Manchester.

Enzo Fernandez scored his first City goal while Antoine Semenyo struck twice and Rayan Cherki was also on target. Erling Haaland notched the fifth meaning he has now scored against all 25 teams he has faced in the Premier League.

Fernandez opened his City account with a cheeky free-kick from an unlikely angle. As the entire stadium expected him to cross, the Argentine noticed Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs offering too much room at his near post and clipped into the corner.

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The Black Cats hit straight back with Brobbey's first of the game. He latched on to a stupendous through ball from Enzo Le Fee and finished confidently past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

City began to exert some control and re-took the advantage through Cherki. Semenyo unselfishly laid it off for his teammate when he could have shot himself, and Cherki showed brilliant close control before lashing past Roefs.

But Sunderland were undeterred and once again drew level. Le Fee again provided the key pass, playing in Thomas Meuiner who just about held his run to stay onside. He then squared to Brobbey who couldn't miss with the goal at his mercy.

There was a long VAR check with the officials being extra careful to get this one right after the Haaland debacle last week, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Semenyo scored the fifth of a pulsating first half after Marc Guehi's persistence paid off. The England defender brought down a cross and battled to keep possession before it fell to Semenyo who hammered into the back of the net.

City should have been two clear going into the break but the Etihad was left in disbelief as Haaland inexplicably put the ball wide from Iliman Ndiaye's cute lay-off.

Semenyo doubled his tally 11 minutes into the second half. Cherki's through ball deflected into the path of the Ghanaian and he struck sweetly with his left foot to give City some breathing space.

But only a couple of minutes later Brobbey had his hat-trick. Nilson Angulo's effort looked like it had enough to cross the line but Brobbey made sure from close range and thumped into the roof of the net.

Ruben Dias almost put through his own net after some unconvincing goalkeeping from Donnarumma but managed to hook off the line to prevent Sunderland from drawing level again.

And Haaland allowed the home support to breathe a sigh of relief as he made the game safe at the back post from Josko Gvardiol's centre. The goal was initially ruled out for offside against Gvardiol, but VAR showed the Croatian had timed his run to perfection.

City head into the international break with five wins from five and a three-point buffer over Arsenal at the top, while Sunderland sit 14th with just one win to their name.